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Posted: 10/5/2014 5:47:17 AM EDT
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I am setting up to load for the 5.56 when I get my First AR completed.
I was looking at Primers for the 5.56 AR build as I have none and I am well a bit confused as there are of course Small Rifle Primers but there are also some kind of 223 primers and so forth. Is there a specific type of Primer one should use in an AR 5.56? The Barrel has a Wylde Chamber if that information helps. As for Powders I might use H-322,RL-15 or TAC? I was going to ask about Hunting Bullets but after doing a ton of reading I think since I will have a 16" 1-8 twist barrel I will probably go with the Barnes 62 Gr TSX? Thank You. :) |
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Small rifle primers work fine in bolt actions. In semi-autos, a harder primer cap is desirable to avoid "slam fires" that can occur because of a floating firing pin and the semi-auto action. Those primers are labelled differently; (eg) military (CCI), AR (Federal), etc.
Sorry I don't have any experience with that particular bullet but normally an 8 twist will spin a 62gr bullet fine. |
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Quoted:
I am setting up to load for the 5.56 when I get my First AR completed. I was looking at Primers for the 5.56 AR build as I have none and I am well a bit confused as there are of course Small Rifle Primers but there are also some kind of 223 primers and so forth. Is there a specific type of Primer one should use in an AR 5.56? The Barrel has a Wylde Chamber if that information helps. As for Powders I might use H-322,RL-15 or TAC? I was going to ask about Hunting Bullets but after doing a ton of reading I think since I will have a 16" 1-8 twist barrel I will probably go with the Barnes 62 Gr TSX? Thank You. :) Yes. There maybe other brands but I would suggest you use CCI #41 primers. |
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All CCI small rifle primers are pretty hard (a good thing). I wouldn't hesitate to use CCI #400 or BR-4 primers in an AR.
Avoid known soft primers like Federal, IMHO. Winchester primers seem to be the easiest to find when supplies are short, which almost makes them worth using for that fact alone. |
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CCI 400 and WSR since maybe mid- 1987.. never an issue..
Think about it,, you bought an AR-15 rifle,, you go to store and look for 223 ammo to blast with, and the shelves loaded with all flavors of 223 ammo... ever see a warning on the box for use in AR-15 rifle ?? Nope.. |
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For an AR, you want to avoid "benchrest" type primers. The AR's firing pin "floats;" it has no return spring, so when you chamber a round the firing pin can and WILL touch the primer enough to make a noticeable dent. Soft, "sensitive" primers like those marketed for benchrest loading, will not necessarily go off, but they might be less consistent after such treatment. I've used CCI's standard, #400 Small Rifle primers and their #450 Small Rifle Magnum primers, and Winchester's Small Rifle primers. I have a stash of CCI #41s that I'm going to use when I crank up a large batch of 5.56mm-class ammunition later this year. They're all good.
There is some confusion about Wolf primers and ARs. First, the primers are made by Tula, and are the same as Tula's primers. There is a "223" type and a "5.56" type; you want the 5.56 type, labeled "KVB-5,56" (the Wolf package is labeled "KVB-5.56", with the comma replaced by a period). While the .223 version will work, the 5.56 type has apparently both a harder cup and a hotter priming mixture. Both tend to be good with higher-performance loads in an AR. |
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Quoted: I am setting up to load for the 5.56 when I get my First AR completed. I was looking at Primers for the 5.56 AR build as I have none and I am well a bit confused as there are of course Small Rifle Primers but there are also some kind of 223 primers and so forth. Is there a specific type of Primer one should use in an AR 5.56? The Barrel has a Wylde Chamber if that information helps. As for Powders I might use H-322,RL-15 or TAC? I was going to ask about Hunting Bullets but after doing a ton of reading I think since I will have a 16" 1-8 twist barrel I will probably go with the Barnes 62 Gr TSX? Thank You. :) |
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JesterGrin_1, have you collected complete load recipes for your planned goals?
If you look for a whole load recipe, and it applied to your specific situation including your bbl twist and length, then the bullet, primer, and powder will work together as a system. For example, if you know you like the 62 TSX bullet and you find recipes with specific powders, then always start out using the same primer they quote in the recipe as well. Assuming you focus on AR recipes, with similar bbl lengths and twists, you will be okay with several brands of primers. The components you mentioned are all very good, but find a whole load recipe and not just one or two parts. At least until you get some experience. Values from 24" test bbls are only guidelines. I also find that these want to be seated deep, but your situation may be different. http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=359176 http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=374624 http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-622815.html |
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Quoted:
JesterGrin_1, have you collected complete load recipes for your planned goals? If you look for a whole load recipe, and it applied to your specific situation including your bbl twist and length, then the bullet, primer, and powder will work together as a system. For example, if you know you like the 62 TSX bullet and you find recipes with specific powders, then always start out using the same primer they quote in the recipe as well. Assuming you focus on AR recipes, with similar bbl lengths and twists, you will be okay with several brands of primers. The components you mentioned are all very good, but find a whole load recipe and not just one or two parts. At least until you get some experience. Values from 24" test bbls are only guidelines. I also find that these want to be seated deep, but your situation may be different. http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=359176 http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=6&f=42&t=374624 http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-622815.html I fully understand following Load Recipes. But the way things are today one may not be able to purchase the components that make up a given Recipe. Of which is just 1 more solid reason to start low and work up a load with care. |
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I did a side by side load work up using WC-844 powder, Hornady 55gr FMJ, LC-11 cases and CCI-400 and CCI-450 primers.
I actually saw more flattening with the 450s than the 400s but not enough to make any rock solid claims. The loads were from low to high pressure wise and fired from a 20" PSA upper with 20" 1 in 7 CL barrel, 5.56 chamber. If asked to make a comparison between the 2 primer types I would have to say there was not a noticeable difference in any way. BTW: For those that don't know. Don't use Remington 6 1/2s for any "normal" .223 loads. Read the warning on the package. |
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ive used cci400's, rem 7.5's, cci br4's, and cci 450's
the rem 7.5 seems to have a pretty hard cup, alot like the cci 450's never had a problem with 400's or br4's either. load what you can get for cheap. only difference ive ever seen is with a mk262 load im working up I get a few more fps from a cci 450 in a 16" carbine. |
| I've been using Winchester primers since I started reloading in 1996. Work fine when fired from my AR's Mini-14, SKS and bolt actions. No complaints I have some CCI small magnum primters, however I haven't tried them yet. I seen recommendations for using them with specific powders such as BLC-2, however the WSR's have been working well for me. |
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A photo from your magazine, no doubt! Half the battle is seating the primer slightly subflush, 0.002 inches minimum. After that, pick a primer, except Remington 6 1/2's, they're intended for cartridges with pressures peaking at about 40000 CUP. My favorites are Remington 7 1/2's and Federal primers. |
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I currently only load 55-grain blasting ammo in .223, but I started with and have settled on CCI #41s. They work fine and I've so far avoided any issues with slam fires.
If I was going to load precision ammo, I'd look at BR4s or some other match primer. I'd then compare them to the 41s. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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