Wrong primers

[John]

Boys I spect it's true when folks say things like the good Lord looks after fools.

I've been using the same recipe for some rifle loads for five years. The rounds are quite accurate, and the brass has been used four times...well some of it has, some needs to be loaded for the fourth time.

It's an 06 load, Winchester cases, 59 grs. 4350, 165 gr boattail spitzer bullet.

The kicker is the first time I loaded em I used the wrong primer. It calls for Winchester primers, and I've been using CCI. Today for some strange reason or another I was going over the Hodgdon recipies and looked at the one that I've been using........I bout crapped my britches. I'm still wondering how I managed to get the recipe copied down wrong.

I ain't got a clue what kind of pressure and velocity I'm getting, but I guess it must be OK to use those CCI's. They've worked in three different rifles, they shoot very well on paper,  they've killed eight deer from less than a hundred yds. out to over 300, and a couple of hogs.

I thought about using Winchester primers next time around, but then, why change it if it works?

[Haywire Haywood]

I use CCI primers for everything regardless of what brand the recipe calls for.  I don't see this as a problem if you are working up your loads as you are supposed to, starting low and working up.  I can see the possibility of a problem if you jump right to hot loads the first go 'round.

Ian

[Redhawk1]

I agree with Haywire Haywood.  

[ricciardelli]

If you are happy with the load, don't worry about it.

[John]

I'm mostly just puzzled as to how I was able to write the recipe incorrectly to begin with.

I understand that the wrong primer can cause problems. I did load several rounds a little light at first, and then increased to the 59 grs. that are called for.

It's certainly too late for any concern about a dangerous load after firing a few hundred rounds of it.

The load is good.

[huntswithdogs]

John,
Recently,I talked to a tech from Sierra about using Mag primers in my 25/06. When he asked what primer I was using currently ,I replied "Winchester Large Rifle". He told me that these were really a MAG type primer already and the Fed 215s that I was considering weren't that much hotter.

If your load is working okay and showing no signs of pressure,then by all means keep with it.

HWD

[Fireball 57]

John:  The affliction you experienced is called, "old timers' ."  It begins with "dun lap syndrome" and as the body goes, the mind goes, too.  It is associated with a "senior moment."  It can be cured with a 22 (year old.)

[Val]

I usually use CCI primers for all my loads but a guy gave me a 100 Winchester large rifle primers. For a couple of my loads I did load down and worked back up with the Winchesters and found them interchangeable in my .243 100 grain and 70 grain loads. I intend to load down and work back up with Winchester primers in some more of my loads. It's good to have an alternative if you run out of one.

Trying a different proimer when developing a load is fine if you load light and build up.

I find that in shotgun reloading, a different primer can make a big difference so I follow the recipes completely for shotgun loads.

[The Sodbuster]

I recall an article in a recent issue of, I think, Rifle Shooter or Handloader magazine.  They compared loads for different calibers in which the only thing they changed was the brand of primer.  I don't recall all the details off the top of my head, but the CCI primers consistently gave the lowest pressure measurements compared to other primers for each load tested.

[Steve P]

Winchester primers are a little hotter than the CCI.  You may see your group shrink just a little by changing the primer.  When working up loads for some of my guns, I work up to a consistent powder charge (usually about 10% below max) and then may try about 4 primers to see if any difference in accuracy.  You would be suprised at the differnce between fed, Rem, CCI, and Win small rifle primers.

Good Luck,

Steve  

[Swamp Fox]

If you worked up your load with the CCIs your ok.

As long as you don't substitute primer (ie. standard for mag.) types AND your not pushing the pressure envelope, the difference between mfgs will be small.