Primer Q - CCI 41 vs CCI 400

[grywlfbg]

I'm about to step into the world of reloading (will be buying a Dillon 650 in the next couple months) and I'm starting to work up my first recipe for .223. I have a 1:9 RRA 16.5" carbine. I'm shooting tac rifle matches w/ most shots ~50 yards but sometimes out to 200. If I need to shoot further than 200 yds I'll break out my bolt action 30-06

Here's what I'm planning to start w/:

55gr Hornady FMJBT
23.3gr N135 powder (will work up from here)
New Winchester brass (will start collecting brass soon but figured I'd seed my collection by buying a batch of 1K)

primer ??? I was leaning towards CCI 400's but they're out of stock at Powder Valley and I'm planning to get in on the group buy here in the Bay Area. They do have CCI 41's, the "military primers" available.

Can someone give me a short comparison between 400's and 41's? Will 41's work ok for the load above?

Thanks!

[Jicko]

primer ??? I was leaning towards CCI 400's but they're out of stock at Powder Valley and I'm planning to get in on the group buy here in the Bay Area. They do have CCI 41's, the "military primers" available.

Can someone give me a short comparison between 400's and 41's? Will 41's work ok for the load above?

CCI 41 will work OK. It is only like $2/1k more than 400.


Quote from another member:

In the building I work in, there are two guys that shoot on the Active Duty All Navy Team, both Distinguished Rifle. We were just sitting in their office talking with another guy who shoots on the Reserve All Navy Team (also distinguished Rifle) discussing this and they all pretty much agreed that as far as they were concerned, the #41 primer is the way to go for .223.

And according to CCI's website, #41 sounds good....made specifically for semi-autos (mine comes saying it is for NATO 5.56), magnum's performance...... probably just "marketing", but yet, for the small cost different... I will go with #41....

http://www.cci-ammunition.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=3&pg=10&prod_id=30

PS. FYI, when I was doing my research, most people, I talked to, liked CCI's primers, #400, #41 and #BR4, over WSR or Fed.....

[Franksremote]

Any Small Rifle primers should work fine in most cases. The #41s are just harder/military primers if I recall correctly.

[ocabj]

Remington 7-1/2 is considered the best for .223 in the AR and many consider to be the best small rifle primer out there.

Unfortunately, Remington primers have been very hard to come by.

I've been using CCI 400s and BR4s since they are easier to get.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

Remington 7-1/2 is considered the best for .223 in the AR and many consider to be the best small rifle primer out there.

Unfortunately, Remington primers have been very hard to come by.

I've been using CCI 400s and BR4s since they are easier to get.

I use the CCI400's and BR4's as well.......

[dw1784]

I've ask this question before and everyone says stick to 400's...but I just had to get some and see for myself.

No.41 comes in 2 flavors, Nato and Arsenal. Nato is the silver color one's and Arsenal is the bronze color one's. I bought some from Natchez. It came in a white box, black lettering with "Arsenal" on it.

I've shot both(41vs.400) in my mini14 and I couldn't tell the difference. I only loaded a few just to try them out, using starting loads. IMO, 400's are fine. I get firing pin dings on it without it going off. Then again, I'm not saying it'll never happen...

want some pictures?

get some. Try it for yourself. Have fun

[Jicko]

We didn't say #400 weren't fine.... we are just saying #41 is "better"....

Why? Cuz is .0025c more expensive.... ha ha ha

I really think it is TOO HARD for us to come up with a quantify-able difference....

[NRAhighpowershooter]

One caution though when loading ammo and using these 'mil-spec' primers. They are considered magnum primers and you should lower your loads accordingly.