Primer test

[AndyTheCornbread]

I use CCI small rifle 400 in the 357 mag as well as 454 Casull. No failures to fire and I use a LOT of IMR-4227 in both with those primers.

 

[Brad]

Got some CCI 550 coming to the house tomorrow evening, thanks freebullet!
Now to get some cases primed and marked so I can tell what is what.

 

[Rick]

Compare the 550 and the 450 in the same load. Be quite interesting to see if/what difference there might be between the small pistol magnum and the small rifle magnum. I kinda suspect they are the same or at least pretty close. Curious minds gotta know.

 

[Brad]

Plan is to load as many as possible in groups of ten all using same load. I prime 10 ea with each primer then mark the head with a Sharpie so I can tell them apart. The case are then dumped in a bin and loaded in a single run on the Dillon. Sort by primer, thanks Sharpie, and go shoot.

 

[Brad]

Tha is to Khornet and freebullet I have more primers than I can test in a single 100 round box.

Here is the lineup for the next outing.

 

[Brad]

Got them all loaded. Decided to try a different powder this time. Load is 7.2 gr of Unique. Should give me close to 1500 fps.
I want to see if a faster burning powder shows as much difference as 4227 did.

Notice I didn't load any of the primers that gave me trouble? Why repeat the past when I know the spring won't light them off?

 

[Rick]

Decided to try a different powder this time. Load is 7.2 gr of Unique.

Doh? This was a test of 4227 with the mag primers. What could you possibly need mag primers for with Unique? What do you hope to learn with Unique using mag primers other than Unique doesn't need mag primers? Oh well, could have been interesting.

 

[Brad]

I plan to repeat with 4227 and Power Pistol. I want to see how different powder reacts with different primers.
I have at least 100 of each primer. I am using only 10 of each for this test. Lots of primers left.

This comes from suggestions to try a small rifle mag primer with Unique in this rifle based on his experiences with a similar rifle.

 

[fiver]

I think the mag primer with Unique will show something most don't look for.

 

[freebullet]

Doh? This was a test of 4227 with the mag primers. What could you possibly need mag primers for with Unique? What do you hope to learn with Unique using mag primers other than Unique doesn't need mag primers? Oh well, could have been interesting.

Least he didn't have tightgroup or bullseye nearby.

Maybe he got distracted by the uniqueness of unique.

 

[Brad]

I have actually considered the same thing with Titegroup!
Like fiver said, might show something most don't look for.

 

[Ian]

I think the mag primer with Unique will show something most don't look for.

Reduction in position sensitivity which shows up on target more with rifles due to our expectations of rifle accuracy/POI.

 

[Brad]

Had some issues with the LabRadar at first, forgot I needed to put the box under the base to get it high enough. Dammit.
WSP didn't read at all.
Primer avg vel. ES SD
WSPM 1437 8 4.4
CCI 550 1435 44 15
CCI 450 1430 45 15.1
CCI 500 1433 51 16.3
CCI 400 1436 39 14.8
Rem 5 1/2 1438 68 22.3
Fed 205 1436 29 11.8
Fed 200 1425 44 14.1
WSR 1436 36 13.0

All loads shot better than the 4227 loads.

As can be seen the velocities across all primers were very consistant. The WSPM does have the smallest ES and SD by a long shot. The others are all about the same except the Rem 5 1/2 which fared the worst.
With the iron sights it is hard to tell if one load shot significantly better than the others. Light was changing due to intermittent cloud cover. I used a small piece of duct tape to make a sun shade for the sights which helped some.

I need to retest the 4227 with these primers and see what happens.

Based on these results I would be tempted to use the 1500+ WSPM I have on hand for loads with Unique in this rifle.

 

[Rick]

All loads shot better than the 4227 loads.

As can be seen the velocities across all primers were very consistent.

Perhaps Unique is an easy to light powder and the primer made little difference. Groups would help determine any possible difference. AV/ES/SD is only part of the equation.

I need to retest the 4227 with these primers and see what happens.

Very wise, very wise indeed.

 

[Brad]

Groups that are truly meaningful are going to be difficult with this rifle. It is not drilled or tapped for a scope or a receiver sight. My aging eyes only do so well with a buckhorn rear and bead front. A blade front would likely help, may need to investigate buying one.

 

[Eutectic]

The WSPM does have the smallest ES and SD by a long shot.

I thought you were a little quick dropping this one Brad. It loves Unique for me even light grouse loads with plenty of 'air space'. It also has a thin cup only surpassed by Fed 100's. I'd use one or the other of these or put a little more hit on that firing pin!!

Pete

 

[Brad]

The WSPM was always in the consideration.

It is the Rem 7 1/2 and CCI BR 4 that I nixed due to failure to fire. Those that didn't fire in the rifle got fed to my GP100 today. Three of the CCI BR4 would note fire in the revolver either. The rest did with only a couple needing a second hit.
Not real amazing as those two primers have a good reputation in the AR for being piercing resistant primers where the WSR is known for piercing and earring firing pin noses.

 

[freebullet]

Interesting they were so close.

I did use srp's w/tightgroup(by the thousands) back when spp' s were not available. It does reduce the max a scootch.

I was/am interested in the 4227 results though.

 

[Brad]

Another 100 cases are primed and marked. Will try to get them loaded this weekend and shoot early in the week.

And yes, it will be with 4227.

 

[Rick]

And yes, it will be with 4227.