Anyone know?

[WR Moore]

OK, military ammo primers are different, usually somewhat harder cup. Anyone know what primer is/was used in the M118/M118LR ammunition? I rather expect it's the #41 mil spec primer, but I'd like to know. Trying to duplicate their velocities with cannister grade powders.

 

[bigggbbruce]

41 are small rifle. 34?
Found this information
The M118/M118LR (Long Range) is a 7.62×51mm NATO match-grade cartridge used by the military and long-range civilian shooters. Factory and clone loads frequently utilize Federal Gold Medal Match Large Rifle (GM210M) or CCI BR-2 primers to achieve the low standard deviation required for 1000-yard

 

[WR Moore]

OOPS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks. I do have .308 brass that uses small rifle primers and keeping the SD down is a wee bit easier.

The M118LR that I've got has primers with different color cups (dull brass) than over the counter GM210M, which has chrome color cups. What color are the 34s? OK, I can see whoever makes the primers would be willing to use a dull finish primer cup.

Most of the M118 that's available are XM or PD. They didn't meet the velocity/deviation requirement and may/may not have been pulled down, the powder mixed and reloaded for practice. The last box I chrono'd didn't meet velocity spec, but had low 1 digit SD, you could live with that. Frankly, I'm still the greatest source of variation in shot placement, but I try to cut down the hardware issues. I need to chrono the reloads with 210M in 118LR brass to see if there's any improvement.

 

[bigggbbruce]

The 34s are slightly dull compared to the 210s, the CCI 200s are the same finish as the 34s. I don't have any BR-2. I've had a lot of problems using 210s the primer pocket has to be perfect or they are difficult to seat.

 

[s&wchad]

I found this online about the M118 ammo...

The other change was the switch from the primer No. 43 to the same primer used in other 7.62 ammo, specifically the primer No. 34 and primer No. 36. These two changes had significant negative impacts on the performance of the ammo, and no amount of changes to specification or tooling would be able to help.

https://snipercentral.com/history-m118-ammunition/

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

My Remington 700 Police Sniper Special had 1:9 twist and loved the M-118, M-118 LR, and the M-118 SB and Federal Gold Medal Match 175 ammo!

When I went with a Savage 10 BAQ, I went with Palma ammo. Sierra 155 MatchKing, 47.0 grains Varget, Federal 210M primer in Lapua Match Brass (Large primer Pocket!), gun and ammo was 0.2 MOA, not only at 100 but at 1085 yards it was 2"

Ivan

 

[WR Moore]

OK, post #5 brings up the question as to what the heck the #43 primer was? One source suggests it was a match grade LR primer, possibly with a different priming compound. I guess I could take a stab with the CCI benchrest primers-kinda hate to redo the SD testing.