Primers

[desert deuce]

Interesting.

Don,
Is your answer based on actual shots fired over a chronograph? Or do you, like me, base your conclusions on groups fired on the target?
This is something that I never gave a great deal of thought to in my former life as a high power shooter. It was Federal 210M’s, a good bullet and the appropriate powder, and good things would happen if you could hold hard! Now I’m told that SD should be between 5 and 10 and the key to this is the right primer.

Arnie,
I’ve heard good things about Federal 150’s. Unfortunately I don’t have any at this time.
I’ve tried other pistol primers in the past but didn’t see any difference. No chronograph tests though.
But what’s the deal with large pistol primers contributing to damage to the face of the breech block?
I just have a hard time wrapping my head around that!

JKR

[desert deuce]

Jim, I have mulled over your questions and usually don't chime in on these discussions mostly because results are usually individual as in what works for me may not work for you and for sure what works in one rifle may not work in another. The 40-65 comes to mind. One digests most any large pistol primer with aplomb as in CCI-300, Fed 150, Rem 2 1/2, when using 1.5 Swiss. With 2F Swiss F150M

44-70 & 45-70 1.5 Swiss most any Large Rifle Primer as in CCI-200, Win LR, F210 or Large Pistol, doesn't seem to care. With 2F Swiss F150M.

44-90 & 45-90 Swiss 1.5, 2F or 3F, F150M

Some of my best groups are 5 shots one ragged hole at 300, 1.5 inches vert 14 shots at 600 and 4 inches vert 5 shots at 800 (7 fps ES IIRC) All of which took a lot of time and material to arrive at those kinds of groups.

It is not unusual, in fact desirable based on my experience, to obtain low extreme spreads in velocity as in ten fps or less for 5-10 shots. So yes, I use a chronograph and yes I have free access to rifle ranges 200-1,000 yards to develop and test loads both paper and steel.

With all that said, the ball is your court and you just need to go to work with your rifle. Maybe a chronograph will make it happen for you also. Maybe not. The target will tell you

[Lumpy Grits]

I have found in LR, that CCI br2 most consistent and gave the lowest ES in BP and modern smokeless loads.