Which primer?

[ArmyBrat61]

I starting my set up for .223 reloading and have a quick question, which primer is best for .223? I'm using Ramshot TAC and a 55gr.FMJ projo, Hornady new brass...just not sure if a small rifle primer (Wolf, Federal, S&B, Winchester...etc)  will do or if the CCI 41 military SRP is required? I have the next week off so I'm planning on working up a load for the AR and enjoy some bench time. Thanks in advance gents....

Edited December 18, 2015 by ArmyBrat61

[gregintenn]

Most any small rifle primer will work fine in my experience. Some will swear by the CCI 41s, and I'm sure they'd work great, but I've never used them.

 

I do believe the AR was designed to feed rounds from a magazine. I would expect the added force of the bolt when singularly chambering around could increase the unlikely chance of a slamfire.

Edited December 18, 2015 by gregintenn

[Hidalgo]

Use the CCI BR4 primers.  Way safer due to the thicker cup.  Yeah, I know that slam fires are extremely rare, but why not eliminate the possibility if you can do so for a minor increase in primer cost.  BR4 ... only way to go.

[gregintenn]

Anyone here ever experience a slamfire with an AR?

 

I don't mean a guy who used to work with your cousin heard about one, or you read about one in an internet chatroom, but actually had one happen to you.

[MP5_Rizzo]

Never on an AR or any other firearm sort of.  I did have a Ruger 10-22 discharge when I disengaged the safety once.  There was an RO standing next to me during a competition so he was watching my every move.  Later that day we both tried every way we knew to replicate it but could not do it.  I've been in extremely close proximty of 3 that claimed a slam fire but I'm certain they were not slam fires but AD's or ND's due to having the finger on the trigger while charging the firearm.

 

The firing pin in AR's float.  If you remove an unfired cartridge that you let the bolt slam forward on it will leave a very light mark on the primer almost every time.

Edited December 18, 2015 by MP5_Rizzo

[ArmyBrat61]

Good info gents....thanks loads....pun intended....

[Garufa]

Wolf.  They're cheap and hard.

[deadeye111]

My friend and I shot a lot of reloads with Winchester primers as the CCI-41 wasn't available and no slam fires for us. Sig and DPMS rifles.

[Ron Padilla]

I had a conversation with a person who drops in here now from time to time, I asked if it made a difference if magnum primers was ok over a regular primer and his answer was that he made all his magnum primers either small rifle or large rifle, pistol etc.  The reasoning behind the thinking is that it easier to keep track of instead of have all sorts of different primers, just some food for thought when you go to buy.

[Dave Keenom]

I have seen a AR15 slamfire at perry and multiple marine team AR10s slamfire at interservice a few years ago. It is much more likely with the AR10s that do not
have the spring in front of the firing pin due to bolt carrier group mass.

[gregintenn]

I have seen a AR15 slamfire at perry and multiple marine team AR10s slamfire at interservice a few years ago. It is much more likely with the AR10s that do not
have the spring in front of the firing pin due to bolt carrier group mass.

Most I've read about were single loaded for slow fire competition rather than magazine fed. Was that the case here?

[BigK]

Do you think a slam-fire is more likely with a rifle buffer and spring? Just wondering, because they seem to have more tension than carbines.

[gregintenn]

Do you think a slam-fire is more likely with a rifle buffer and spring? Just wondering, because they seem to have more tension than carbines.

:shrug: No idea.

 

I'm just saying that the friction created by stripping a round off the top of a magazine should slow the bolt's forward travel enough to make it a non issue.

[Grunt67]

 I've always been partial to CCI, but never had an issue with any others I've tried. Just a personal thing, I guess.

 Buy a box of 100, different brands, experiment, see if there is any difference. Not out a lot of money.

[Jamie Jackson]

Tula work great.

 

I/we have run more than 20 K in 9mm handgun the past 12-16 months.

 

I'm loading about 1500 5.56 right now using Tula.

 

One of the long range guys at ORSA (instructs at some of their clinics) told me the majority of the shooters out there actually prefer Tula.

 

The only Tula primers I've ever had issue with was 5K of the lead free pistol primers...they sucked. 2-3 out of every 100 was a dud...but that was only with the lead free Tulas I picked up a few years back when primers were very scarce.

 

I've had great luck with Winchester, Federal, CCI and Remington SRP in the past.

[ArmyBrat61]

It seems that the consensus is that Wolf/Tula is the preferred primer but other SRP will work as well....I'm going to try the magnum SR from Wolf as has been suggested,,,thanks a lot gents for your input.

[frankmako]

tula/wolf primers is what i use now.  i have used what brand i could get back when it was hard to get primers.  never had a slam fire with any primer used.