Primers and Military Semiautos

[Cheapo]

Hey, is there any ranking of commercial primer "hardness" or "sensitivity", or some other common knowledge about what primers are too "soft" to use in U.S. military semiautos?

I've heard that CCIs regular primers are generally hardest to ignite, as far as firing pin strike goes. Rumor or fact? Then there's the special-order CCI primer.

In other words, which ones are safe for the slam-fire problem, and which ones should I avoid?

 

[Kilroy in Indy]

I have always used the CCI LR primers in my M1 and have not had a problem with them. When I run out of the batch that I have now I will be getting the CCI #34 as they are supposedly equal to military primers in hardness.

I don't know where you are at but I have a local source for the CCI #34 so they are not special order for me

HTH
Kilroy in Indy

 

[cheygriz]

To the best of my knowledge, the only commercial primers that meet Mil-Spec are Remington 9 1/2, standard large rifle, Remington 7 1/2 small rifle bench rest, and the special order CCI.

I know many folks use other primers successfully in military rifles, but I personally think that if a Mil-Spec primer is available, and is high quality, and the same price as the others, then why not use it?

I started using Remington primers exclusively over twenty years ago, and have not had a single problem. I've used several hundred thousand in that time.

Stocking only one brand also simplifies logistics.

 

[Steve Smith]

Agree on Rem 7 1/2. CCI BR4's also have a good rep.

 

[benewton]

I've no idea of the all of the primers that I've used in the M1A I have, but there have been no slam fires to date.

Still, during this round of "stock up", I've gone to the CCI mil types for both the AR and M1A.

I figure that the cost differential, per shot, is minimal, and, for the price, safety makes sense.

But I agree with primer standardization for logistics: WSP and WLP for pistols, CCI for rifles.

 

[HSMITH]

I have had slam fires in an SKS, AK, M1 Garand, and an FN-FAL with commercial ammo and/or primers. It is just a matter of time until you have one too if using commercial ammo or regular primers. I use only military type primers from CCI when I load for a semi.

 

[Poodleshooter]

In several thousand rounds of .223 and a few hundred rounds of 7.62x39, I have never had a slamfire using CCI small and large rifle primers in my AR or AK.
Generally, Federal's are acknowledged to have the thinnest or weakest cups. They ignite easily (good for pistols, bad for military rifles). I use Winchester for everything except rifles, in which I use CCI. Admittedly this policy is due to price....

 

[Poodleshooter]

In several thousand rounds of .223 and a few hundred rounds of 7.62x39, I have never had a slamfire using CCI small and large rifle primers in my AR or AK.
Generally, Federal's are acknowledged to have the thinnest or weakest cups. They ignite easily (good for pistols, bad for military rifles). I use Winchester for everything except rifles, in which I use CCI. Admittedly this policy is due to price....

 

[cheygriz]

I've never used the CCI MiulSpec primers. Are they more expensive??

The Remington standard primers are MilSpec. Why pay more?

 

[John Lawson]

Had a long talk with an application engineer at CCI and was told that their primers are not "softer or harder" than any other primer on the market. They differ by having a lower anvil than some others. The implication is obvious.

 

[alan]

When I shot rifle competition with an M-1, at first I used RWS primers, they were what was available at that time and place. Later on, I used Winchester 81/2-120, their standard large rifle primer. Never had a slam fire with either primer.

Re handguns, CCI primers didn't work well in a Model 15 Smith I have, Winchester small pistol primers worked without problem. The CCI's were fine in pistols, heavier hamer hit. Supposedly, the CCI primers were a bit to hard for use in revolvers, or so the story went.

Sidebar thought. Using a Dillon 550, with Remington and or Federal Primers, I had problems with primers bring presented "on edge", rather than lying flat. They would get crushed, as you might imagine. Never had much of a problem with either Winchester of CCI primers. So far as I could tell, the problem was caused by the following. It appeared that the legs of the anvil, in Federal and Remington primers projected above the top of the primer cup. Winchester and CCI's didn't.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use the c-34's in my M1a's and have no problems. The only issue is that they are magnum equiv. You need to back down the powder charge a bit. I am down 1 grn from max load using imr-4895 with seirra's. I am not at my load desk, so I did not look up the charge. I think it was 39.5 grns, but that is a guess.