SmallCaliberCentral

Bill K.: Still OT, but remember recently on the national news about the 8 yr old boy sent home from school because he used that "deadly" finger to simulate a gun pointing at another kid? Knee-jerk? Naww....just rampant P.C. being shoved down our collective throats again. Rampant stupidity is more like it....... I fear for the future of my country.

Okay, off my soapbox. But to stay on topic, I've used Rem 7-1/2's in my 223's, 222 Mag, 223 AI, and all my 204's for years; it's become my go-to primer for the 223 case family of cartridges with all suitable powders, and has demonstrated to me it's the best choice for what I do. I also use the Federal 205M (Match) primer with good results, but favor the 7-1/2 over all others....usually more available in these parts too FWIW.

About my thought also, on the primers.. As for the other, it is a sick world we live in now days. Getting worse, especially as more and more fear firearms, do not understand them and do not have the common sense God gave man, to use and enjoy them properly. At least we (People, like us, that use this and other forums) do, can and will do so, to our hearts content. Bill K

I have a modest amount (several 1000's) of CCI 450's that I have been using with good results in my .223 with RS TAC powder. I plan to continue using these in my Mini 14 with TAC, 60 gr bullets, but also plan to try the 450's with IMR 8208 in the .204 Ruger. So far I have seen very little actual differences between 400's & 450's using the same powders & bullets in loads that are less than maximum. I would expect the 450's would perform better with ball powders especially in cold temperatures.

When I was in the 8th grade our teacher a WWII vet had a day on or near the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany where the students (us) could display various WWII treasures that our relatives (folks that went off to fight the Nazis) collected. Among the items were several M98 rifles, one had a laminated stock. We were all, girls included, fascinated when our teacher explaned how the various parts of the M98 worked. I had a Jap M38 6.5 but it was different but then again I was different.

The CCI 450s are shooting well with my 40gr V-Max load of 27.1 grains of RL-15 in fully prepped new Winchester brass trimmed to 1.839". Bullets are seated to 2.068" at the ogive, velocity is 3690 fps over a Prochrono digital chronograph 10 ft from the muzzle. group was .360" for five shots. 27 grains produced a 5 shot group of .433". Yesterdays temp, at the time of testing (9AM), was 84 degrees with humidity in the upper 80s. The 450 magnums are actually shooting tighter than the same loads with the BR-4. All testing was at 100 yards with a slight wind, 4-6 mph, coming from 1 o'clock.

Tom

450s are all I have tried as I have about 10000 of them I inherited. They are great especially when shot in ar 15 format as they arnt easilly pierced.

I haven't used the 450 mags as they are more expensive than the Rem 7 1/2 BRs but I get excellent performance from the Rems. I tried the CCI 400's but if I load for 32 gr. bullets or heavier, they show primer flow even at low charge weights. So, I'll use them for the 26 gr. Barnes until they're used up.

My local shop sells the CCI 450s for $32/1000. Match primers (all brands) run $45/1000. Looks like I'll be stocking up on 450s.

The 450's are all I've used for the past 3 years and I really like them.

$45 for match primers! OUCH!

went shopping around and found Rem 7 1/2BRs for $30.

Hedge wrote:$45 for match primers! OUCH!

went shopping around and found Rem 7 1/2BRs for $30.

Please keep us posted on how these work out for you

They've always worked great for me. Bought some CCI 400's just to try them out because they were cheaper. But, cups are too soft if I push anything bigger than a 26 gr.

The shop I was buying them from was upside-down on prices. CCI's were more expensive than Rems.

Crap! I wish I had looked at this thread YESTERDAY! I loaded 50 test rounds for my new .204 using CCI400's. I have several hundred 450's on hand. I use the 400's in my AR with no problems and have a lot of them in the cupboard.

I loaded 32 and 40 grain V-Max and 35 grain bergers with RL10X and Benchmark. Should I pull them all or shoot em and hope for no pierced primers? I always look for pressure signs before I move to the next heavier load. Never had a pierced primer and I'm not sure that I want to experience one either.

Inky,

try a couple and see. I never got a pierced one. It's just that I got a very fine ring of metal....less than a thousandth around the primer indent. I've got a close fit on the firing pin/bolt but the primer managed to squeeze into it anyway. The harder Rems don't do this.

Your AR rounds are FL sized and mine are just neck sized, so maybe you won't have that problem. I wouldn't pull them just yet.

I have used cci 400 in my ar for two years now and have never yet even suspected a pierced primer. 32gr. Hornady at 22 gr. Of imr 4198. 34 gr. At 22 gr. Also. I've tried both 400 and 450. Could'my tell much difference.

Thanks for the responses. Shot the 50 rounds this weekend. No pierced primers! I even found a couple of decent grouping loads for both 32 and 40 grain bullets.

I was confusing in my earlier post. I use the 400's in my .223 AR and the 450's in my AR30. The .204 is a Thompson Center Precision Hunter. I still have 23 pieces of brass primed with the 400's. I may try magnum or match primers when it cools off and I can shoot more but it looks like I'll stick with the 400's for now.