Reloading .223 for AR-15. What primers?

[BUFF7MM]

I myself use either Winchester, Federal, or Remington, but not necessarily in that order.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

I love CCI SR primes, but I have gone over to Wolf SR for mass plinking loading. Precision loads will be done with the CCI SR primers.

 

[Pinecone]

I use mainly CCI #450 Small Rifle Magnum primers.

These and the #41 military primers are almost exactly the same, except the #41 has a few thousandths more distance between the cup and anvil. Same cup, same primer compound and amount.

Also Remington 7 1/2. This is what Remington loaded in mil ammo when they had the contract to run the lines.

I do not run non-magnum primers or ANY Federal primers in 5.56 gas guns. Too much risk of slam fires.

 

[Marauder]

What no, Small pistol Magnum primers included in the poll.

 

[Shamr0ck]

I love how these thread artifacts keep circling back around. Between the primer discussion and the 3% antimony it is hard to decide which one was more of a classic


---
Shamr0ck

 

[fabsroman]

I love how these thread artifacts keep circling back around. Between the primer discussion and the 3% antimony it is hard to decide which one was more of a classic


---
Shamr0ck

I should start a poll just on that. Which one of these two threads is more "EPIC", antimony or small pistol primers? I cannot get either of them out of my head, and on top of that had a debate with him comparing Barnes X bullets for the muzzleloader with his bullets made from molds. I tried to buy some reloading stuff from him and that was also a fiasco.

Of course, somebody just HAD to pick "small pistol primers" in the poll. However, looks like those using small rifle primers out number those that use military primers by a 5 to 1 margin. Think I will start with small rifle primers and see what the result ends up being since I can use those primers for .222 Rem loads too.

The second I have a slam fire, I'll be switching to the CCI #41 primers.

 

[Flipz]

2A Sales just happens to have CCI #41 and regular small rifle in stock.

Yep. Small rifle, small pistol, large rifle, large pistol, small pistol magnum, and #41's are in stock at 2A Sales. And all are CCI.

 

[Jaybeez]

I use mainly CCI #450 Small Rifle Magnum primers.

These and the #41 military primers are almost exactly the same, except the #41 has a few thousandths more distance between the cup and anvil. Same cup, same primer compound and amount.

Also Remington 7 1/2. This is what Remington loaded in mil ammo when they had the contract to run the lines.

I do not run non-magnum primers or ANY Federal primers in 5.56 gas guns. Too much risk of slam fires.

this. this. this. all of this.

I use wolf/tula and cci SRM

 

[Zatoichi]

In order of preference: CCI small magnum, then Winchester. Not much experience with Federal or Remington--CCI & Winchester are available locally.

I do use the military caps, but only if I find them the same price--or cheaper--which ain't often these days.

ETA: clarification

 

[DaemonAssassin]

As long as your primers are seated to the correct depth, the possibility of a slam fire is incredibly minute.

 

[fabsroman]

Yep. Small rifle, small pistol, large rifle, large pistol, small pistol magnum, and #41's are in stock at 2A Sales. And all are CCI.

I'm going to check with my FFL in Carroll County first. Looks like both places are the same distance from me, but he isn't in the "city".

What are prices like at 2A Sales for CCI small rifle primers and CCI #41. I sent a PM to 2a Sales last night asking for prices, but nobody has gotten back to me yet. Not that I expect them to write back on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day.

If I needed powder or some other primers, I would just order all of this from Midway or some other online retailer, but these primers are about all I need for right now, and maybe some small pistol primers.

 

[Pinecone]

As long as your primers are seated to the correct depth, the possibility of a slam fire is incredibly minute.

In the AR, slam fires are not due to high primers, but soft primer cups and the floating firing pin.

 

[Traveler]

I have always used CCI small rifle primers to reload for both of my AR-15 rifles.

Never a slam fire.

 

[outrider58]

In the AR, slam fires are not due to high primers, but soft primer cups and the floating firing pin.

like with Winchesters WSRs?

 

[shoreshot]

Started out using CCI #41's then switched to Rem 7 1/2's.

 

[Biff_N]

I used to use CCI BR-4 but when they lost their mind on pricing, I switched to Wolf SRM and have not looked back!

Especially when you can get them for $20 or less per 1k.

 

[guthook]

Loaded well over ten thousand .223 with CCI 400 primers without issue.

Was leery about Wolf primers at first, but I keep hearing they're not bad. May have to try some under a chrono to check the SD and ES values.

 

[BradMacc82]

Loaded well over ten thousand .223 with CCI 400 primers without issue.

Was leery about Wolf primers at first, but I keep hearing they're not bad. May have to try some under a chrono to check the SD and ES values.

After I got my shyt together on the .223 loads, the Wolf SRP's performed very consistently for me.

I'd have to dig up my data, but the values were low and consistent for me with 69gr and 75gr rounds.

 

[FlatsFlite]

I used to use CCI BR-4 but when they lost their mind on pricing, I switched to Wolf SRM and have not looked back!

Same here.

 

[byf43]

I should start a poll just on that. Which one of these two threads is more "EPIC", antimony or small pistol primers? I cannot get either of them out of my head, and on top of that had a debate with him comparing Barnes X bullets for the muzzleloader with his bullets made from molds. I tried to buy some reloading stuff from him and that was also a fiasco.

Of course, somebody just HAD to pick "small pistol primers" in the poll. However, looks like those using small rifle primers out number those that use military primers by a 5 to 1 margin. Think I will start with small rifle primers and see what the result ends up being since I can use those primers for .222 Rem loads too.

The second I have a slam fire, I'll be switching to the CCI #41 primers.

fab,

I've been shooting AR since 1993 or '94, in both High Power Rifle Competition (local club stuff) and for groundhog 'poppin'.

Cleaning the primer pocket (to me) is one of my routine items.
I've NEVER had an issue with Federal primers, even though there are those 'experts' that claim to never use them, because they cause slam fires.

I've used (literally!) THOUSANDS of Federal and Winchester primers in .223/5.56mm, and in .30-'06 for my M1 Garand.
I've used mostly Winchester primers in my M1A.