I reload .223/5.56 match ammo for my daughter and use CCI BR4 primers with Varget powder.
I'm getting ready to reload bulk practice ammo and the BR4s aren't too easy to find. I have prepped Scharch brass I'll be using.
Does the primer make that much difference? Any recommendations for alternate primer choices?
Primers for 5.56
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Primers for 5.56
it's socially unacceptable to be ahead of your time.
L'Olam Lo - Never Again
L'Olam Lo - Never Again
Re: Primers for 5.56
Ira,
I've been using BR4s for 600, Winchester Small Rifle for everything else. People tell me the WSRs are no good, I'll get pierced primers, but I've had no problems.
Remmington 7-1/2s are regularly recommended. Lots of folks swear by CCI 400s. Powdervalleyinc is out of WSRs and I'm thinking of ordering Rem 7-1/2s since so many Highpower shooters tell me they are great.
Other people - not Highpower competitors - regularly suggest the CCI #41 "military" primers, to prevent slam fires. I've never seen an AR-15 slam fire, but if you chamber a round and eject it without firing, you will see a little firing pin dimple from inertial loading when the bolt closes - so it *can* happen. Powder Valley has them but they cost more ($140 / 5000) than the regular #400s ($107 / 5000).
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Andrew
I've been using BR4s for 600, Winchester Small Rifle for everything else. People tell me the WSRs are no good, I'll get pierced primers, but I've had no problems.
Remmington 7-1/2s are regularly recommended. Lots of folks swear by CCI 400s. Powdervalleyinc is out of WSRs and I'm thinking of ordering Rem 7-1/2s since so many Highpower shooters tell me they are great.
Other people - not Highpower competitors - regularly suggest the CCI #41 "military" primers, to prevent slam fires. I've never seen an AR-15 slam fire, but if you chamber a round and eject it without firing, you will see a little firing pin dimple from inertial loading when the bolt closes - so it *can* happen. Powder Valley has them but they cost more ($140 / 5000) than the regular #400s ($107 / 5000).
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Andrew
Retractable claws; the *original* concealed carry
Re: Primers for 5.56
Good stuff, thanks very much Andrew. I may try some of those Remingtons.
One of the Texas juniors had a slam fire at Camp Perry, ruined his upper. He was using the team provided ammo which IIRC had the WSR primers, I'll confirm.
We'll see you at a match sometime soon if we can ever get school to quit interfering with the girl's trigger time. She was going to shoot the LEG match this weekend, but has two performances Saturday and doesn't want to come out Sunday without getting her sightings on Saturday.
One of the Texas juniors had a slam fire at Camp Perry, ruined his upper. He was using the team provided ammo which IIRC had the WSR primers, I'll confirm.
We'll see you at a match sometime soon if we can ever get school to quit interfering with the girl's trigger time. She was going to shoot the LEG match this weekend, but has two performances Saturday and doesn't want to come out Sunday without getting her sightings on Saturday.
it's socially unacceptable to be ahead of your time.
L'Olam Lo - Never Again
L'Olam Lo - Never Again
Re: Primers for 5.56
Priorities. She has hers right, and it is cool to see her scores skyrocket like that!
I'm skipping the LEG match too - been spending a lot of time at 100 yards / SR-1 target, standing, with a few live rounds and a bunch of dummies - single loading the rifle with eyes closed. Need to bring my standing scores up out of the dirt.
Sorry to hear of the slamfire at Perry! Glad no one was hurt.
The only thing that has kept me from just flat-out switching to Remmington primers is that the correct way to do it is to work up the load all over again with the new primer, instead of just switching primers. Rather than being "correct" I might load a few rounds and shoot them to look for pressure signs, and assume my hold (or lack thereof) drowns any change in accuracy or group size.
Have fun!
Regards,
Andrew
I'm skipping the LEG match too - been spending a lot of time at 100 yards / SR-1 target, standing, with a few live rounds and a bunch of dummies - single loading the rifle with eyes closed. Need to bring my standing scores up out of the dirt.
Sorry to hear of the slamfire at Perry! Glad no one was hurt.
The only thing that has kept me from just flat-out switching to Remmington primers is that the correct way to do it is to work up the load all over again with the new primer, instead of just switching primers. Rather than being "correct" I might load a few rounds and shoot them to look for pressure signs, and assume my hold (or lack thereof) drowns any change in accuracy or group size.
Have fun!
Regards,
Andrew
Retractable claws; the *original* concealed carry
Re: Primers for 5.56
Boy did I get chewed out after I wrote about not shooting on Sunday. Girl crashed her bicycle over the weekend and it turns out that she's still rather banged up from it and that's why she doesn't want to shoot. She stays so busy I almost have to make an appointment to talk with her. Told me she's shot at Juliff enough that she has her sightings, she simply can't hold her rifle right now.
Maybe I should have ordered that Scharch brass with the #41 primers already installed. I'd like to be able to shoot the same practice ammo in my M4 that I load for the competition rifle as I'm too lazy to have to reset the dies for different bullet lengths.
Maybe I should have ordered that Scharch brass with the #41 primers already installed. I'd like to be able to shoot the same practice ammo in my M4 that I load for the competition rifle as I'm too lazy to have to reset the dies for different bullet lengths.
it's socially unacceptable to be ahead of your time.
L'Olam Lo - Never Again
L'Olam Lo - Never Again