Large Rifle Primers Comparison Report

[Jicko]

I tested 5 different large rifle primers, and the goal is to establish their relative performance in terms of MV/ES/SD:
- CCI #200
- CCI #BR2
- WLR
- FED 210
- FED 210M

I couldn't find any WolfLR and #34 in time, too bad. :-(


5 rounds each
- .308WIN
- Rem 700PSS, 26" barrels
- LC96 cases
- 175SMK (all weighted 175.0gr)
- RL15 43.0gr (+/- .05), dispense by PACT electronic dispenser and scale
- OAL around 2.82"
- 100yds.


CCI#200
MV: 2689fps
ES: 52
SD: 19.3

CCI#BR2
MV: 2669fps
ES: 26
SD: 11.1

WLR
MV: 2695fps
ES: 21
SD: 8.1

FED210
MV: 2688fps
ES: 43
SD: 16.7

FED210M
MV: 2701fps
ES: 19
SD: 7.2


Some observations (from this experiment):
- CCI#200 and FED210 are similar in performance in terms of MV/ES/SD
- CCI#BR2 is better than CCI#200 in terms of ES/SD
- CCI#BR2 seems to be colder than CCI#200 in terms of MV
- FED210M is better than FED210 in terms of ES/SD
- FED210M seems to be hotter than FED210 in terms of MV
- WLR seems to be good for the money, peroformance similar to the premium FED210M and CCI#BR2
- FED210M performs the best

[Ugly Dwarf]

Thanks for the write up.

I've always known (or at least have heard from many sources) that different brands of primers will perform differently, but it's interesting to see the results.

I guess I will continue to buy Winchester primers.

[rksimple]

Now try them all with a stout load of Varget and see what happens!

Good info there Jicko. I've noticed the same trends in my 45.5 gr of Rl15 behind a 155 scenar. WLR gives a bit more velocity than 210m's, and even more over the Wolf LR's. My best ES/SD was with 210m's (2 strings had an ES of 8), and WLR and Wolf were about the same with an ES of about.

Here's the results. I think the chrono was reading about 40 fps fast based on my dope I got.

55 degrees, ~1800' ASL, Winchester brass sized .002 shoulder bump, bullet seated to 2.830" in Bartlein 22.5 in barrel.

210m's and 44.5 RL15 - Avg. 2931 fps, ES=20

210m's and 45.0 RL15 - Avg. 2955 fps, ES=22

210m's and 45.8 RL15 - Avg. 3019 fps, ES=8 (Primer flattening, slightly sticky bolt)

WLR's and 46.0 Varget - Avg. 3017 fps, ES=18

Wolf primers and 45.5 RL15 - Avg. 2982 fps, ES=28

I have some data with 45.5 of rl15 and WLR's, just have to look it up when I get home.

[PistolPete75]

nice research. interesting results. makes you think about the winchesters being the best buy in the market. wonder how consistant the winchester large rifle primers are from lot to lot?

[ar15barrels]

Woo Hoo.
I have like 4K WLR's.

[rksimple]

Woo Hoo.
I have like 4K WLR's.

Lightweight...

Are they the old silver ones or the newer brass colored ones? Some have reported higher ES with the newer ones. Just wondering if anyone had some of the old ones against which to compare.

[ar15barrels]

I know.
I don't shoot many LR primers.
I keep 10K SR/SP primers in-stock because that's what I use the most...

I have the old silver WLRs.

[rksimple]

I know.
I don't shoot many LR primers.
I keep 10K SR/SP primers in-stock because that's what I use the most...

I have the old silver WLRs.

I'll give you a hundred newer ones if you would do a comparison for us. Maybe 4895, varget, rl15, something along those lines. I don't have any of the old WLR's left. Or if you wouldn't mind sparing a hundred, I could do some testing. I have RL15, varget, 3031, 4895, 4064, 748, and more.

[Jicko]

The ones I tested are the BRASS colored ones.

I can try to do another run of this same test.... if i get some OLD WLR, WolfLR and CCI#34....

[crowbar]

When WLR primers started seating way too easily in my Winchester brass, I did a test with my trusty Brown & Sharpe Micrometer and, IIRC, discovered the following: WLR's = .2100, Fed 210M's = .2105, and CCI 200's = .2103.
My first Palma barrel loved 44.7 grs of H4895 lit by WLR's, but the primers "soft seated" after three or so firing on the Winchester brass. 210M's and 47.0 grs of Varget kept the brass happy for eight loads.