Substitute Primers

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Larry Willis

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Now that Federal primers are still almost impossible to find, I was wondering which brand would be the next best (or maybe as good). This is a question for benchrest shooters only. Thanks

- Innovative
 
I shoot

Larry Willis said:
Now that Federal primers are still almost impossible to find, I was wondering which brand would be the next best (or maybe as good). This is a question for benchrest shooters only. Thanks

- Innovative
Click to expand...

CCI-BR4's. They were briefly available the end of last month from Powder Valley. If I were you, I would make it a daily task to check their website and see what is in stock. And when what you want shows up, don't hesitate, buy them. In quantity.

FWIW, the Wolf SRM primers are getting good reviews. I have bought some, but won't get a chance to test them till next spring. Rain, ,Freezing rain , turnig to snow in Iowa right now. It is goiing to be a LONG winter.
 
I switched over to Winchester sm. rifle. After trying them out. And am very happy with the results.
The 205M's are now in reserve.
Might have to go back to them when I run out of WSR. :eek:
 
The Wolf SRM

works just as good as the Fed205. I did alot of testing with them through my rail gun and they shot very well. No issues at all, except they seat just a tad harder.

Richard
 
substitute primers

I don't know what action you have but Remington 71/2's are hard to beat. However I am told they don't work in some very short actions ( why I mentioned actions). I have had nothing but good luck with them.
 
substitute primers

I usually shoot the BR4 primers and once in a while the federals
None were available in quantity.
I switched to the WOLF SMALL RIFLE MAG.
I'm not disappointed.
 
I've had no problem finding primers, even the local shops have them now on the shelf along with powder. Still using Fed. 205M and CCI 450's like there's no tomorrow, also have some Rem. 7 1/2's to give a try with some new loads for the resent build.

There are over 11 pages worth for sale on GunBroker alone, only use the word "primer" in your search.
 
Larry ...

If you have a copy of Precision Shooting Magazine's The Benchrest Shooting Primer there are a couple good articles, albeit a little dated, on pages 8 [More on Primers], and 131 to 134 [Primer Tests] that covered testing of 12 different primers. The best primer types in order of uniformity, according to Primer Tests at that time were, in order: 1. CCI BR-4, 2. Federal 205M, 3. Fiocchi SR, and 4. Remington 7 1/2. My favorite, after trying all but the Fiocchi, but including the Wolf SRM [not tested], is the Remington 7 1/2. :)
 
Thanks for the info. Anyone else have experience trying different brands of primers in benchrest competition? My luck with Winchester primers has been good, but I'm not a big time benchrest shooter.

- Innovative
 
My experience isas follows:

I quit using Federal SR primers years ago becaues I found better crono results with my 30's with Winchester SR primers. I got down to 3000 of them this year with no hope that I could replenish my usual stash of them so I ordered 10k Wolf SRM from Powder Valley and had them in a fortnight.

To date, I have had one failure with the Wolfs and it was during a match causing powder to be spilled in my action thus gumming up the works and preventing me from finishing my target. I was not going to win or place in the match so I didn't care much but I must say I was a bit put off.

I have used several hundred since without a failure. In all fairness, I have had failures over the years with all the available brands so I'm not sore about this.

I haven't cronoed the Wolfs but think they ignite my loads well enough for me to be competative.
 
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A few years ago...

I got a great deal on some CCI BR primers. I bought them and did a lot of chronographing with them and 205 and 205M's.

Grouping-wise I couldn't tell any difference... and this was with a lot of shooting here on my own protected range.

Chrono-wise the CCCI's were just slightly better, a tad more consistent, than the Federals. The differences were small and I eventually quit and decided to use whichever (between the CCI & Fed's) I could buy best.

I only tried those two brands. FWIW Bart and Billy have used Winchesters for years. (I'm not sure that they still do.) Since they ALWAYS beat me, that should mean something.

Dick Wright
 
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I have been using Wolf SRM for several years now but the last batch I received is getting a lot of hang fires for me in several different rifles with several different powders. Switched to Federals and the problems stopped and yes, I double seated them so I may give Powder Valley a call and see if they will take about 10000 back. I have some LR Wolf and regular SR wolf that have given me no trouble so far. Oh, well.
 
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