couple 223 questions

[tmckay2]

first, anyone used the 75 grain a max bullets? im considering picking some up for the longer range. will be shooting out to 300 yards. right now im using 55 gr and 62 gr full metal jackets.

second, does the type of primer really make any difference? ive used a few different ones and haven't noticed a difference. if there is one, what would it be (aside from crappy ones that don't fire)?

[theGinsue]

Does the type of primer make a difference? Yes, it can. Here is some info I use:

Primer hardness chart:
Hardest
No. 41 NATO
CCI
Federal
Winchester
Softest

Avoid the very soft primers unless you have any problems not lighting off the harder stuff. Helps minimize the risk of ever having a slamfire.

The NATO primers are less sensitive and therefore less likely to slam-fire.

If some of you who are more experienced disagree, please correct me as I wouldn't want to provide bad info.

EDIT: Lee's reloading manual states that Federal primers are not recommended or warranted in it's vibratory tube loader because the formulation Federal uses is too sensitive. Rumor is that Federal walks its own path in terms of the composition and design of their primers.

[tmckay2]

thats interesting. is it safe to assume winchester uses winchester primers in their factory loads? i never thought about how it could affect factory loads as well. ive used federal, cci and winchester.

[theGinsue]

*EDITED MY POST ABOVE*

I can only assume (yeah, yeah) that Winchester uses Winchester primers in their factory loads - it just makes sense to me. Anyone else know for sure?


I've used Winchester primers in my 30-06 reloads and they've performed fantastically. I only bought those (back in 2002) because they were the only ones in stock at the store when I was buying my components for the loads. Overall though I don't like Winchester ammo (just my preference) and I won't buy anything but CCI primers ever again.

[SA Friday]

Federals are softer than Winchesters. Fed primers are chemically different. Win uses their own primers in their rounds.

Wolf SRP 223 primers are about the same hardness as CCI, maybe a touch softer. I've found the Wolf 223 primers to work extremely well in my AR's. Have had issues with older Win SRP primers piercing (the old ones in white packaging). Never tried Fed's in an AR, and doubt I ever will.

Burn rate is about the same for them all. The only primers I've seen change in my reloads std deviation was with Rem primers.

[MuzzleFlash]

*EDITED MY POST ABOVE*

I can only assume (yeah, yeah) that Winchester uses Winchester primers in their factory loads - it just makes sense to me. Anyone else know for sure?


I've used Winchester primers in my 30-06 reloads and they've performed fantastically. I only bought those (back in 2002) because they were the only ones in stock at the store when I was buying my components for the loads. Overall though I don't like Winchester ammo (just my preference) and I won't buy anything but CCI primers ever again.I think some of the WWB ammo is made overseas on contract so I'd be surprised if they used the Winchester (Olin) primers on all their ammo.