Ooops...got 6 1/2 rem primers for .223

[sisson_d]

Alright, I'm new to reloading and have been taking everything very slowly as I learn. In fact, I got everything I needed to load .223 a few weeks ago but held off until I did more reading/learning. Well, I finally got started last night and got to the point where I had seated 40 primers in the well prepared cases. That's when I noticed the warning on the Rem 6 1/2 primers about not using in loads like .223 rem. Crap. They were the only small rifle primers that I found at any stores locally and another customer told me they'd work fine, so I bought them. Thankfully, I only got one box of 1,000 of them. So it could have been worse.

Now I have read several threads here about people that have made the same mistake and it seems that most are of the opinion that as long as you stay away from the hotter loads, everything will probably be okay.

So, I have IMR4198 and the Hornady manual has a starting load for 2,800FPS using 17.4 gr. of IMR4198 with a 55-gr bullet (SP w/cannelure) and a COL of 2.200. Does this sound safe enough?

Also, I have an AR-15 and a bolt-action (Rem 700) in .223. Should I stick with the bolt-action with these rounds?

Finally, if everything goes alright, should I just keep using these primers with a similar load? Should I try to sell the remaining 960 primers? Or should I use this as a bad excuse to get a rifle and reloading equipment in 22 hornet?

Thanks for any advice,
Doug

 

[rcmodel]

Should I stick with the bolt-action with these rounds?

If you get primer piercing and FP & Bolt face erosion?
It would be much cheaper & easier to replace the AR-15 bolt & FP, then it would be to replace the Model 700 bolt & FP.

Hodgdon shows a starting load of IMR-4198 of 18.8 grains giving 41,600 PSI.
That should be a pressure level the primers could take, and 'might' be enough pressure to operate the action.

Just carefully watch for pierced primers, and if see any at all, Cease & Desist.

rc

 

[hAkron]

Maybe save the primers for something more appropriate and wait for the correct primers? You may be wasting time and materials to develop a load that may be under powered for your application, and that you won't return to rather than putting your time and energy into developing a great load for your application with the correct primers and no worries about pierced primers and eroded breach faces.

 

[beatledog7]

Do you load any low-pressure handgun rounds? I use these primers in .38SPL with excellent results. Just work up as you would with any change in primer.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Do you load any low-pressure handgun rounds? I use these primers in .38SPL with excellent results. Just work up as you would with any change in primer.

^^^ That Right There ^^^

Sorry you got caught up in the mess a lot of people get caught up in. Actually, it's Remington's fault for keeping primers on the market which are only good for a low pressure .22 rifle round like the 22 Hornet. When they found out their SRP were not good they should have improved them or removed them from the market. They really should fix that problem! The 6 1/2 primers should disappear and maybe they should add a 7 1/2M to their lineup.

I have 400 Remington 6 1/2 primers on my shelf too and have no use for them since I have plenty of SPP and SPM primers on hand... I think you're right, we should both buy a 22 Hornet since we have suitable primers for loading the ammo!!

 

[sisson_d]

It would be much cheaper & easier to replace the AR-15 bolt & FP, then it would be to replace the Model 700 bolt & FP.

Good point, but I do wonder about the ability to cycle the action.

Do you load any low-pressure handgun rounds? I use these primers in .38SPL with excellent results.

I haven't gotten that far yet. This .223 is my first attempt at reloading. I did plan on loading 9mm and .380 ACP, but wasn't planning on .38SPL since I may sell my only .38SPL revolver. Obviously there's nothing in my Hornady manual recommending small rifle primers for those rounds. Could I load anything in 9mm or .380 using these primers? Do you have any load data I could safely use?

 

[sisson_d]

Before making any final decisions for what to do with the primers, I'll check with my Uncle and see if he's got anything in 22 hornet he'll want to sell. He's got damn near everything under the sun. And if I can use them with a handgun load then I'll definitely keep them.

As for the .223 loads, I still have the 40 cases primed so I'll have to continue with those as safely as possible. I'll try not to winch too much when I pull the trigger on those.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I've only ever used standard rifle primers in all my rifles.. I also use small rifle primers in small pistol but that's just me though.. not really saying to do it or that it's OK/safe or advisable.

 

[rcmodel]

Could I load anything in 9mm or .380 using these primers? Do you have any load data I could safely use?

Yes you can use them in any handgun.

At the worst, a striker fired 9mm or .380 won't reliably ignite them and you will have misfires.

At the best, they will work just like Small Pistol primers.
Using the same load data.

rc

 

[rodregier]

During the last great primer famine I purchased from another competitor a partial brick of Fiocci small rifle primers that were inadequate to full-up IPSC .38 Super loadings.

I used them for 9mmx19 in a G17, worked just fine. Any "service class" 9mmx19 pistol should be able to set off the Rem 6 1/2 primers, suggest repurposing them for that.

 

[Certaindeaf]

The first thing to go off the market was CCI SP and the last were like the SR Tulammo primers.. when it came to those size primers. When you start seeing Tulammo SR, perhaps look forward to seeing Tulammo SP and then perhaps some CCI etc.

 

[sisson_d]

Any "service class" 9mmx19 pistol should be able to set off the Rem 6 1/2 primers, suggest repurposing them for that.

I probably shoot more rounds of 9mm through my Beretta 92FS than anything else I have. I imagine that'll do. I nearly have everything I need to start re-loading 9mm.

So, just to be safe, can others back up the claim of using Rem 6 1/2 primers in 9mm luger with the normal 9mm load data? No offense to rcmodel or rodregier, but when it comes to the Internet (versus official sources) I like to have a consensus from multiple sources.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Good for you for doing your own due dilligence. The main difference between standard SP and SR is cup thickness. There are many variations, mainly in rifle, regarding brissance and thickness etc. but what I said first is essentially true.
If you use a standard RP in a pistol with a light load, the chances are higher that you could get bolt erosion/primer blow-by due to it not sealing. Keep your pressures up to aviod this.
I again commend you on your research but the true data is out there, provided by the manufacturers.. it really is only up to you to prove things to your own satisfaction.

 

[sisson_d]

Thanks for the commendation. After years of fixing my own vehicles and tons of DIY work on my old house, I'm always leery of accepting the first piece of advice offered to me on the Internet. I like to wait and see if others agree or jump all over the advice with criticism. Also, my wife's worried about the safety of re-loading. And if I die because I make a stupid mistake with this, she'll kill me. Not to mention that the Beretta is actually her gun she bought from her cop Uncle.

So, if I understand this correctly, I should keep the pressures up to ensure that I get no gas blowing by the primer causing erosion. Does the pressure expand the case causing a tighter fit around the primer? Or does it affect the primer itself?

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'd keep the pressures normal/mid-range.. don't have really soft loads just for the fun of it.. I think you got good information here but that's just my opinion.

 

[hAkron]

You may want to go on Armslist.com and try to trade your primers to somebody for the correct ones. If they work in place of small pistol, there has to be somebody that needs them.

 

[Certaindeaf]

That's no fun and who even needs magic beans?

 

[Cranky CJ]

I too purchased the 6.5 primer for 223 use. I've fired off about 200 and not seen any pierced primers. For now I'm holding off using any of them since I have about 2500 'real' srp. After that I imagine I'll use them for 38spcl and 9x19.

 

[billybob44]

Any "service class" 9mmx19 pistol should be able to set off the Rem 6 1/2 primers, suggest repurposing them for that.

I probably shoot more rounds of 9mm through my Beretta 92FS than anything else I have. I imagine that'll do. I nearly have everything I need to start re-loading 9mm.

So, just to be safe, can others back up the claim of using Rem 6 1/2 primers in 9mm luger with the normal 9mm load data? No offense to rcmodel or rodregier, but when it comes to the Internet (versus official sources) I like to have a consensus from multiple sources.

+1 To RC and others that use Small Rifle primers in Small Pistol loads..After the 2008 shortage all I could find was the Remington 6 1/2's. I have used these all the way down to the .380acp. loads.

For me they have worked fine..Bill.

 

[Nevmavrick]

The 6 1/2s have softer/thinner cups for more sensitivity to firing pin blows, such as found on SOME Hornets, such as Low Walls or Marlin (or Winchester) lever guns, especially after they've been used a bit. Do you know someone that has actually removed their firing pin, and cleaned it and the chamber in which it rides??
It's less than ideal for use in an AR or similar firearm that has a floating firing pin. It makes for a likelyhood of a "slam fire."
That being said, the 40 you have prolly will work fine, but I sure wouldn't load more. Better yet, you can use them in a bolt gun if you want to, eventho' they are very easy to knock out and put back in the origional "flat." You can always use that as an excuse to go get a little Hornet, or ...
I've used a couple Ks in my M700 Duece, but 7 1/2s are better(at least more accurate)
I don't like to use SRPs in handguns, but in competition the are Ks and Ks used in .38 Supers.
Have fun,
Gene

 

[MutinousDoug]

Years ago (1998?) I bought a brick of Rem 6 1/2s for my AR 15 match rifle. I shot about half of them at NRA High Power events before I even heard they were not recommended for .223. I bought a brick of 7 1/2s but decided to run the rest of the 6 1/2s until they gave me any trouble.

They're all gone now. I probably should have saved some for my M1 Carbine.

Incidentally, the only difference between the two primers is the thickness of the primer cup i.e. the 7 1/2s are .001 thicker (about 5%). The pellet mix and weight are identical.