Remington Primers vs Winchester vs CCI vs Federal

[Mags]

Which of these do you prefer and why. If none listed name your brand. I prefer Winchester due to the soft cup and ease of seating. I have wasted a many CCI primers breaking them during seating.

 

[something vague]

At this point I'll take what I can get out of any of those. But if availablity isn't an issue I have a preference for all CCI primers, BR's specifically. In all my years of shooting and reloading I have yet to have a problem with any of CCI's stuff. Not sure what you're doing wrong but there shouldn't be an issue with seating and firing a CCI primer.

Not sure exactly where I just read this article and exactly what was stated but I remember them saying that CCI primers being much harder is actually a myth. Something about their manufacturing of primers back in the day caused some misfires, ever since then the myth of them being harder than others has stuck with them. I will have to dig that article up to remember exactly what was said in it and report back.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I've never tryed Rem. no difference for me between Win & CCI - Fed is good too.

 

[Ateam-3]

I use them all and have had no problems to speak of. I have heard more complaints about CCI being too hard than anything else. Personally, I have not experienced any difficulties with CCI. If all are available I would tend to but Winchester and CCI.

 

[robriboflavin]

I like Winchesters as they seem to be in between Federal and CCI as far as hardness goes. I did have a S&W1006 that needed Federal to ignite reliably after a lame attempt at a trigger job by a local "gunsmith" - since fixed by replacing the mainspring with a factory strength spring. That was the gun though, not a primer problem.

The one exception is my ISPC 38S loads - they get Remington small rifle only

 

[Mags]

Wow no love for Remington primers, I have used them in LP loads but I don't remember how easy they were to load up. Can someone refresh my memory about Remington's hardness and sensitivity?

 

[1SOW]

I use Federal sp. I lighten my CZ hammer spring from 20# to 11#. Federal sp is the lightest strike pistol primer and gives 100% bangs with light springs.

Win, CCI, and Rem will give the occassional FTF with light springs. I've heard, but can't verify that Magtech is also light strike.

 

[Mags]

Is there a resource or chart that lists primer sensitivity and hardness?

 

[smorris62]

Newbie here. Are the different manufacturer primers interchangeable? If the recipe calls for CCI can I use the Winchester? Thanks.

 

[Mags]

I do, at first I would always start up with the start load when using a different primer but now I change primers with my usual loads.

 

[GRIZ22]

I use them all and have had no problems to speak of. I have heard more complaints about CCI being too hard than anything else.

I recently read an article by a ballistician regarding "hard" CCI primers. This myth is the result of reloaders putting a bit too much force in seating the primer and cracking the primer compound. I think this was back in the 60s. CCI dod something to prevent this long ago.

I've used CCIs alomost exclusively for over 35 years.

 

[1SOW]

Mags: Go to any competition shooter site and see what they are using for lightly sprung guns. Not all use very light springs, but many do. This topic has been discussed a number of times. Federal uses an older more volatile compound.

Lee reloading has limits on some of it's primer loaders for Federal primers, also note how Federal SP primers are packaged.

Eg. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php

Angus Hobdell has an "ask Angus" thread-starter on this forum: http://www.czforumsite.info/

 

[Mags]

Thanks

 

[smorris62]

Thanks Mags!

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve CCI, Remington 9.5s, and WLR large rifle primers, Federal and Rem 7.5 small rifle and Federal 205M and Winchester small pistol primers on my bench today. I use all of them in various cartridges. I`ve no one favorite.

 

[Seafarer12]

I like Rem 7.5 for making accurate .223's. The rest of my loadings I am pretty easy to please. I have never had any problems with any of the primers I have used. Fed, Win, Rem, CCI, Wolf, Magtech.

 

[fireman 9731]

I have always used CCI.

All the numbers with other primer companies always aggravated me. 7 1/2, 9 1/2, 205, 250, ect. I need a secret decoder ring to know which primers are which.

I prefer large rifle, large rifle benchrest, small pistol, ect, clearly printed on a stylishly designed, aesthetically pleasing blue box

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I mostly use Winchester primers in my handgun rounds and CCI in my rifle rounds. I've used Remington primers in my 30-06 with good success. I've also used Magtech and Wolf primers without a problem and they all went bang. I refuse to buy Federal primers because they raised the prices before everyone else and their packaging is WAY too big IMO. I can fit 4 or more CCI boxes in the the place of 1 Federal box on my limited shelf space.

Before anyone says Federal uses such a big package so they can pack the primers on their side for safety, Remington packs their primers on their side and their packaging is probably the smallest of them all.

 

[James Thomson]

CCI primers in the past have had some quality conntrol problems causing problems fitting in Dillon reloading equipment primer tubes. I have heard they have corrected this problem now. At one time, Dillon advised customers not to use CCI and use instead Winchester or Remington primers.

 

[Ky Larry]

A few years ago, I bought several bricks of various types of PMC primers. They, like all the other brands mentioned, went bang every time. I am not a good enough shot to tell the difference in primers so I usually buy based on price and availability.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have used CCI primers in all my brass cased rounds for the last 30+ years. They've always been consistent and dependable.
I do use Winchester 209's in my shotshells.


NCsmitty

 

[Rokman]

There is an article in the Sept. 2009 Shooting Times about primers and also about the CCI myth. I use CCI and Rem 7 1/2 in my AR loads and Remington and Winchester in my large rifle loads. I have had good succes with these primers so far and will try some Federal and CCI large rifle when they become available.

 

[something vague]

I recently read an article by a ballistician regarding "hard" CCI primers. This myth is the result of reloaders putting a bit too much force in seating the primer and cracking the primer compound. I think this was back in the 60s. CCI dod something to prevent this long ago.

I've used CCIs alomost exclusively for over 35 years.

This is the same article that I was refering to in my first post. I believe the guy who wrote the article actually worked for CCI for some time. There again, the CCI hardness compaint is just one big spread out rumor. It's amazing how many people will jump on a bandwagon just because of heresay with no basis or experience with using the offended product. I have many revolvers with action jobs and very light springs and still have never once had a CCI primer fail to ignite.

 

[Mags]

Well I do know that if a primer pocket is tight or burred when trying to seat a CCI it will break. And same situation with a Winchester it will go right in.

 

[something vague]

That may be due to the slightly larger dimension of CCI primers. Looking at drawings of all different brands of primers does show that CCI's come in slightly larger in width. But there again, I have never in my life had a problem seating them either. But I can see where it would be possible with extremely tight pockets.