what kind of primers for AR-15 and M1A?

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dadof6

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Hello Gentlemen (and women),

I am fairly new to reloading. Just a little .45ACP and .38. Santa brought me some new dies for reloading my M1A and AR-15 (and other goodies to with them).

I recall reading somewhere that the M1A needs hardened large rifle primers for the floating firing pin. CCI supposedly makes some/them.

How about reloading for .223/5.56 in AR-15? hardened primers too? CCI?

Any recommendations for what kind of primers and where i might find some would be appreciated!
 
All of the out of battery slamfires that I heard of in M1's and M1a's were with Federal primers. Federal is proud to tell you that they make the least sensitive primers on the market. Don't use them.

I use CCI#34's, which are sold as "mil spec". I was able to buy a bunch before the election, they might be hard to find now. They are real popular among the group on http://m14tfl.com/

You want to use the least sensitive primers you can find. CCI standard has a reputation of being "hard", I have never used Remington but some folks recommend them. I used to use the great old nickle plated WLR, but since they redesigned the brass colored primers to be more sensitive, I am not using them in a gas gun.

Slamfires happen in AR's, but they even more infrequent than Garand slamfires. Slamfires in AR's typically happen during single loading. The round is dropped in the chamber and the bolt released. I had one, I have seen another. Friends report more. They happened enough that the NRA disallowed placing the muzzle on their shooting stool. I had seen guys loading with the muzzle on their shooting stool, dropping a round in and dropping the bolt. I am certain someone slamfired a round through their shooting stool.

I have never heard of an out of battery slamfire in a AR. All slamfires I had, or seen, were in battery. You are unlikely to have a slamfire blow up your AR. Still, you must be sure that no one is down range of your muzzle when you chamber a round.

I don't like the new brass colored Winchester primers in my AR's. They pierce at loads that never bothered the old nickle plated WSR. I also bought scads of CCI#41's, the "mil spec" CCI primer and they shoot very well.

I have not tried Wolf or Magtech brands.
 
I have never heard of an out of battery slamfire in a AR. All slamfires I had, or seen, were in battery.
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An AR firing pin cannot reach the primer until the bolt carrier is forward and the bolt is locked.

When the bolt is unlocked, the firing pin is held back inside the bolt by the cotter-key through the bolt carrier.

At the worst, you will had a round fire when single loaded, or doubling when fired semi-auto.

In any case, something would have to break before you could possibly have the firing pin hit a primer before the bolt is locked.

BTW: I have used nothing but CCI & WInchester plated primers in my AR's and RUgers for about 40 years with not problems.
(After I figured out I couldn't crush them in with a press primer arm and flatten them during seating)

Seat by feel with a hand primer tool and standard primers should work fine in an AR-15.

rc
 
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I'll second the use of stardard CCI's for the M1A. I've also had good luck with Remington 7 1/2's in the AR. Standard CCI's will work too.

Federal primers are sensitive and almost every slam fire I have heard of in a M-1/M1A and AR has been with Federal primers.

A shooting buddy had a slam fire when he dropped the bolt on his AR with a single loaded round at a match one time. The gun was pointed down range and the worst thing that happened was he lost ten points. He was using Federal match primers. I used Federal match primers 1 time during a match. I had 3 rounds with pierced primers using a load which is my standard match load using the Rem 7 1/2 or CCI primers. That cost me a firing pin.

Any time you chamber a round on a M-1/M1A or AR, there is a visable dimple from the firing pin on the primer. (even with surplus) The firing pins are free floating, meaning there is no firing pin spring. Not a big deal with most primers but again the Federals are sensitive.
 
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Rem 7 1/2s - not 6 1/2s, and Wolff SRM are fine, in addition to the CCI milspec.
/Bryan
 
I agree the Federals are more sensitive than other makes, but my HP load for the last five years used 205 match. Been told I was lucky not to have a slamfire. Started using Wolf primers about six months ago. They appear to be even softer.

Among the HP shooters I know, virtually every primer made is used by someone. That's a lot of single round loading.

I'm not discounting anyone's experiences; just saying mine differ.
 
dadof 6,

I have been loading .223 for several years and have loaded more than a 1,000 rounds with both Federal and Winchester primers. My son shoots in JR High power matchs here in NC. I have not had any problems so far with the newer Winchester's. The Federal I have are the Gold Metal.
 
I used Federal large rifle for many years to load .308 and .30-'06 for M1A and M1 rifles. I always paid close attention to seating them below flush. I cleaned primer pockets carefully. I never had a problem.

I eventually switched large rifle primers, to Winchester, but only because of availability problems.

I use mostly Winchester for the AR, but use CCI for one specific load, and never a problem. My observation is that .223 brass, especially some makes, has a tendency for primer pockets to get more shallow with firing, so seating primers below flush seems to become more difficult.

CDD
 
My observation is that .223 brass, especially some makes, has a tendency for primer pockets to get more shallow with firing, so seating primers below flush seems to become more difficult.
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True. I use a uniformer to clean pockets. Kills both birds.
 
"...CCI#34's, which are sold as "mil spec"..." They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Nothing more. They're not required for any particular rifle's cartridge. Magnum primers are about the powder used and are for lighting hard to ignite powders and cold weather shooting.
The primer has nothing to do with the rifle. The cartridge does. .308 uses large rifle. The .223 small rifle.
Read your manual before you do anything. Make sure the primers are seated properly. Flush or a bit below flush for a semi-auto.
"...for about 40 years..." Doesn't seem that long does it?
 
"...CCI#34's, which are sold as "mil spec"..." They're a marketing gimmick for magnum primers. Nothing more.
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You say this time after time, but you never offer any evidence to back up your statement.

The primer has nothing to do with the rifle.
Click to expand...

Like octane has nothing to do with compression.
 
Like octane has nothing to do with compression.
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Well, it really doesn't. A 10:1 compression ratio is 10:1 regardless of what fuel is injected. Now, can octane cause performance problems? You bet.

Not that this has anything to do with primers. ;)

Does anyone know what the milspec is for primers?
 
Well, it really doesn't. A 10:1 compression ratio is 10:1 regardless of what fuel is injected. Now, can octane cause performance problems? You bet.
Click to expand...

Maybe you can come up with a better analogy for willful ignorance, because mine evidentally was a failure.

Does anyone know what the milspec is for primers?
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MIL-P-46610 MILITARY SPECIFICATION PRIMERS, PERCUSSION, STYPHNATE AND CHLORATE TYPES, FOR SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION
 
Maybe you can come up with a better analogy for willful ignorance, because mine evidentally was a failure.
Click to expand...

Nope, I ain't that smart.

MIL-P-46610 MILITARY SPECIFICATION PRIMERS, PERCUSSION, STYPHNATE AND CHLORATE TYPES, FOR SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION
Click to expand...

A better question would have been, "What is prescribed in the milspec for SA primers?" In other words, how hard does uncle want his cups compared to civilian grade?

I know a guy on another board who retired from an arsenal. I'll see if he can provide some info.
 
Wolf large rifle primers are hard enough for what you want and their small rifle magnum primers are supposedly designed just for AR type applications. I have used about 5000 of them and they always go bang. Good quality and they are all facing the same direction in they tray. :) Another bonus is that they are usually in stock at Wideners.
 
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