Bench rest and match primers vs STD Primers?

[Jasper1573]

I have read and been told that match grade primers are significantly better and will improve consistency.

But given all the variables involved in a day of shooting, how does one really empirically document/see the difference.

Suppose I shoot one day with STD primers and score very well, but next time I shoot with match grade primers and shoot lower or maybe even the same score...hard to quantify the many variables.

I shoot mostly F-Class.

OPINIONS?

 

[918v]

Match primers are said to be more consistent, but the reason a load shoots better or worse from day to day is due to the weather, not primers.

 

[Walkalong]

Lots of truth to that.

Primers make a difference, but a slight switch in conditions that you miss makes a great deal more. :banghead:

A classic 4 and 1 group.

 

[gamestalker]

I've used BR primers and still due now and then. But if they make all that much difference I think I would notice it on the paper, I don't.

 

[Walkalong]

Federal match primers are made by the most experienced workers, so they tend to be more consistent, and that is big at the Benchrest level of accuracy.

They will not make a huge difference, and cannot come close to making up for shooter error, which is what loses matches.

Probably 99% of the guns on the line are capable of winning, and probably 90%+ gun/loads are capable of doing so.

Gun handling is important of course, but reading the wind is what it is all about.

 

[P-32]

I have had smaller groups with the Federal large rifle match primers over CCI large BR primers. For some reason, Standard CCI's workk better than the BR's. For small rifle primers and 223, I use Remington 7 1/2's with a very good out come. I can use the CCI small rifle BR primers and wnd up with about the same group and poa.

 

[R.W.Dale]

In my limited experience the Russian primers will produce slightly better numbers and groups than even the Fed LR GMM primers

But I agree with the posts above that the load as a whole and how all the components work together is more important to accuracy than the perceived quality of any one component over another


Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[918v]

For some reason, Standard CCI's workk better than the BR's.

BRs are hotter. It could be your load prefers standard primers.

 

[NCsmitty]

Br primers are equal to magnum primers as far as brisance is concerned, but are produced with a higher degree of consistency in the cup paste.
That consistency does not always produce the desired results downrange, because there are more factors to consider, that others have mentioned.



NCsmitty

 

[LTR shooter]

The most accurate rounds I've ever fired were loaded with match primers - Fed Match , Rem 7 1/2 or CCI BR-4.

 

[Grumulkin]

Br primers are equal to magnum primers as far as brisance is concerned, but are produced with a higher degree of consistency in the cup paste.
That consistency does not always produce the desired results downrange, because there are more factors to consider, that others have mentioned.



NCsmitty

So, I guess with my practice of usually using Federal 210M primers in my standard rifle loads, I've actually been using the equivalent of magnum primers? I'm aghast! How did I survive? And to think that I also use Federal 215M primers; those must REALLY be hot!

 

[NCsmitty]

You are absolutely right Grumulkin, I pulled that from memory, and I was wrong. The only similarities of BR primers to magnum primers is the cup thickness.
BR primer brisance is closer to standard primers.

I really abhor disseminating bad information.



NCsmitty

 

[USSR]

In my limited experience the Russian primers will produce slightly better numbers and groups than even the Fed LR GMM primers

+1. High Power Champion David Tubb thought so highly of these primers that he bought 700,000 of them. I bought 5,000 of them myself, and am down to about 2,000 of them. They produce very low ES and SD numbers.

Don

 

[codefour]

Which Russian primers? Wolf?

 

[USSR]

Both the current Wolf and Tula primers are made in the same Russian plant.

Don

 

[gamestalker]

I would lean toward the weather and shooter being the noticable variation in group quality. I guess I feel that if the powder completely ignites efficiently it will be difficult to see any difference on paper between a BR primer and a standard one.

 

[Walkalong]

Allen Hall told me one time if your primer goes bang, you don't have a problem. He was talking about seating primers, and that is a little over simplified, but the point is that primers are the least of your problems. Most folks do not have a clue how much wind moves their bullet. It takes competition at a high level to learn it. (Wind flags and a world class rifle help too) It takes practice to know when a gun is trying to shoot and you are holding it back vs a load/gun/scope problem.

 

[LTR shooter]

When attempting to shoot the best possible groups I'll still use the match components. To say if the primer goes bang is all you need is like saying as long as the bullet is lead and copper you are good to go. I would not use bulk FMJ bullets to shoot my best groups.

 

[Walkalong]

You missed the point entirely.

 

[Jasper1573]

Right then...what I have gathered from all of this is that match grade primers are more consistent and may give better groups assuming (be careful with that) one can read the wind and so on.

I bought a couple hundred match primers (Federal and CCI BR-2) to try out. If I see a difference in 200 rounds, I'll probably buy more.

Thanks for the info and opinions.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

With the guns I own and my eyes not being what they used to be I can't justify spending the additional money on Benchrest/Match primers. I usually use mostly CCI or sometimes Winchester primers and they work just fine for me.

That's not to say BR primers won't deliver better results for you, just not for me.

I do use CCI#34 primers in semi-auto ammo like for the M1 Garand.

 

[Walkalong]

When you are trying to do this, it can matter. Five shots into .144 in a registered match. Man, time is getting away from me.

 

[ranger335v]

"I have read and been told that match grade primers are significantly better and will improve consistency."

Unless you're shooting under perhaps .5 MOA, consistantly, and that at 300 yards or more, I doubt you'll ever see any difference using match primers. And even then the differences won't be vast. IMHO.

 

[Walkalong]

Agreed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Good shooting AC, that's amazing!

Under those circumstances I would agree BR primers are probably a good idea! LOL