crest117
Member
Some pistol calibers using small primers generate over 42,000 CPU pressures. Could small pistol primers be used safely in mild .223 loads? And if not, why not? Just curious.
2ndtimer, I didn't say I wanted to try it, I was just curious as to why not.Not. Some 5.56 loads generate 60k+ maximum pressure. Small pistol primers have a thinner cup and would likely be pierced at rifle pressures and AR firing pins could also prematurely fire on recoil (or when you chamber a round).
Small pistol primers are in highest demand right now. You should be able to find someone to trade 1/1 for decent small rifle primers. Of course, if one of your fantasies is an etched bolt face and a face full of hot gas and burning powder, feel free to try those small pistol primers with warm rifle loads.
FWIW, some people even claim that standard small rifle primers (CCI-400, Federal 205, Winchester SR) shouldn't be loaded in ammo intended for use in an AR. They insist that ONLY thicker cup primers (CCI-450, CCI BR-4, CCI No. 41, Federal AR Match Remington 7 1/2, Wolf SR Magnum and Wolf 223) are safe to load for AR's. I have fired a thousand or so CCI-400's without issues, but save my Federal 205 and 205M for bolt action only. Just FYI, YMMV.2ndtimer, I didn't say I wanted to try it, I was just curious as to why not.
I also have used quite a few of the S&B primers in both handguns and .223 rifles. Have a couple thousand left, wish I had more. They produced some very accurate loads in my Remington SPS Varmint .223.I don't use these primers for the extremely high pressured/hot 5.56 reloads. But I do use them for the run of the mill +/- 40,000psi blammo ammo loads for the ar's, bolt actions & contender.
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I also use the same primers for my 357 & 9mm reloads. I've only burned thru 40,000 of these primers so far in the 223rem's, 357's & 9mm's. Haven't had any issues but I'm not loading anything to 5.56 levels either.
Western Powders and Hodgdon use WSR in their load data, even with Western's 5.56 NATO loads.FWIW, some people even claim that standard small rifle primers (CCI-400, Federal 205, Winchester SR) shouldn't be loaded in ammo intended for use in an AR. They insist that ONLY thicker cup primers (CCI-450, CCI BR-4, CCI No. 41, Federal AR Match Remington 7 1/2, Wolf SR Magnum and Wolf 223) are safe to load for AR's. I have fired a thousand or so CCI-400's without issues, but save my Federal 205 and 205M for bolt action only. Just FYI, YMMV.
Not sure about “not safe”, but certainly not recommended for .223 Rem. class of cartridges. Apparently they were originally designed for .22 Hornet which has a maximum pressure limit of about 80% of what stout loads run in a .223. Thinner cups are more likely to pierce at higher pressure, and in an A/R could result in a slam fire from the floating firing pin when a round is chambered. (The slam fire possibility in A/R’s is why CCI introduced their No. 41 primer and Federal now offers their A/R Match primer with thicker cups and reduced sensitivity).I just read that 6 1/2 Remington primers were not safe for a .223
Blue68f100, You said you used up your # 6 1/2 primers in your .357 magnum? If thats the case, I can use them up in mine.
Someone posted on THR that Remington's website says not to use them in .223, I never checked, because I use BR4 for the thicker cup reason.Not sure about “not safe”, but certainly not recommended for .223 Rem. class of cartridges. Apparently they were originally designed for .22 Hornet which has a maximum pressure limit of about 80% of what stout loads run in a .223. Thinner cups are more likely to pierce at higher pressure, and in an A/R could result in a slam fire from the floating firing pin when a round is chambered. (The slam fire possibility in A/R’s is why CCI introduced their No. 41 primer and Federal now offers their A/R Match primer with thicker cups and reduced sensitivity).
Yes, you can load milder .223 ammo to reduce the chances of pierced primers, but you would sacrifice performance and possibly accuracy, as well. Not to mention the different point of impact between conventional .223 loads and your milder Remington 6 1/2 loads.