I have done hours of reading and research on this question. What prompted it was the fact that nowhere around here can I find SRM primers. I'm shooting 25 grains of H335 under a 53 grain FB bullet.in the past using a ball powder, I always used a magnum primer. Well now they are as scarce as hens teeth!
So I loaded up 13 rounds with the last 13 magnum primers, then another 13 with standard primers. Both were CCI primers. OAL, brass, etc were all the same. Today I went to the range and shot them both, couple of SRM's then standard, then SRM's etc.
The results surprised me. The standard primers grouped tighter, and more consistent than the magnum primers. I don't know if these results would be the same using a larger case, such as a .308 family, but in the 223 family I know going forward I will be using standard rifle primers instead of magnum.
I also realize manufacturers tell us that for ball powders we need the extra oomph to get it all lit properly, but emperical results do not support that statement. I'm tending to believe the majority opinions out there that it truly is marketing hype to drive more sales and greater profits.
Comments?
So I loaded up 13 rounds with the last 13 magnum primers, then another 13 with standard primers. Both were CCI primers. OAL, brass, etc were all the same. Today I went to the range and shot them both, couple of SRM's then standard, then SRM's etc.
The results surprised me. The standard primers grouped tighter, and more consistent than the magnum primers. I don't know if these results would be the same using a larger case, such as a .308 family, but in the 223 family I know going forward I will be using standard rifle primers instead of magnum.
I also realize manufacturers tell us that for ball powders we need the extra oomph to get it all lit properly, but emperical results do not support that statement. I'm tending to believe the majority opinions out there that it truly is marketing hype to drive more sales and greater profits.
Comments?