CCI #400 vs #550 (Again)

[twarr1]

Wanted to share...
I emailed CCI concerning the debate about whether #400 small rifle primers and #550 small pistol magnum primers are interchangeable;

"...The fact of the matter is, the ONLY entity that can definitively say anything about CCI primer composition is CCI. Will you please consider publishing this information on your website and clearing this matter up once and for all? Thank you and best regards!"

Their response;

We can escalate this to our team once more as we do get a lot of these requests and the primers are not the same. These do feature different specifications in their making.
Thanks,
Cody B./Technical Service Rep.
CCI/Speer/Alliant

 

[AJC1]

People make claims they want to be true on the internet. The best way to handle this is to publish design pressure limits. This would give you factual data to work from and make quality decisions. A primer is no different than a powder and has optimal operating conditions. My first guess is that people will try and run spm in 5.56 ammunition. The answer is easy to explain if you have the right data...

 

[JFrank]

I know a fella that use to work at Vista outdoors in Lewiston. ( they produce primers ) I should ask him then report back.

 

[JDeere]

It will be interesting to see their reply. I'm willing to bet that for liability reasons they will say that primers should be used for what they are specified for on the label and load data...

 

[twarr1]

Personally, I considered them interchangeable in most cases. What prompted the inquiry was the latest glut (relatively) of small pistol magnum primers. If they were indeed exactly the same, why would CCI package them in SPM packaging? Why not just sell them as much higher demand small rifle?
My suggestion is for CCI to just publish something and end the speculation. They could say "Don't interchange them, they are different composition" Or " They are the same composition, but don't interchange them" Or " Interchange them at your own risk"
I suspect the true reason CCI is silent on the issue is that the actual composition changes regularly and it would create a liability issue for them.
But, if that's the case, they could just say that as well. I don't see any benefit to them to just let the speculation run wild.

 

[JFrank]

They have many times, there are articles on accurate shooter main home page. The primers ive tested all shoot slightly different. Size wise' Small rifle primer pockets get uniformed at .122 depth my CCI 450 primers average .117 keeping me .005 below flush. Ill let someone more qualified speak on spp dimensions and compounds.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't see any benefit to them to just let the speculation run wild.

Your whole post is speculation. Since they are called small pistol mad and small rifle, I can only assume they are different if I am going to speculate.

Until CCI says they are the same, they are not, and I will treat them that way.

 

[fxvr5]

What they told me in 2016 when I asked about the 550 and 400 primers:

"They are not the same primer, there are differences in the primer and you should follow published loading data. The web has some very dangerous information on it and anything that you use should be published and tested data.

..... primer specifications are proprietary information and not available to the public. There is differences in the mix."

Justin M./Technical Service Rep.
2299 Snake River Ave.
Lewiston, ID 83501
Alliant/Blazer/CCI/Speer

 

[twarr1]

@Walkalong; CCI answered -

We can escalate this to our team once more as we do get a lot of these requests and the primers are not the same. These do feature different specifications in their making.
Thanks,
Cody B./Technical Service Rep.
CCI/Speer/Alliant

My comment was about CCI publishing the information on their website.

Your whole post is speculation.

No need. My intention was not to question whether the primers are the same or not.