Mixing Primers

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kbm6893

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I usually use CCI but found some Winchester so I bought it. Should I keep the Winchester apart from my CCI so I know what it was loaded with? I generally just dump the primed cases in a bin waiting to be loaded.

I also have 3000 CCI Magnum Small Rifle Primers Just grabbed them by mistake. I learned here they can be used with AR’s. Should I separate those? I figure separating Winchester and CCI probably not a big deal but the magnums maybe should. Gonna be a while until I get to them anyway. I have 3000 of the regular CCI.
 
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I use different brands of primers, depending on what’s available locally. I keep them apart and track them separately, even if the only difference in the load are only the primers. I’m looking for load performance, accuracy and safety. Primers can affect those parameters.
 
Rpg said:
Depends on what you’re loading and what for.

If for bench rest shooting or maximum loads: separate them.

If it’s just range ammo, I wouldn’t be too concerned.
Click to expand...

Just paper punching range ammo.
 
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I prefer consistency, accuracy and ballistic uniformity in my reloads. I've often found 2 MOA or more difference in accuracy and a 100 fps spread in velocity between primer brands when testing primers with the same bullet and powder charge.

It won't take any effort to segregate your loads with the different primers. It's just too easy not to mix them and your ammo and your confidence in your ammo will be the better for it.
 
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I have used different primers in my 38, 9mm and .357 loads over the years and I have to admit that there is not that big a deal with my accuracy or chrony fps to make me stick with just one primer.

I will state that in the 357 Magnum, a hotter primer might help you out if you use HS-6 powder but that is the only time that I noticed a major difference.
 
Usually there is little performance difference in primers, but sometimes the difference is significant. There's no good reason to mix primers and it's not advisable to do so.
 
kbm6893 said:
I usually use CCI but found some Winchester so I bought it. Should I keep the Winchester apart from my CCI so I know what it was loaded with? I generally just dump the primed cases in a bin waiting to be loaded.
Click to expand...

CCI primers are usually shiny silver and Win primers are usually bronze colored so if you make note of it on the bottle you should not have a hard time telling them apart when you shoot them.
 
For typical range fodder I have no concern mixing primer brands.

For precision loads, "Everything" matters.

I weigh and measure most every component. I stay with the same batch of primers and powder for as long as possible.
 
Primer brisance varies a lot and can have a significant impact on pressure as well as performance, even in the same class of primer.

Substituting primer brands in a known load is something that should be done on a trial basis before you load up 1000 plus rounds.

Mixing primers is, IMHO based on 43 years of handloading experience, farm animal stupid. You'll get by with it for awhile, but you'll eventually encounter a cartridge, powder, load, and primer combination where the end result will be a kaboom, and then you'll be posting on some internet forum asking other self appointed experts who are still high up on "Mount Stupid" of the Dunning-Kruger curve, why it blew up.

Just don't.
 
In handguns, not a huge diff among brands. In rifle, primers can certainly affect accuracy. Certainly dont mix mag & std, just not a good plan if working with anything pushing max.
 
I must be a real renegade on this.....prairie dogs in Montana just don't seem to care WHAT primer I used......I grab whatever is on sale and then get as many as I can afford....Winchester, CCI, Federal, Remington, S&B etc.

To the total shock of many precision shooters, I even shoot mixed brass!!
Prairie dogs don't care about that either...go figure....

My load is no hot rod (25 gr of H335 and a 55 gr RNSP bullet) Point of impact/point of aim remains the same with ANY of the primers in my Savage Axis .223. Almost 8 thousand rounds later it still shoots AMAZINGLY well!!

As far as blowing up a rifle because you interchanged primers.....hogwash. Never seen or heard of such in over 55 years of reloading and 30 years of Service Rifle matches.


Randy
 
Engineer1911 said:
Randy may mix and match primers, but you don't want to be an "Occupant" when he visits the prairie dog patch. Talk about a 'career limiting event'!!
Click to expand...

You have a point.

Here's a little humor to the argument:

It is so easy to keep your reloads separated by primer type that "Even a cave man can do it" to quote an old commercial.
 

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Primers, just like most other reloading components, differ from one manufacturer to another. Much of the time the differences are small, negligible, but there are differences. Some makes of primers are "hotter" than others affecting chamber pressures (slight in most cases, but definite different results possible). Some cups differ in hardness and possible differences in reliable ignition can happen. I keep my loads separate by components, different manufactured bullets, primers, and brass for the same basic load (I have Winchester primers and CCI. I keep the Win loads separate even though all other components are identical. I have Nosler JHPs and RMR JHPs of identical weights and very close profiles separate, even though everything else is identical). Make any difference? In my mind yes. A huge difference in performance or accuracy? Probably not, but I still separate...
 
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growr said:
I must be a real renegade on this.....prairie dogs in Montana just don't seem to care WHAT primer I used......I grab whatever is on sale and then get as many as I can afford....Winchester, CCI, Federal, Remington, S&B etc.

To the total shock of many precision shooters, I even shoot mixed brass!!
Prairie dogs don't care about that either...go figure....

My load is no hot rod (25 gr of H335 and a 55 gr RNSP bullet) Point of impact/point of aim remains the same with ANY of the primers in my Savage Axis .223. Almost 8 thousand rounds later it still shoots AMAZINGLY well!!

As far as blowing up a rifle because you interchanged primers.....hogwash. Never seen or heard of such in over 55 years of reloading and 30 years of Service Rifle matches.


Randy
Click to expand...
Some rifles, calibers & loads are very forgiving. Some are very finicky. My 338-06 is an example of finicky. It shoots fine with most primers, a bit over 1moa. With cci br, it is 3/4moa, very round group. My 260ai is very foregiving with just about anything shooting sub moa & switching primers gives a minimal accuracy advantage. Depending on accuracy std, distance, yeah even mixed brass works in most.
 
Engineer1911 said:
And now a word from our Sponsor about Surgically Clean Brass. Time for Rule3.
Click to expand...


OK thanks for the intro,:)


There is no reason to mix primers, use one brand for a bunch of reloads, use another brand for the next bunch etc.




iu
 
I use 4 different brands. My preferred brand is Federal, but will use Remington, Winchester and CCi depending what's available and what's on sale. For my needs, I see little to no difference except for cost and availability. While I will use Winchester primers, I still hold a grudge against them for removing the Nickel plating. :o
 
If you are shooting for money or trophies ... separate them , consistency wins matches .
If you are shooting at the range , separate them ...consistency = better groups which make you appear a better shot .

If you are going to reload , be consistent and load good accurate ammo .
Gary
 
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