The Effects Of Different Primers On The Load

The Effects Of Different Primers On The Load

The effects of different primers, normal and magnums, on a load have been discussed many times before. We thought we would run our own test, using all the different primers that we have here. We have found the following primers in our possession. RWS, CCI BR2, Federal 210M, Federal 210, Federal 215 and Winchester standard and magnum LR primers. I would like to state here that there is nothing scientific about this experiment. We just wanted to see how these components would perform under the conditions stated here.

We thought of doing the test on 4 different case sizes. These include the 308, 25-06 Remington, 300 Weatherby magnum, and finally the 338 Lapua size. This would give us some sort of idea of how they perform in different case sizes. We thought of trying 3 different powders in each case size, one of which would be a ball powder.

We also wanted to check if cold temperatures have any effects on this. For this we would leave some loaded rounds in the freezer, and shoot them as a group, noting both the velocity and the accuracy, and compare this with the others.

All the following groups were 3 shots at 100 yards, I wrote the results of each group so you can compare that with others, as well as the group in red which was frozen over night and then shot. The line that shows only the velocity is the average of the three groups above it. I thought this might make it easier to compare the velocity at normal temperature and cold temperatures. The last row in each table shows the average of all the 4 groups above it.

The following are the results of a 308 Winchester, shot in a custom Remington 700 we have built ourselves. It has a Hart barrel #5 and a McMillan synthetic stock. It was topped with a Leupold 6.5-20X scope in Leupold mounts. We used RWS match brass, 41.2 grains of VVN 140, and the Sierra 168 Match King bullet, molly coated. We picked this load because it shot reasonably well in this rifle before, and we did the same with VVN 540, as it is supposed to be similar in burning rate. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2415-0.390	2378-0.156	2481-0.579	2474-0.360	2480-0.238	2404-0.408	2509-0.172
2428-0.349	2425-0.369	2482-0.630	2474-0.341	2471-0.301	2445-0.572	2492-0.247
2428-0.342	2445-0.346	2468-0.491	2477-0.630	2456-0.338	2460-0.309	2492-0.717

2424	2416	2477	2475	2469	2436	2498
2386-0.576	2374-0.720	2397-1.152	2419-0.608	2394-0.753	2373-0.121	2397-0.587
2414-0.426	2406-0.398	2457-0.713	2461-0.485	2450-0.408	2421-0.353	2472-0.431

The following loads are with 41.2 grains of VVN 540, which is a double base powder, same bullet and brass. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2406-0.401	2399-0.477	2430-0.321	2435-0.303	2444-0.740	2396-0.520	2422-0.547
2410-0.478	2420-0.621	2399-0.260	2420-0.236	2414-0.299	2405-0.507	2459-0.375
2425-0.102	2415-0.589	2393-0.427	2402-0.372	2403-0.342	2434-0.311	2456-0.573

2414	2411	2407	2419	2420	2412	2446
2334-0.162	2332-0.325	2389-0.301	2368-0.666	2373-0.720	2365-0.319	2407-0.328
2394-0.286	2392-0.503	2403-0.327	2406-0.394	2409-0.525	2400-0.414	2436-0.456

The following loads are with 45.2 grains of BL-C 2, same bullet and brass. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2623-0.390	2586-0.317	2604-0.821	2587-0.300	2612-0.425	2580-0.451	2631-0.396
2611-0.511	2573-0.326	2608-0.322	2586-0.317	2624-0.795	2583-0.574	2608-0.478
2598-0.752	2580-0.333	2604-0.517	2578-0.328	2620-0.397	2601-0.808	2642-0.492

2611	2580	2605	2584	2619	2588	2627
2534-0.237	2550-0.418	2578-0.478	2574-0.209	2585-0.283	2573-0.324	2590-0.597
2592-0.473	2572-0.349	2599-0.535	2581-0.289	2610-0.475	2584-0.539	2618-0.491

The following are the results of the 25-06 Remington, shot in a Ruger Target model rifle. It is a standard factory issue; we bedded the rifle in its original stock, and installed a Leupold 6.5-20X scope in Ruger mounts. The rifle has a 26-inch barrel.

All the following loads were with the Berger 85 grain bullet, 55 grains of Reloader 19, in Winchester brass. All cases for each group were selected and match prepped, all have the same weight. All powder charges were weighed. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
3163-0.513	3177-0.188	3153-0.375	3137-0.255	3147-0.476	3166-0.377	3170-0.228
3149-0.841	3128-0.316	3163-0.491	3167-0.407	3121-0.573	3153-0.464	3152-0.631
3177-0.531	3130-0.612	3176-0.721	3187-0.574	3126-0.232	3161-0.298	3165-0.278
3163	3145	3164	3164	3131	3160	3162
3062-0627	3085-0.393	3089-0.451	3098-0.664	3088-0.510	3132-0.903	3083-1.070
3138-0.628	3130-0.377	3145-0.510	3147-0.475	3121-0.448	3153-0.511	3143-0.552

The following loads were with 48 grains of VVN 550 powder, same bullet and brass. Three shot groups.

All 3 round with the RWS primer had hang fired.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
3137-0.567	3119-0.816	3146-0.512	3201-0.611	3176-0.645	3166-0.980	3110-0.716
3143-0.489	3129-0.321	3162-0.414	3189-1.145	3200-0.672	3145-0.601	3123-0.511
3142-0.694	3130-0.760	3176-0.633	3166-0.468	3159-0.326	3135-0.466	3139-0.700
3141	3126	3161	3185	3178	3149	3124
2940-0.284	3063-0.702	3062-0.239	2991-0.686	3060-0.442	3041-0.606	2987-0.953
3091-0.509	3110-0.645	3137-0.450	3137-0.728	3149-0.521	3122-0.663	3090-0.720

The following loads with 63 grains of H870, same bullet and brass. I know this powder is far too slow for this application, but we thought we will try it to see how it performs. This charge fills the case to about half way up the neck. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2854-0.444	2962-0.726	2958-0.804	2991-0.342	2990-0.348	2996-0.744	2996-0.678
2897-0.543	2987-0.783	2954-0.374	2988-1.036	2968-0.518	2983-0.331	3013-0.542
2864-0.518	2990-0.539	2978-0.400	2963-0.463	2979-0.666	2954-0.503	3007-0.700
2872	2980	2963	2981	2979	2978	3005
2758- 0.372	2793-0.470	2805-0.349	2820-0.215	2866-0.867	2809-0.533	2842-0.517
2834-0.469	2933-0.630	2924-0.482	2941-0.514	2951-0.600	2936-0.528	2965-0.609

The following loads were shot in a Remington 700 chambered for the 300 Weatherby magnum. It is a standard factory rifle, that came with one of those horrible looking plastic stocks. The barrel was 24 inches long. We re did the bedding, and installed a Leupold 4-12 X scope in Leupold mounts. We used once fired Weatherby brass and the Sierra 190-grain Match King bullet, molly coated.

The following are with 75 grains of Reloader 19. Three shot groups.

6 rounds with the RWS primers hang fired, including 2 of the 3 frozen overnight. 1 of the frozen BR2 rounds hag fired.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2732-1.034	2725-1.528	2717-0.512	2710-0.924	2724-1.156	2752-1.237	2720-0.870
2765-0.574	2743-1.272	2741-1.117	2724-1.283	2746-0.817	2736-1.371	2729-0.557
2712-1.005	2715-1.240	2746-0.326	2705-1.068	2739-0.410	2718-0.726	2735-1.021
2736	2728	2735	2713	2736	2735	2728
2730-1.839	2672-0.925	2636-0.880	2670-1.042	2631-1.195	2646-0.631	2681-1.353
2735-1.113	2714-1.241	2710-0.709	2702-1.079	2710-0.895	2713-0.991	2716-0950

The following are with 80 grains of VVN 165, same bullet and brass. Three shot groups.

Five round with the RWS primers hang fired, including 2 of the frozen ones.

One of the frozen rounds with the CCI BR 2 hang fired.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2795-1.467	2766-1.300	2775-1.556	2774-0.892	2781-1.357	2811-0.310	2763-0.333
2796-1.398	2787-1.254	2783-0.389	2773-1.059	2770-1.074	2796-0.697	2768-1.556
2799-0.660	2760-0.737	2767-1.179	2787-0.121	2773-1.241	27830.745	2768-1.584
2797	2771	2775	2778	2775	2797	2766
2717-2.406	2730-0.848	2720-1.023	2690-0.520	2675-0.673	2700-0.917	2630-0.968
2778-1.483	2761-1.035	2761-1.037	27560.0.648	27501.086	2773-0.667	2732-1.110

The following are with 92 grains of H 870, same bullet and brass. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2764-1.925	2777-0.723	2802-0.909	2828-1.862	2779-1.604	2834-1.448	2798-1.235
2826-1.082	2821-0.977	2784-1.740	2801-0.653	2812-1.705	2820-1.173	2810-1.370
2781-1.371	2800-0.877	2821-0.336	2837-0.640	2812-0.644	2779-1.153	2793-1.246
2790	2799	2802	2822	2801	2811	2800
2654-0.844	2686-1.903	2713-1.380	2700-0.994	2687-0.614	2689-0.553	2703-1.558
2756-1.306	2771-1.120	2780-1.090	2792-1.037	2773-1.142	2781-1.082	2776-1.352

The following loads were shot in a Sako TRG-41 target rifle, chambered for the 338 Lapua. It has a 27-inch barrel, and we installed a Leupold LPS 3.5-14X scope in Sako mounts on it. We used Lapua brass and the Sierra 300 grain Match King bullet. Three shot groups.

The following are with 95 H 5010. Three shot groups.

RWS	CCI BR 2	CCI 250	FED 210M	FED 215	WLR	WLRM
2463-0.374	2414-0.475	2412-0.212	2429-0.617	2482-0.551	2422-0.202	2456-0.478
2453-0.468	2407-0.232	2417-0.319	2413-0.135	2488-0.581	2437-0.410	2442-0.240
2455-0.396	2418-0.332	2410-0.292	2422-0.346	2486-0.526	2418-0.408	2463-0.342
2457	2413	2413	2421	2485	2426	2454
2350-1.040	2369-0.275	2365- 0.294	2349-0.220	2383-0.458	2393- 0.434	2414-0.188

We had to stop our test at this stage, as our TRG-41 got borrowed. I think we have enough data above to get some sort of idea of how things might turn out.

We were using standard large rifle primers for all cases up to the 30-06. Cases larger than that we normally used magnum primers. I cannot really see any indication from the above test to change that.