Small Rifle Magnum primers in 223

[Iron Worker]

Checking on my supply of primers. I found a 10 + year old box of CCI 450 Small magnum rifle primers.( 1,000 primers) I guess all I can do is try them. Any predictions on using these primers in my AR-15 223 ?

 

[Dano1]

I have some old CCI 200 LR primers that are quit old as well. They are in the White/green/black packages with the black trays. They shoot just fine. I haven't had a miss fire yet.

I'm guessing that as long as they have been kept dry and in a relatively cool place, 40-60 degrees, they should work just fine.

Dan

 

[anachronism]

Use 'em with ball powder, they'll be fine. I remember buying some Federal magnum small rifle primers during the last primer famine. I ended up using them in a .357 magnum! Times were tough back then. I used to have to walk ten miles to shoot, in a snowstorm, barefoot....

 

[Predatormaster]

I had read that if you use magnum primers in place of a regular primer you need to reduce your loads. Anyone elses thoughts?

 

[BountyHunter]

In the BR cartridges we are using the 450s and it cut ES and SD by over 50%.

They are to go to primers for the BRs.

BH

 

[Natty Bumpo]

I know the Speer manual generally recommends magnum primers with ball powder. I tried a ball powder load with both CCI 400 and CCI 450 primers in my .223 Rem bolt gun. I didn't see any difference in grouping at 100 yards. They both shot about the same. This was before I got my chronograph, so I can't say anything regarding velocity.

 

[MachV]

I use a lot of 2200 powder in the 223s and the 450 primer HAS to be used. a 400 primer will open groups up to shotgun patterns...or worse!
If they still go bang they will work great with most ball powders.