primers for 223 bolt

[broham]

I am in the process of loading for my 223 Savage bolt. I have been loading for rofles and handguns for a couple of years now, just not 223 yet. The powders I am going to use are BL-C(2) H335 and H4895. ( saving my Varget and RL15 for my 308) I have CCI 400 primers and see that the 2 ball powders show using a mag primer. What gives if I use a regular sr primer?

 

[10 Spot Terminator]

Most of the load data I use doesnt use magnum primers in any of their .223 Rem load data but do tend to lean a bit toward the primers that are are on the upper end of the warmer burning rate for small rifle primers such as the Rem 7 1/2 or federal Gold Medal match grade of which I use the latter. Pressures will vary slightly as the ignition rate of the powder will vary slightly too. Stay with one primer through your load work ups being careful to watch for pressure signs when nearing max. loads. If you dont get a sweet shooter with either of those powders you can start over with a different primer but be sure to take the best performers you already have and tweak the bullet seating depth 1st before starting over, you may surprise yourself... 10 SPOT

 

[rcmodel]

Ball or spherical powder usually calls for Mag primers because of the deterrent coating used to control the burn rate with it. It is harder to ignite then stick type powder.

You will probably be fine using standard primers, except in very cold weather.
It would be best to use whatever type of primer the load recipe calls for however.

rc

 

[ants]

I just looked up Hodgdon's data http://www.hodgdon.com and it does NOT call for magnum primers for any of your powders. Many of us use magnum primers where the data calls for it, but you can generally find other data where available.

I don't know which manual you reference, but don't be afraid to confer with several manuals and the powder manufacturer's web site to get a full picture. Then make your informed choice.

 

[rcmodel]

They do call for Winchester Small Rifle, which for all practical purposes, is a magnum primer. They only make the one Sm Rifle primer to cover all the bases.

rc

 

[broham]

I gathered data from Speer,Sierra,Hornady,Lee and Hogden. I beleive Speer puts a astraphy next to powders which call for magnum primers. All other manuels use primers which are for both. At least Speer shows loads for both style primers. I do remember ball powders usually use a mag primer. Although I use CCI 200 for everything in my 308. Maybe 223 is different. Thanks much for your input. I'll buy some 450's for the ball powders I have on hand. I do have some Wolf 223 primers but I'm savin those for my AR.

 

[627PCFan]

Standard primers shouldn't give you any kind of problems unless you hunt in -30 below. I get better accuracy with BLC2 and sm rifles, rather than mags-

 

[Steve in PA]

I use CCI 400's for .223 reloads shot out of my Bushmaster M4 and Savage 12FV using H335, never had a problem with ignition.

 

[NCsmitty]

I use CCI magnum primers in all ball powder loads for the reasons rcmodel mentioned.
I also use them in a case that's shooting more than 70gr of any powder (308 Norma Mag).


NCsmitty

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm going to use CCI-400 primers for my .223 rounds with H335 in a bolt action rifle so I'm going to follow this thread closely. I can also get my hands on some CCI #34 NATO primers, would they work better than the CCI-400. (I remember reading they were equivalent to Magnum primers as well as having harder cups to prevent slam-fires)

 

[rg1]

I use Remington RP 7 1/2"s and have had no issues with Win 748, H335, or surplus WC 844 in summer or winter temperatures in Ky. I have had one misfire in really cold weather in an AR but it was due to a very light primer strike and I believe it was from an oily firing pin that the oil got sticky from the cold. My fault. RP 7 1/2's are not magnum primers.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

The main topic of discution as far as primers go for .223 is pople beng worried about slamfire's with semi-auto's. I would use what you have, and base your choice on proformince, in your bolt gun.