Just playing with different primers ...

[FEENIX]

... now that I finally decided on which powder to use on my .300 WSM and Berger 215. My goal was to reach 2800 FPS out of a 24" barrel. I exceeded it but with pressures I can do without.

Anyways, I was not going for any accuracy for this session but I decided to load with 60g RL-17, WW once fired brass, 215 Berger with different primers and the result is as follows:

Just sharing as-is for what it is worth.

I will be developing accuracy load with the 215M and 9 1/2M next and see where it goes from here.

Cheers!

Ed

 

[Mateo]

I tested F210M
WLR
And the 9 1/2
And I really couldn't detect enough of a difference to bother changing from the 210M I normally use. Nice to see more info backing that up.

 

[450hunter]

FEENIX,

That is a interesting test you did on the primers. Looks like the 215M and 9 1/2M are the money makers for you. Have you done this test with any other calibers? Also do you mind telling me what your COAL is with the 215's? I have a Tikka but I have a feeling they would be way to long for the mag box. Mine will shoot excellent with 180 grain bullets but it doesn't like anything lighter. Thanks and great post.

450

 

[FEENIX]

FEENIX,

That is a interesting test you did on the primers. Looks like the 215M and 9 1/2M are the money makers for you. Have you done this test with any other calibers? Also do you mind telling me what your COAL is with the 215's? I have a Tikka but I have a feeling they would be way to long for the mag box. Mine will shoot excellent with 180 grain bullets but it doesn't like anything lighter. Thanks and great post.

450

450,

I was actually surprise of the results. The CCI250 has been my go to primer for awhile now and 215M in a very close 2nd. In fact, at 61g the CCI250 is similar to the 215M and 9 1/2M results above. In the past, the 9 1/2M has always been my last choice out of my primer list (in order of preference CCI250, 215M, WLRM, and 9 1/2M) but just for kicks I purchased another brick.

I did a similar test in .270 Win quite some time ago but with BR2, CCI200, 210, and WLR; with the exception of the WLR, they were so close to make a difference but went with BR2, since I have quite a few of them. Might just have to include different primer test now too during load development instead of sticking to a "go to" primer as I have done in the past.

The COAL is 2.975" and the CBTO is 2.206" ... sorry I meant to share them on the original post but got carried away and forgot it. BTW, the rifle is a factory Savage 11 FCNS (except for an MB install) >>> GunBroker.com Message Forums - Got my 1st shortmag ever ....

Tikkas are very nice rifles and quite the shooter and I normally recommend them to my friends. Not sure about your particular rifle but my friend's Tikka T3s in .300 WM's magazine COAL is rather short (geared for SAAMI specs) but it's accurate as heck.

With the exception of the couple of boxes of factory Win 150PP during barrel break in, I've only loaded 215s. I have Berger 190s and 210s, 200 NABs, 208 A-Max, and 200 LRX yet to try but will wait until after the hunting season.

Cheers!

Ed

 

[450hunter]

FEENIX
Thanks for the info and I have always been kinda a one primer guy also but it looks like I maybe changing some things up myself now. I have some 9 1/2M primers but have never tried them. I bought them because it was the only thing on the shelf up here. Supplies get really thin up here and are hard to get. The HAZMAT FEES kill us if we try to order from the states.

Mine is a Tikka T3 Lite 300WSM and if I do my part it will shoot one ragged hole @ 100 yards with factory ammo. I really like mine and plan on reloading for it just as soon as I get my 338 RUM squared away. It has put the hammer on several moose, couple dall sheep, grizzly and black bears. Longest kill was a black bear @ 541 yards (one shot kill). Love that Tikka!!

 

[450hunter]

FEENIX,
The Tikka mag box will allow a COAL 2.903, atleast my T3's mag box will. Thanks again

450

 

[FEENIX]

FEENIX
Thanks for the info and I have always been kinda a one primer guy also but it looks like I maybe changing some things up myself now. I have some 9 1/2M primers but have never tried them. I bought them because it was the only thing on the shelf up here. Supplies get really thin up here and are hard to get. The HAZMAT FEES kill us if we try to order from the states.

I hear you! Luckily, I didn't have to resort to ordering any online yet.

FEENIX,
The Tikka mag box will allow a COAL 2.903, atleast my T3's mag box will. Thanks again.

My mag can fit 3.003" COAL with .005" more to spare but it does not cycle too well when fully loaded. The 2.975" COAL is best and makes it .071" off the lands.

Cheers!

 

[Rich Coyle]

Savage 26" heavy barrel .223

Here are some loads with Varget and JLK 65 grain VLD's and different primers.

The powder charge of 27.5 grains usually produced velocities in the low 3200s in this 26" heavy barrel Savage .223. The primers used are as follows: Federal 205 and 205 M, Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rests, CCI BR 4 and 450 magnum and Winchester WSR. All groups used five shots at 100 yards.

Federal's 205 made three groups. They measured .519" @ 3220 fps, .962" @ 3224 and 1.216" @ 3210". The 1.216" group had a couple of fliers. They averaged .899" @ 3218 fps.

The 205 M from Federal is a match primer. There are records for four groups. They show groups of .709" @ 3224 fps, .726" @ 3224 fps, .644" @ 3224 fps, .757" @ 3227 fps. Their four group average was .709" @ 3225 fps. This primer produced the most consistent velocities that I have seen in any firearm.
Consistent velocities did not translate into the best accuracy, though.

The four Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rest primer's groups measured .744" @ 3211 fps, .682" @ 3211 fps, .676" @ 3224 fps and .682" 3223 fps and averaged .696" @ 3217 fps.

Winchester's WSR primers worked as follows: .582" @ 3220 fps, .399" @ 3249 fps, .830" @ 3219 fps and .812" @ 3219 fps. The average for WSR is .656" @ 3227 fps. All of the WSR primers were pierced by the firing pin.

The next primer is the CCI 450 magnum. It produced .684" @ 3200 fps, .546" @ 3207 fps, .711" @ 3234 fps, .544" @ 3219 fps, .806" @ 3191 fps and .525" @ 3218 fps. The average for the magnum primer was .636" @ 3211 fps.

The last one tried was another bench rest primer. It is the BR 4. We saved the best for last. The groups measured .492" @ 3245 fps, .477" @ 3250 fps, .441" @ 3245 fps, .452" @ 3232 and .460" @ 3229 fps. Its phenomenal five groups average is .464" @ 3240 fps. It also produced the highest velocities.

With the same rifle using the same powder firing the same bullets groups with the "best" primer are half the size of the worst groups.

When I tried the 52 grain JLK's I tried only two primers: the Remington match and the standard CCI. After eight groups of five shots with each primer the standard primer's groups were about 3/16" smaller on the average than the match primers.