Primer Selection and Load Validation Test
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 12:09 pm
Hi All
Primer Selection and Load Validation Test
Following some interesting challenges surround primers and their performance in Raton (USA in August) I decided to validate my primer selection for F-Class shooting (ie up 1000 yards). I decided to shot and measure groups suing different primer brands and loads. I did NOT use a chrono deciding to replicate match environments.
Key questions I wanted answers to were:
1. Is there a meaningful difference between STD vs BENCH vs MAGNUM
2. What worked best in my rifle?
3. Could I confirm my Sweet Spot and what tolerance did I have?
4. Did I have a Primary and Secondary primary that I could readily swop out depending on supply challenges?
How did I test? :
All testing was at 200 yards. Test was conducted in absolute wind still conditions at Bisley in September 2013 suing the same barrel I used in USA.
All tests were for Small Rifle in Lapua cases using Berger Hybrid 155 and H4895. Seating depth was on my "match setting" and kept uniform throughout.
I did a combination of a LADDER test / Primer change. I did loads and shot them up from 47.0 to 47.8.
NOTE this my MY rifle load - do NOT replicate. Developed and validate your own. 
I loaded 3 rounds per Primer per load. The primer options were shot at random - hence why no letter is always the same primer
As an alternate I also did a small batch with Sierra 2156C to see what happens when you swop a bullet out on a known and hopefully accurate load.
PRIMERS : I sourced selected 5 primers :
STD
Remington & CCI Std
MATCH
CCI BR4 & Federal Gold Match
MAGNUM
CCI-Magnum
DETAILED FINDINGS
I will load the photos per group and a summary spreadsheet with my findings.
Round count was 6 x 15 = 90 Rounds
SUMMARY for my rifle / load combination
CCI-BR4 were consistently the best across all loads and displayed the most uniformity.
FEDERAL Gold Match was a far second.
REMINGTON was the poorest.
I did find a sweet spot where the CCI-BR4 clearly performed better here in the sweet spot zone of loads 3, 4 and 5.
It did HOWEVER fall out of the sweet spot dramatically. Past sweet spot - poorest overall groups !!! :roll:
LESSON : I have been shooting the CCI-STD load due to component availability AND poor range discipline!
I.e. I did not double check my loads after I made the changes in powder charge in the search for velocity at the price of accuracy!
The exercise was very worthwhile and validated and changed several assumptions I had. Significant group size difference can de seen with simple primary changes AND across the load range. NOTE : 47.8 + CCI-BR4 is slightly more than USA charge of 47.6 with FED. Besides Batch variations the additional heat factors in USA may have influenced the barrel harmonics in USA.
Primer Selection and Load Validation Test
Following some interesting challenges surround primers and their performance in Raton (USA in August) I decided to validate my primer selection for F-Class shooting (ie up 1000 yards). I decided to shot and measure groups suing different primer brands and loads. I did NOT use a chrono deciding to replicate match environments.
Key questions I wanted answers to were:
1. Is there a meaningful difference between STD vs BENCH vs MAGNUM
2. What worked best in my rifle?
3. Could I confirm my Sweet Spot and what tolerance did I have?
4. Did I have a Primary and Secondary primary that I could readily swop out depending on supply challenges?
How did I test? :
All testing was at 200 yards. Test was conducted in absolute wind still conditions at Bisley in September 2013 suing the same barrel I used in USA.
All tests were for Small Rifle in Lapua cases using Berger Hybrid 155 and H4895. Seating depth was on my "match setting" and kept uniform throughout.
I did a combination of a LADDER test / Primer change. I did loads and shot them up from 47.0 to 47.8.
NOTE this my MY rifle load - do NOT replicate. Developed and validate your own. I loaded 3 rounds per Primer per load. The primer options were shot at random - hence why no letter is always the same primer
As an alternate I also did a small batch with Sierra 2156C to see what happens when you swop a bullet out on a known and hopefully accurate load.
PRIMERS : I sourced selected 5 primers :
STD
Remington & CCI Std
MATCH
CCI BR4 & Federal Gold Match
MAGNUM
CCI-Magnum
DETAILED FINDINGS
I will load the photos per group and a summary spreadsheet with my findings.
Round count was 6 x 15 = 90 Rounds
SUMMARY for my rifle / load combination
CCI-BR4 were consistently the best across all loads and displayed the most uniformity.
FEDERAL Gold Match was a far second.
REMINGTON was the poorest.
I did find a sweet spot where the CCI-BR4 clearly performed better here in the sweet spot zone of loads 3, 4 and 5.
It did HOWEVER fall out of the sweet spot dramatically. Past sweet spot - poorest overall groups !!! :roll:
LESSON : I have been shooting the CCI-STD load due to component availability AND poor range discipline!
I.e. I did not double check my loads after I made the changes in powder charge in the search for velocity at the price of accuracy!
The exercise was very worthwhile and validated and changed several assumptions I had. Significant group size difference can de seen with simple primary changes AND across the load range. NOTE : 47.8 + CCI-BR4 is slightly more than USA charge of 47.6 with FED. Besides Batch variations the additional heat factors in USA may have influenced the barrel harmonics in USA.
