Load development

[Westbrook]

I have worked up a load for my Springfield 840 .222 that holds an honest inch group at 100 yards. This load is using H-322 powder, Remington cases, WSR primers, and chrono's an avg of 3070 at the muzzle. The WSR primers were all available at the time, but I also have on hand some CCI and some Remington 7 1/2. I am thinking of loading up 5 using the Remington 7 1/2 primers to see if the group changes.

In your experience, do primers really make a difference hunting rifle accuracy or should one actually try different ones in the quest for a little bit more consistency/accuracy?

Do different makes of brass affect such?

 

[dakotasin]

primers typically won't have much impact on groups in hunting rifles.

different makes of brass typically have a pretty large impact on group size as well as pressure.

 

[JimKirk]

With you saying that "I've worked up a load", I take it that you have used various COAL "bullet-land" experiments too. If not give that a try too. Primers should not make a huge difference, but sometimes a different one will improve grouping. Have you gave the rifle barrel a "good cleaning"? Brass does have some effect also, not much, but when you add all the factors together, they could hurt your accuracy.


Jimmy K

 

[Sidewinder72]

In my experiences primers have made no difference to me. So I stick with benchrest primers for consistancy.

 

[kelbro]

I would load up 5 each using both the CCI and the Rem primers. I have seen some of my groups tighten up with the Rem 7 1/2 primers.

 

[gearheadpyro]

I have found that primers won't really change a whole lot as far as group sizes go, but brass will make a world of difference. After good component selection and load development, the brass is probably the single largest factor in ammunition accuracy out there. (IMHO)