Are ALL Primers created equally

[mjmagee67]

What I find funny is that I don't get much more velocity out of a Remington 7 1/2 than I get out of a CCI400!!!! The 7 1/2 given me about 10-15 more FPS. No pressure signs or anything to indicate it is such a flame thrower primer.

[Germz]

Berdan was an AMERICAN.

I know, and boxer was a european invention. I would bet that more than half don't know that and just associate berdan with (russian import) ammo that is seen commonly.

it was a bad joke anyway.

[Wrangler John]

Primers make a huge difference in accuracy. Which primer works with any given cartridge is dependent on so many variables as to be daunting. Primers vary slightly by lot, and each manufacturer uses a different priming compound, so that which works best has to be sorted out by experimentation. Some powders work best with one brand, while others work with another, all in the same cartridge and rifle. The example below demonstrates how much difference there can be in accuracy. Same rifle, same Pac-Nor polygonal barrel, cartridge, cases, powder, bullet and seating depth, same 10 shot groups, different primers. The Federal 205M Small Rifle Match primer versus the Winchester Standard Small Rifle primer. Winchester won.



Don't forget that the primer has a mechanical component to it, so that the mechanical factors such as firing pin protrusion, mainspring force, impact force, seating depth and a bunch of other things also play into performance. I use Remington, CCI, Federal, Winchester and Wolf primers in small and large rifle sizes, standard and magnum strength, and the same for pistol primers. After years of handloading you develop a sense of which will likely work in a given situation, until one or another manufacturer makes a major change in their primers. For example Remington / Dupont once made primers with two legged anvils, these were at the time (approximately before 1980's) the most consistent primers available across the board. Remington primers were the first ones I tried, and usually didn't have to go further. Then they were changed to three legged anvils becoming just another primer in the mix. Change makes it interesting.

[smle-man]

Different brands have different cup thickness also. Winchester and the milspec CCI are the thickest domestic primers. I had trouble setting off CCI41s in a sporter bolt action rifle, they worked fine in my AR with the heavier firing pin and hammer smack. Regular CCI has the thinnest and aren't recommended for AR type rifles. FWIW.

[sdkevin]

Excellent point Jack, a thicker cup will meet the NATO spec of your semi rifle.

When you have that receiver sitting along side your face, you don't want that freshly chambered round to go off on its own.