Small Rifle primers for 223?

[Ifishsum]

I use CCI450 and BR-4..I have used CCI400s before with no ill effects but they do have a thinner cup and are noticeably more flattened than the 450s after firing. All of my .223 loading is for the AR style rifle FWIW

 

[WestKentucky]

Primers.... i bought a passel of Tula at an extremely good price, have a bunch of old cci and Winchester too. I can't tell a bit of difference in the way they shoot, but I can pick them out from the brass pickup bin based on primer hardness and the firing pin marks. Tula is cheap and reliable, available at academy sports for a reasonable price along with several powders that are good in .223. For bullets I would buy online from RMR.

 

[2ndtimer]

I have used most all of rthe available small rifle primers and have seen little difference in performance. I have several thousand Wolf 223 primers on hand (no longer available since they are Russian manufactured) as well as Sellier & Bellot (from the Czech Republic) along with Winchester, CCI (both 400 and 450), Federal and Remington 7 1/2. I tend to buy whatever is on sale, once I use up what I have on hand.
As for powder, again, many options are available, most of which work well. My favorite is Ramshot TAC, but I also like Accurate 2015 and 2230, and have used most of the others. The only one I was unsatisfied with was 4198. Metered terrible, gave low velocity and mediocre accuracy in my experience. Others seem to like it, but maybe they have never chronographed their loads or have lower accuracy expectations.
While the Hornady 55 gr bulk bullets are a good bargain and are decent performers, I suggest trying the Hornady 62 gr HPBT bullets available from Midsouth Shooter Supply. They only cost a little more than the bulk 55 gr bullets, and as long as your rifle has at least a 1 in 9" or faster twist rate, they are significantly more accurate in my experience.
https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/rifle-bullets/-point-224-dia/62-gr

 

[Ironicaintit]

The only one I was unsatisfied with was 4198. Metered terrible, gave low velocity and mediocre accuracy in my experience. Others seem to like it, but maybe they have never chronographed their loads or have lower accuracy expectations.

Well, Robert Hutton liked it......

Perhaps if you bumped up the load a bit.
In reviewing my dads old data, I saw that 4198 was his favorite for 5.56x45.
I worked up my own loads with it, because his seemed pretty hot. Sure enough, approaching max (over max in some books) the groups were shrinking.

1 hole groups at 100yds, and FPS hovering right around 3200 with a 55 gr pill.
But if you can't stand it's metering qualities...well, that's that.

 

[BSA1]

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 :

When did Remington start printing the warning on the box about not using 6 1/2 primers in the .223?

I have several thousand Rem. 6 1/2's that I brought in 1994 that I want to shoot up. I already have loaded 60 rounds of .223 brass with them.

 

[Blue68f100]

May be able to use them in Sub Sonic loads or use them as a Mag Primer for handgun. I believe the 6 1/2 are rated for 45kpsi not the 62K the 556 can see.

 

[mstreddy]

BSA1, I don't know when they started printing the warning, but I've seen it on both the individual flats of 100 primers and the 1K brick, or is it sleeve? I would second the suggestion of using them in pistol loads. That's what I've done with mine. I shot some of them through an AR before I noticed the warning, was either 20, 50 or 100. But, once I read that and researched it, I put them aside for pistol loads. I've used up 1 or 2K in pistol rounds, 38s, 9MM and IIRC 380s.

 

[Walkalong]

I have several thousand Rem. 6 1/2's that I brought in 1994 that I want to shoot up.

.22 Hornet. Hot .38 Super. Likely other pistol applications where a mag primer is called for.

 

[Keyfer 55]

I have found Everglades ammo has some of lowest prices on 223 rem and 5.56 lc components.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Ironicaintit;
Explain how the .223/5.56 was “built around” IMR3031?

My understanding is that the original powder for the .223 was IMR4475.
Later, to get production ammo up to velocity specs, and cost restraints, a fateful decision was made to switch to WC-846 (very similar to BLC2) and eventually, later to WC-844. (Non canister equivalent to H335)

I’ve found IMR3031 to be one of the most problematic powders I’ve ever used in the .223, but it’s more modern analog, H322 to be much better with 50-55gr bullets. (Poor metering and poor accuracy).

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have several thousand Rem. 6 1/2's that I brought in 1994 that I want to shoot up. I already have loaded 60 rounds of .223 brass with them.

I have about 400 left from 1000 I bought before I knew they were practically useless. I have no idea why Remington is still producing a primer that is only recommend for use in the 22 Hornet. I have been using them up in .357 Magnum ammo. OP, Do Not use them in .223 ammo.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Well re-seating the bullets out to 2.250 gave me pierced primers, ( but STILL freaking accurate.. ) as well so back to the "drawing board", so to speak...
I'll drop down to the lowest load with H335 and see how that goes with the CCI 400 primers.