Loading for AR and the right primers??

[357shooter]

[ocabj]

6-1/2 have thinner and softer cups. The reason why they don't want you to use them in .223 or other higher pressure cartridges is because you will get pierced primers.

Use these for lower pressure rifle rounds like .30 Carbine.

[GeoffLinder]

^^ Agreed, too soft for .223.

You want SR (Small Rifle) primers for rifle typically and when you buy WW or CCI brand their standard SR primers are just fine for .223. .223 is a very high pressure cartridge and you want a very hard primer especially when used in semi-auto's (to prevent slam fires).

You will be OK (but not perfect) with these if you load really low charge weight mode in a bolt action, but if you are loading for a semi-auto and using standard charge data giving standard to max pressures in .223 I would avoid them. Take them back and say No Thanks! Gun store advice is quite often skewed by available inventory and the desire to sell what they have

In fact, I would avoid Remington primers in .223 anyway. I highly recommend WW or CCI, have used them for years in .223 and they are proven to be safe right up to max+ loads.

More Info:

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-374143.html

http://www.glockpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2800

[ocabj]

In fact, I would avoid Remington primers in .223 anyway. I highly recommend WW or CCI, have used them for years in .223 and they are proven to be safe right up to max+ loads.

I would actually recommend Remington 7-1/2 over Winchester SR. I've had plenty of pierced primers with Winchester SR in the AR15, which is why I had stopped using them.

For AR15, I use any of the following:
CCI BR4
Remington 7-1/2
Wolf SRM

If for some reason I can't get any of the above, I'll use CCI 400, CCI 450, or CCI 41.

[shooterbill]

I had the same thing happen to me. I asked for small rifle primers and the 6 1/2 is what I got. I have used them in my AR and they have been fine. I like the Wolf and CCI. Federal primers have given me slam fires.

[hylander]

I would actually recommend Remington 7-1/2 over Winchester SR. I've had plenty of pierced primers with Winchester SR in the AR15, which is why I had stopped using them.

For AR15, I use any of the following:
CCI BR4
Remington 7-1/2
Wolf SRM

If for some reason I can't get any of the above, I'll use CCI 400, CCI 450, or CCI 41.

Agree 100%
I have had a few peirced Winchester primers.
Also do not use Federal Gold medal match primers, had a few completely blow, they are to soft and to thin for use in an AR.

[ExtremeX]

Good bullet and good powder. I like the Hornady #2267 and BL-C2. I found from my testing BL-C2 likes some starting pressure; add a little crimp when loading.

I tend to play on the safe side and use CCI #41 primers for my AR reloads. I also have a box of Wolf SRM I have not used yet.

With that said, I have used CCI #400, good primer, but I still like using CCI #41

I have not tried BR4, 7-1/2 primers listed above…

[NiteQwill]

I get lower ES with CCI450 primers, as well as benefiting from a thicker cup. So that's what I use exclusively for all my loads.

Just be careful when using 450, it is most definitely a magnum primer.

[GeoffLinder]

I would actually recommend Remington 7-1/2 over Winchester SR. I've had plenty of pierced primers with Winchester SR in the AR15, which is why I had stopped using them.

For AR15, I use any of the following:
CCI BR4
Remington 7-1/2
Wolf SRM

If for some reason I can't get any of the above, I'll use CCI 400, CCI 450, or CCI 41.

Hmm, have not had that result, but then again, I always stop load development when primers flatten and flow

Maybe you have firing pin issues, maybe not, but I have been using WW primers in all my AR loads for over 20 years and the only time I have ever had a pierced primer was when I was running a load develop test and purposely went way, way over max load to see where it would go. YMMV

[ocabj]

Maybe you have firing pin issues, maybe not, but I have been using WW primers in all my AR loads for over 20 years and the only time I have ever had a pierced primer...

The older guys used to say that, too, come to find out they were still using old stock Winchester primers they bought back when Winchester primers were silver in color. Then when they actually bought a brick of newer primers (starting from early to mid-2000) they started having problems.

[Raptor1Ronin]

I been using 6-1/2 Rem primers for a year now and have had no problems with them at all. No signs of pressure at all.

21.5Grn
XBR-8208
68Grn Hornaday HPBT

[checkenbach]

I've using 6 1/2's(that I bought by mistake) in my .357 Contender or Revo's with no issues, Federal 205's in the 700, CCI 41's in the AR

[Colt562]

Hmm, have not had that result, but then again, I always stop load development when primers flatten and flow

Maybe you have firing pin issues, maybe not, but I have been using WW primers in all my AR loads for over 20 years and the only time I have ever had a pierced primer was when I was running a load develop test and purposely went way, way over max load to see where it would go. YMMV

Same with me, although I havnt been reloading for 20 years, I have yet to have a problem with winchester branch small rifle primers.

[GeoffLinder]

The older guys used to say that, too, come to find out they were still using old stock Winchester primers they bought back when Winchester primers were silver in color. Then when they actually bought a brick of newer primers (starting from early to mid-2000) they started having problems.

The batch I have been using for the last 8+ years was bought in 2003-2004 and they are silver color. Wonder if I got older stock. Have not bought any SR since then because I bought 30k at that time and am still in good stock. I did buy some WW LR primers in 1000 lot size in 2008-2009 and they were still silver color too and I use them in max loads for .270 with no issues either.

Edited to add: A pierced primer is always an indication that you are pushing the envelope no matter what primer brand you are using!

[Kappy]

Pierced primers can result in super-heated gas coming back and burning your face, hands, etc. I wouldn't take the risk in using a primer unintended for the use to which you wish to put it.