Need advise. CCI 400 or CCI 450

[Osideguy]

I'm new to reloading and about to start loading 223. Well that's assuming I find primers, lol been seeing them around though. Anyway, I've been searching for an answer about wether I should be using CCI 400 or CCI 450. The more I search the more I'm confused so thought I'd try here. I'll be shooting out of a new Daniel defense using TAC or H335 powders. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[Davisje011]

400s. 450s are magnums.

But I prefer Winchester Small Rifle myself.

[brando]

Stay away from 450s with .223. They're ideal for 6.5mm cartridges like 6.5 Creed or 6.5x47Lapua. In fact, in the latter they made my 1MOA groups collapse onto each other at 100m.

[SacJDog]

I think the 450 are magnum primers. I think you want to go with CCI 400 or the BR-4.

[Osideguy]

Yes 450s are magnum. Ok that's what I thought but reading online the said slam fires were a concern with the 400s and the 450s had a harder cup. Plus some other crap about pierced primers. Sure glad I asked. Now will CCI 400s burn good? Again reading that the 450s get a better burn.

[LynnJr]

Primers are a tuning aid and dirt cheap to boot.

When your developing a load You shoot it over a chronograph and watch the extreme spread.

On a 223 for your example we start at say 23.0 grains and look at the chronograph then up the charge weight to 23.3 grains and shoot it again then 23.6 then 23.9 and so on.

The extreme spread will drop as the charge weight is increased then it will start getting larger again.If mapped out it will resemble an hour glass or two stacked on top of each other in its shape with the smallest point being the best extreme spread.

You want the smallest extreme spreads you can get for best accuracy.

IF you extreme spreads are high you would change primers and repeat the testing over the chronograph until they were as small as you have primers to test.

The CCI 450 magnum primer does have a harder cup which also means it is harder to ignite.The BR4 also has a very hard cup.

Let your gun pick the primer it wants to shoot don't force it to shoot something it doesn't like.

[Osideguy]

Great info. Thanks a lot. I'd love to experiment and what not but I'm looking to buy in bulk so I'm hoping what I end up order will work well. That said I think that's great info.

[Enfield47]

Logo for CCI #41 primers, they are designed for the AR platform and work great.

[ExtremeX]

I use CCI 400 and 450 in 223 but it depends on which powder I am using...

Ball powders I typically default to magnum primers

Extruded I typically default to standard.

This isn't some hard and fast rule, just something I do personally. Some manuals like the Speer manual also recommend magnum primers for some ball powders like H335 and BL-C2

I’ve loaded those powders both ways, with standard and magnum… both work fine. Test both ways and see what works best for you.

[rconnerley]

I have run through a fair number of CCI 400's as well as a variety of other primers. I never had a slam fire. Be sure to seat your primers a few thousands below flush with the case head and you should be good to go. I would stay away from mag primers in 223 unless you know that you need them from personal experience. My .02, get a load manual from a major manufacturer and start out with the components they specify. Enjoy!

[bigdrunk92037]

This.

[pakk]

Primers are a tuning aid and dirt cheap to boot.

When your developing a load You shoot it over a chronograph and watch the extreme spread.

On a 223 for your example we start at say 23.0 grains and look at the chronograph then up the charge weight to 23.3 grains and shoot it again then 23.6 then 23.9 and so on.

The extreme spread will drop as the charge weight is increased then it will start getting larger again.If mapped out it will resemble an hour glass or two stacked on top of each other in its shape with the smallest point being the best extreme spread.

You want the smallest extreme spreads you can get for best accuracy.

IF you extreme spreads are high you would change primers and repeat the testing over the chronograph until they were as small as you have primers to test.

The CCI 450 magnum primer does have a harder cup which also means it is harder to ignite.The BR4 also has a very hard cup.

Let your gun pick the primer it wants to shoot don't force it to shoot something it doesn't like.

I think I understand what you are saying, but no quite. Are you want to use the charge that has the lowest change in FPS?

[mark501w]

In .223 I use std small rifle primers with ball powder seems to be a little more accurate.

[Divernhunter]

I use the mag primers and they give great accuracy. I also use Win748 which is a ball powder.

[Osideguy]

All great info. Thanks. I think I'll start with CCI 400s. I seems the only way I can find primers is in bulk. Just wanted to make sure before moving forward. Also, I was wanting to make sure a good burn with TAC and H335 powders. Thanks all