.223 rem and primers

[Bezoar]

heres the thing that i hate, to many sizes can be used in one cartridge.

the federal premium bulk 223 uses a mil spec primer, its bigger then everything else ive found primer wise in commercial .223 remington.

The question is, is there an easier to find subsitute for when i get around to reloading the fired brass with these mil spec primers?

and does mil spec primer mean mil spec primer pocket crimp remover tool is needed?

 

[CMV]

Why would a "milspec primer" be a different size than any other SR primer? A CCI #41 is the same size as a CCI 400 or 450.

 

[Bezoar]

i just bought a box of fed premium bulk pack 100 round 55 grain fmj in the red box. and a box of the italian perfecta in 223 remington on the way home from work.

I was really studying them side by side. the federal box says "we used mil spec primers in this ammo". And im confused because the federal PRIMERS are of a larger diameter then the perfecta ammo.

 

[CMV]

I have a suspicion that once you disassemble them both you'll find the primers are the same diameter. Unless you have something with Berdan primers. Those are slightly larger and in general not reloadable. Look again & see if the Italian ammo isn't the one with the larger diameter primer.

 

[CMV]

Berdan vs standard SRP:




You can also see on the far right one - the circle around the primer is what a military crimp looks like. That's part of the brass, not the primer.

 

[Walkalong]

All the boxer small rifle primers are the same size, give or take a .0001 or maybe two. Folks say the Wolf primers are a bit tight, but I can't prove it using my RCBS hand primer. Maybe a hair I guess.

The difference is in the hardness/thickness of the cup, and perhaps the mixture. They are harder to set off. It has nothing to do with size.

 

[rcmodel]

+1

All .223 uses Small Rile primers, regardless of brand.

And they are all the same size.

The Only Sm Rifle primer you have to avoid is the Remington #6 1/2.

They are low pressure primers made for the .22 Hornet class rifles.

rc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The mil-spec part of the statement on the box refers to the cup thickness and sensitivity of the primer, not the size. Like said above, all Boxer SR primers are the same size.

If the primers are crimped or staked you will have to swage or ream the pockets before you install a new primer.

 

[Hypnogator]

The Only Sm Rifle primer you have to avoid is the Remington #6 1/2.

If you're loading for an AR, you might also want to shy away from Federal primers, which are softer than most. I've had good luck with CCI 400s in my loading, although some say they pose a risk for slam-fires. That has not been my experience, and my experience with CCI 41s (mil-spec primers) is that they cut velocity by 30-50 fps and are less consistent than the 400s.