I’ve used them in 308 and 30-30 loads. They work fine. All my 308 loads have been with them. I normally use Winchester LRP for 30-30 but tried a few to see if they’d work.
I ran a test to compare velocities of a series of primers, including CCI #34 with my standard 30-06 match load of 47.0 grs IMR 4895. I use this charge with 168 match or 175 match, surely the heavier bullet produces more pressure, but given this is a mild load, I do not see pressure issues.
While the #34 is considered a magnum primer, its influence on velocity is not readily distinguishable from “standard primers”. But then, my load should be from 40,000 to 45,000 psia, as this target load is based on velocities and pressures of M1 Garand loads. Which are mild compared to most of the hot rod loads out there.
Winchester primers were labled “magnum and standard”, and the CCI #34 produces similar velocities, so it is reasonable to assume pressures are similar. But then, without a pressure gauge, this is only a guess.
I have lots of 174 FMJBT's, five gallon buckets of LC match brass, so I used those and all the primers I have rolling around the reloading room. Any load I have developed with 174’s is perfectly safe with 168 match bullets.
I do not recommend the use of Federals in Garands, Federals are the most slamfiring primers around, so I am not publishing any federal primer data in my Garand, because someone may think it might be an endorsement of use.
Tula 7.62 primers were advertised by Graf as equivalent to CCI #34 primers. CCI #34 primers are advertised as being “mil spec” primers by CCI. Mil Spec primers are the only appropriate primers to use in Garands and M1a’s as they are less sensitive than commercial primers and greatly reduce the risk of an out of battery slamfire.
Code:
30-06 Primer Test
Colombian Mauser Match 1:10 Wilson Match barrel
174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps
14 Nov 2011 T = 68 °F
Ave Vel = 2698
Std Dev = 51
ES = 117
High = 2771
Low = 2654
N = 5
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2645
Std Dev = 12
ES = 42
High = 2671
Low = 2629
N = 10
Very good group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 9
ES = 28
High = 2677
Low = 2649
N = 10
Excellent Group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 15
ES = 36
High = 2677
Low = 2641
N = 9
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Fed 210S OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2656
Std Dev = 13
ES = 34
High = 2674
Low = 2640
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2665
Std Dev = 18
ES = 60
High = 2696
Low = 2636
N = 10
Excellent group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2680
Std Dev = 14
ES = 56
High = 2712
Low = 2656
N = 10
V. Good group
M1 Garand BMR Receiver Douglas Barrel 1:10 twist
150 gr FMJBT 1966 Ball
14 Nov 2011 T= 74 ° F
Ave Vel = 2545
Std Dev = 20
ES = 68
Low = 2513
High = 2581
N= 8
174 FMJBT White Box 1968 NM M72, Headstamp LC67 match, box velocity 2640 fps
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2592
Std Dev = 28
ES = 103
High = 2647
Low = 2544
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI #34 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2632
Std Dev = 20
ES = 60
High = 2671
Low = 2611
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Tula 7.62 lot 1-10 primers OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2582
Std Dev = 15
ES = 49
High = 2602
Low = 2553
N = 10
excellent group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM Wolf NCLR lot 18-09 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2607
Std Dev = 17
ES = 57
High = 2642
Low = 2585
N = 10
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM WLR (Nickle) OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2650
Std Dev = 19
ES = 68
High = 2688
Low = 2620
N = 10
Very good group
174 FMJBT 47.0 IMR 4895 Lot L7889 thrown LC62NM CCI200 OAL 3.30
14 Nov 2011 T = 74 °F
Ave Vel = 2599
Std Dev = 22
ES = 75
High = 2637
Low = 2562
N = 10
Very good group
the #34 shoots well in all my centerfire rifles.
Each primer lot varies in sensitivity, intensity, etc, because primer cake is mixture of components, all of which have allowable plus of minus percentages, and of course, each ingredient varies in purity. If your data is maximum loads, then regardless of primer type or lot, you are going to have to re run your load development or you run the risk of pierced, leaking, or blown primers. Incidentally, if you change anything, like case, powder lot, bullet, then similar overpressure indications may appear. I know they have for me and for others. A shooting bud of mine never took into account the new Kreiger barrel on his rifle when he first used CCI #34 primers and encountered pressure problems. He blamed the primer, because he was assuming a barrel was a barrel was a barrel. Not so, Kreiger barrels are tight and if Bud had been running his old loads, he would have blown his old primers with his old loads in his new Kreiger barrel. Instead, he bad mouthed CCI #34 primers on the web, until such time, he figured out, he should have kept his mouth shut. But by then, the impression he left on the web stayed around for years.