Small Rifle primers for 223?

[gifbohane]

Sorry guys but I cannot find what type of primers to use for reloading 223. I prefer to buy CCI primers and my Hornady manual does not list a selection for CCI.

CCI small rifle primers?

Also I see that some of the better internet sources do not sell rifle bullets. Ideas?

I will spare you the crimp, no crimp 223 debate. I am not going to crimp.

 

[M1key]

Most any Small Rifle Primers will work. I happen to prefer Federal and have used them for nearly 40 years. Best prices on all components for me are on Midsouth Shooters Supply.

M

 

[IMtheNRA]

Also I see that some of the better internet sources do not sell rifle bullets.

What internet are you using?

Take a look at Powder Valley, MidwayUSA, and Brownells, just to start.

 

[pert near]

I've had no problems using multiple brands of SRP in the .223 Rem. Trying various primers is part of my load development for accuracy.

Just FYI - I have no way of proving or disproving this: I have read that the CCI #41 (mil spec 5.56 primer) is equivalent to CCI 450 magnum SRP.

 

[Galil5.56]

Gif,

Curious what type of firearm are you wanting to reload for, what type of shooting, what propellant are you wanting to try, and lastly what type/weight of bullets? My little corner of .223/5.56 reloading revolves around a Galil ARM, which I like to use CCI 450 magnum primers/CCI 41's, ball propellant, and where I lightly crimp, due to the rifles pretty violent operation. The cases short neck, and not a whole lotta bullet bearing surface for 55 grain FMJ, has me feeling good about having some crimp.

 

[Reloadron]

Just FYI - I have no way of proving or disproving this: I have read that the CCI #41 (mil spec 5.56 primer) is equivalent to CCI 450 magnum SRP.

Well I figure let's ask the guys making them:

Ronald, primer specifications are below.

Small rifle primers
#41......................................Mil. Spec. primer, thick cup, magnum primer charge, angle of anvil change.
BR4.....................................thick cup, standard anvil and standard priming mix held to a tighter tolerance.

The CCI #41 is very similar to the CCI 450 in that they both are a magnum classified primer. The big difference is the anvil angle making for less sensitive primer.

Your Hornady manual list WSR (Winchester Small Rifle) in their suggested load data. The equivalent primer would be a CCI 400 small rifle primer.

There was a time when the Speer manuals called out using a magnum primer based on the powder used. For example Ball or Spherical powders like Win 748, AA 2230, AA 2460, BL-C (2) and H335 as well as others suggested the need for a magnum primer but that seems to have gone away. Will using a magnum primer like the CCI 450 ir CCI 41 matter much? No, not really as long as you start low and work up with credible published load data.

Ron

 

[Blue68f100]

The CCI #41 is the mil spec primer for the 5.56/223R. Like already said design to be less sensitive so to eliminate slam fires. My other one that I use a lot us the Rem 7 1/2 BR primers. These are a match grade primer are very good.

 

[hdwhit]

Also I see that some of the better internet sources do not sell rifle bullets.

First, check the sticky at the top of the board on where reloading components are sold.

Second, here are a few names to check out.

• https://www.midwayusa.com/
• https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/
• https://www.titanreloading.com/
• https://www.brownells.com/
• https://www.rmrbullets.com/
• http://www.evergladesammo.com/
• https://americanreloading.com/en/
• http://www.reloadingvalley.com/Default.asp

Each of those sellers has multiple configurations and weights of .224 diameter bullets in stock and ready to ship.

Third, you probably need to reconsider what you consider to be a "better internet source" and spend a little more time expanding the universe of suppliers you are looking at since anyone selling reloading supplies that isn't selling bullets suitable for use in the 223 Remington/5.56x45 cartridge wouldn't fit my definition of an "acceptable" source, much less a "better" one.

 

[doubleh]

I've used mostly CCI, some Winchester, Federal, and Remington over the years and have seen no difference between them.

 

[mstreddy]

OP, as you go looking for small rifle primers for 223, avoid Remington 6 1/2 Small Rifle primers. They will NOT work in 223. They are meant for low pressure rifle rounds, specifically 22 Hornet.
They even have a warning printed on the side of the flat/box :

Warning: Remington does not recommend this primer for use in the 17 Remington, 222 Remington, 223 Remington, 204 Ruger, 17 Remington Fireball. Use the 7-1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest primer in these cartridges.

 

[gifbohane]

You guys are awesome.

I will be plinking only with this AR 15 and plan to reuse my own brass (American), supplemented with some range pickup. Supreme accuracy will not be too important. Have not decided on powder yet and will load 55 grain. I found Hornady to be on the expensive side 60 or 70 cents a bullet if I remember right. I do not think RMR or Berry sells rifle bullets. Might try Berger. Will check Midway since I have had good experiences with them.

Just wondered if it is worth chronoing these rounds?

 

[Dudedog]

There are different opinions on this but for floating firing pins guns (ARs for example) I like to use either SR Mag or SR Mil spec primers to reduce the risk of slam fires. CCI450 or #41 are the common choices.
Last couple 1000 I have used were Tulas Don't recall if they were KVB556Ms or KVB223Ms (need to find my notes) Seemed to work well and a bit less expensive than CCIs.
I would not pick Federals for an AR. Federals tend to be more sensitive than some others.


RMR sells rifle bullets and actually makes some .223 bullets in house.
https://www.rmrbullets.com/collecti...250703677399072256416331669536262805415624704

 

[Blue68f100]

Hornady also sells a cheap bullet for the 223R/5.56. They can be found for around $0.08/bullet in quantities of 1000. These are FMJ-BT or soft spitzer point for varmints. They also come in a bulk package of 6000 too (<$0.07), if you need that many. These are not the most accurate bullets by any means but for general plinking where 1.5 MOA is acceptability, they are just fine. I use CFE-223 powder behind the FMJ-BT and get 1 MOA accuracy at 100 yrds. My AR with the cheap Anderson Barrel (Wydle Chamber) did not shoot them well at all. Best it would do was 2 moa. , (barrel has now been shot out and replaced).

 

[frankmako]

I have loaded thousands of 5.56 with many different brands of primers back in the day when 5.56 ammo was hard to get/pricey. CCI, winchester, s&b, Remington, tuta, federal, etc... I have used the primers that the makers state are for 5.56 too. What I have found is that I have not had a slam fire in any of my AR type rifles with any brand/type primers used. But I found the wolf small rifle 223 and/or wolf small rifle mag primer work well for me. For bullets look for military pull down bullets. For powder I use imr 4895, wcc 846, wcc 844 powder. But when the price of 5.56 came back down there is no reason for me the load it.

 

[pert near]

Here is the bullet I use in my AR for plinking & target shooting. I suspect Midsouth gets them from Hornady. Midsouth also sells them in a $5 test pack if you'd like to try before buying bulk. Sign-up for the Midsouth email. I bought the last 500 for $39.95 plus free shipping because my total order was over $50. When trying to pick the best powder, start testing with ball/fine grain powder. You are going to want to "crank" plinkers out with a powder measure. I developed my best load using AR-Comp, but in hindsight, it doesn't meter as well as finer grained stuff. I'll rework my load with a finer powder some day, but for now I'd rather be shooting!...LOL

 

[M1key]

I have shot thousands of rounds reloaded exclusively with Federal primers through at least a dozen AR-15s over the years. Count me as very skeptical on the slam fire issue using Federal primers. The only slam fire in an AR I have ever witnessed is when someone loaded his rounds with CCI pistol primers by mistake and ended up touching off 3-4 round bursts at a public range. I can only wonder if any other incidents were with out of spec or improper firing pins--like one specifically designed for 7.62x39.

M

 

[FLIGHT762]

There's been a lot of good recommendations here. Don't use Remington 6 1/2 small rifle primers for the 223. The 6 1/2's are designed for lower pressure rounds like 22 Hornet, 30 Carbine etc., not the higher pressure cartridges like the 223 Rem.

Remington 7 1/2's are for the 223.

 

[gifbohane]

Pert
Thanks, do you think that H335 is finer powder than IMR4895? Or what brand do you consider to be "fine" powder?

 

[Walkalong]

H-335 is a ball powder and meters better than IMR-4895 if that is what you mean by "fine". Either will meter well enough and work very well in .223. Lots of powders do.

 

[pert near]

Pert
Thanks, do you think that H335 is finer powder than IMR4895? Or what brand do you consider to be "fine" powder?

Unfortunately, although IMR4895 is an excellent powder, it is a "stick" powder & meters lousy through a measure (at least for me). H335 is a "ball" powder & should run through a measure pretty near perfect!

There are many excellent powders for the .223, but my recommendation, for convenience, is to start your load testing with ball powders. Don't rule out stick powders like 4895 for your match loads though, where precision may be more important than time spent at the loading bench.

FWIW....

 

[Blue68f100]

There are a lot of powders that work good for the 223/5.56. I have had poor luck with H335, while others have had great. Tac is a good powder for the 223R that has surprised me on how well it preforms. I've gotten excellent accuracy out of it using quality bullets. It's a Ball Powder that is extremely fine, meters great. CFE-223 is another powder I use for general shooting. I use Varget for most all my match loads with the heavier pills.

I do most all of my high volume loading on a AP. So accurately metering is a requirement. TAC,, CFE223, H335 all meter well. Varget is a extruded stick powder so it's not near as metering friendly as the ball powders. I use a RCMS Chargemaster 1500 for dispensing hard to meter powders.

 

[M1key]

Also ball powders tend (generally) to burn "cooler" than stick powders and in some cases dirtier. I like short stick powders like Accurate 2015 (which I have used for years because I bought a keg of it) and Varget because they seem to burn hotter and cleaner--if that matters to you at all. Especially useful if you don't clean your AR very often like me. I load on a single stage press and just give the powder measure a rap before I drop the charge. Never bunches and seldom crunches out of my RCBS. I recently have been playing with TAC and am developing loads with match bullets.

Cheers

M

 

[Walkalong]

IMR 4895 meters more than well enough to shoot great.

I like short stick powders like Accurate 2015

That's good stuff. H-322 is another older short stick powder that meters well and gives great accuracy. People tend to overlook it these days.

8208 is newer small stick powder that also meters well and shows excellent potential in .223. Shoots very well in my .222 Mag.

 

[entropy]

I use CCI 400 Small rifle primers, but my next case might be #41's, as now I am loading for 2 AR's and a Savage Axis. Soon to be three and possibly four AR's, as I have a lower and a raincheck for one when Fleet Farm gets them in again.
For powders I like in this order; BL-C(2), Power Pro Varmint, Varget, IMR 3031 and IMR 4064.

 

[Ironicaintit]

All I've ever used in mine are CCI 400 and I've never ever had a problem...though you can see a slight dent on rounds that have been chambered, but not fired.

I have a bunch of 450s on hand just in case I switch to a ball powder, but so far haven't used any of that. (Only in the 30 carbine) I'm an old curmudgeon that still uses antiques like IMR4198 (horrible metering but accurate load) and 3031 (because the AR was built around it)