5.56 reloading, which primers for AR-15?

[dist1646]

I've been using the Winchester primers for a while and never had a primer pierce, not saying it can't happen, but I guess I've been lucky. I use Remington primers also.
The 8208 XBR is all I use in my 5.56 AR's, definately a good choice in powder for 223/5.56.

I found out the hard way about Winchester primers piercing. Cost me a bolt and firing pin! Used the same load with other primers and never had an issue.
Word to the wise.

 

[BUFF7MM]

I found out the hard way about Winchester primers piercing. Cost me a bolt and firing pin! Used the same load with other primers and never had an issue.
Word to the wise.

Good to know, but I've got so many Winchester primers stockpiled I've got to use them.

 

[dist1646]

Found this interesting.

http://www.jamescalh...nd_pressure.php

 

[BUFF7MM]

Found this interesting.

http://www.jamescalh...nd_pressure.php

Link not working for me.

 

[dist1646]

Noticed that. It is over on the USRifleteams.com national match forum under The Loading Bench, Topic Hornady 75 HPBT load data? post # 39.

 

[BUFF7MM]

Noticed that. It is over on the USRifleteams.com national match forum under The Loading Bench, Topic Hornady 75 HPBT load data? post # 39.

Thanks, I'll check it out later on.

 

[dist1646]

For some reason, the bar between nd and pressure is not showing up in my link.
http:www.jamescalh...nd_pressure.php

Shows when I preview but not in the post.

 

[BigRick]

Why 205 for the 77gr?

1 because the load I use calls for it.
2 It's a match grade primer and I build that gun to shoot 77gr pills up a nats ass.
3 Most importantly to me I'm anal as hell and want to shoot as tight as groups as I can.
4 see 3

 

[BigRick]

I've been using the Winchester primers for a while and never had a primer pierce, not saying it can't happen, but I guess I've been lucky. I use Remington primers also.
The 8208 XBR is all I use in my 5.56 AR's, definately a good choice in powder for 223/5.56.

I read good things about 8208xbr have some haven't tried it yet

 

[chad2]

So my sierra load data does not mention 8208 xbr at all so I will stay away from that. But I found 8 lbs of tac and n140 so I might just get the tac and see what kind of ground
s I pull. Also my load data only shows remington 7 1/2s but natchez is out of those also lol.

 

[chad2]

1 because the load I use calls for it.
2 It's a match grade primer and I build that gun to shoot 77gr pills up a nats ass.
3 Most importantly to me I'm anal as hell and want to shoot as tight as groups as I can.
4 see 3

#4 is my favorite

 

[jimbobborg]

Local prices on Winchester primers is crazy. I can get CCI 41s for the same price as standard Winchester. No thanks. I have a small stash of 41s, when I get more 77gr SMKs I'll be loading up with them. Standard loads, I'm using the cheapest SR primers I can get that still go bang.

 

[chad2]

Local prices on Winchester primers is crazy. I can get CCI 41s for the same price as standard Winchester. No thanks. I have a small stash of 41s, when I get more 77gr SMKs I'll be loading up with them. Standard loads, I'm using the cheapest SR primers I can get that still go bang.

Yeah i think I am going to stick with 400s or 41s

 

[BigRick]

So my sierra load data does not mention 8208 xbr at all so I will stay away from that. But I found 8 lbs of tac and n140 so I might just get the tac and see what kind of ground
s I pull. Also my load data only shows remington 7 1/2s but natchez is out of those also lol.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com. You can never have too much reloading data!

 

[outrider58]

So my sierra load data does not mention 8208 xbr at all so I will stay away from that. But I found 8 lbs of tac and n140 so I might just get the tac and see what kind of ground
s I pull. Also my load data only shows remington 7 1/2s but natchez is out of those also lol.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com. You can never have too much reloading data!

It's surprising how many top-o-the line powder and bullet companies fall short of keeping up with modern reloading. These are two prime examples(and I frequent them both with the hopes of updates).

 

[BigRick]

I've been wishing for a new sierra reloading book for years! Seems like they are falling behind everyone else.

 

[Pinecone]

Haven't had a slam-fire yet and that's with a JP FCG in it(no bump fires either).

Slam fire has nothing to do with the FCG, it has to do with the floating firing pin.

For match rounds, I would probably use Remington #7 1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest primers.

They are "rated" for the AR-15 and similar uses. Harder cup.

 

[outrider58]

Slam fire has nothing to do with the FCG, it has to do with the floating firing pin.

For match rounds, I would probably use Remington #7 1/2 Small Rifle Bench Rest primers.

They are "rated" for the AR-15 and similar uses. Harder cup.

So how do you distinguish between a slam-fire and/or a bump fire?

 

[atblis]

Everything I've ever read indicates that it's the floating pin combined with a high primer that's required to induce a slamfire in an AR15.

 

[dist1646]

So my sierra load data does not mention 8208 xbr at all so I will stay away from that. But I found 8 lbs of tac and n140 so I might just get the tac and see what kind of ground
s I pull. Also my load data only shows remington 7 1/2s but natchez is out of those also lol.

Berger has data for 8208 in their manual, they seem to be on the conservative side though. You can call Sierra to get data for IMR 8208. Phone: 1-800-223-8799. You can also go to the USRifleteams.com , national match forum and search; 8208 loads, to see what serious across the course shooters are using. I recently did just that and they seem to have settled on 23.2 gr. of 8208 for 77's and 80's. I have not tried that load as yet but will get around to it next time I load test for my spacegun. As always, start low and work up since not every rifle will show the same results.