Favorite primer for Varget

Bill Daniel · March 26, 2012, 09:46 AM

Has any one tested different primers with Varget and found one that yeilded the least chronografted variation?
Thanks,
Bill Daniel

Bart B. · March 27, 2012, 07:23 AM

High power rifle competitors like Wolff prmers made in Russia.

I doubt most folks chronograph data is all that good. Expecially when two different people get different results in velocity average and spread shooting the same rifle with the same ammo using a rest atop a bench. Us humans are not very repeatable in how hard we hold the rifle into our shoulder nor how our body positions itself as the rifle's held. I've seen as much as 60 fps difference between my chronographed velocity and a friends. Others have seen about 100 fps difference. Most accurate method is to clamp the rifle in a machine rest so it's held exactly the same way for each shot.

Smokey Joe · March 27, 2012, 10:23 AM

Is there REALLY that much variation in performance of a round, caused by a variation in primers???

I've been using CCI Benchrest primers for years, loading for my "serious" rifles, with highly satisfactory results. Had no inkling that using a different high-grade primer would cause different results.

Varget is one of my favorite powders for about .308 to .30-'06 sized cases.

RobertInIowa · March 27, 2012, 11:16 AM

For the guns I handload for I use Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rest Rifle.

zxcvbob · March 27, 2012, 11:31 AM

I have 5 or 6 thousand Wolf regular SR primers and about 1000 Federal 205's. (I bought them a long time ago for loading .30 Carbine and .357 Magnum w/ W296) Are those OK with Varget? How about ball powders like AA2520 or W748 or WC844?

Or do I need to buy something hotter, like CCI 41 or Winchester SR or Remington 7.5's?

I've loaded a few rounds with the Federals and Varget and 62 grain FMJ's but I haven't had a chance to shoot them yet. If the primers aren't strong enough, how do I know it -- does it "click BANG" like a flintlock?

I'm a total noob at loading bottleneck rifle cartridges.

Bill Daniel · March 27, 2012, 06:11 PM

The reason I ask is Glen Zediker in his book "Handloading for Competition" stated that primers can be a major factor in velocity variation. I was curious to know if any of my fellow TFLers had found a difference with a hot Winchester or cooler CCI or any others for that matter.
Thanks,
Bill Daniel

McDAccountant · March 28, 2012, 02:06 PM

For me, my most accurate load for 30-06 was using Varget with Federal 210 primers. Tried WLR primers with Varget but didn't find a load quite as accurate as with the Fed210 and Varget. Recently bought some CCI200 primers but have not had a chance to load/shoot any with those yet. As for velocity, I can't say as I have never chrony'd one of the loads...but considering how well they grouped I'd say velocity variance was small.

dacaur · March 29, 2012, 09:25 PM

I just use normal (not mag or benchrest) CCI large rifle primers in my .308 with varget... Dont have a chrono yet, but I get sub MOA on my Sub $300 rifle, so I figure the primer must be just fine

m&p45acp10+1 · March 29, 2012, 09:40 PM

My favorite primer to use with Varget is the one that I can get. As of late it is CCI. I have a few Winchester on hand. I use those mostly for small pistol though.

4runnerman · March 29, 2012, 09:41 PM

CCI BR-4 and 25.5 Varget for my 223

Bill Daniel · March 30, 2012, 01:05 PM

There is probably more to this than can be imagined but if a "hot" primer moves the bullet more than the "cool" primer that would have an effect on the time pressure curve of the round and introduce that as a variable in consistency of the rounds and therefore its accuracy. I can adjust my powder charge by weight to be as exact as I can but I have no control over the primer so I think that a cool primer would be more accurate with Varget than a hot primer. This way it is only the powder charge moving the bullet rather than the primer first then the powder.
Any thoughts form you amature or professional ballisticians out there?
Thanks,
Bill Daniel

hooligan1 · March 30, 2012, 04:05 PM

I'm currently working up some loads featuring Varget, with a 95 grn B-tip, and a CCI primer is all I use in all my loads even handgun,, I'm not sure why exactly other than I've been using them since 1989 with total success and why switch right?

This new load will be for my .243 win, and I use the CCI 200 Large rifle Primer. (wish me luck,,,right)

toolguy2006 · March 30, 2012, 09:40 PM

Bill:

You might give this a read:

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...mer-study.html

Bill Daniel · March 30, 2012, 10:22 PM

Great article toolguy2006. Thanks
Bill Daniel

March 26, 2012, 09:46 AM	#1
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Favorite primer for Varget Has any one tested different primers with Varget and found one that yeilded the least chronografted variation? Thanks, Bill Daniel __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

March 27, 2012, 10:23 AM	#3
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Primer caused variation... Is there REALLY that much variation in performance of a round, caused by a variation in primers??? I've been using CCI Benchrest primers for years, loading for my "serious" rifles, with highly satisfactory results. Had no inkling that using a different high-grade primer would cause different results. Varget is one of my favorite powders for about .308 to .30-'06 sized cases. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe Last edited by Smokey Joe; March 27, 2012 at 10:25 AM. Reason: The usual--had another thought.

March 27, 2012, 11:16 AM	#4
RobertInIowa Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 149	For the guns I handload for I use Remington 7 1/2 Bench Rest Rifle. __________________ Guns don't kill people, fathers with pretty daughters do. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three comes pretty close. Proud NRA member

March 27, 2012, 11:31 AM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I have 5 or 6 thousand Wolf regular SR primers and about 1000 Federal 205's. (I bought them a long time ago for loading .30 Carbine and .357 Magnum w/ W296) Are those OK with Varget? How about ball powders like AA2520 or W748 or WC844? Or do I need to buy something hotter, like CCI 41 or Winchester SR or Remington 7.5's? I've loaded a few rounds with the Federals and Varget and 62 grain FMJ's but I haven't had a chance to shoot them yet. If the primers aren't strong enough, how do I know it -- does it "click BANG" like a flintlock? I'm a total noob at loading bottleneck rifle cartridges. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 27, 2012, 06:11 PM	#6
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Favorite primer for Varget The reason I ask is Glen Zediker in his book "Handloading for Competition" stated that primers can be a major factor in velocity variation. I was curious to know if any of my fellow TFLers had found a difference with a hot Winchester or cooler CCI or any others for that matter. Thanks, Bill Daniel __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

March 27, 2012, 07:23 AM	#2
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	High power rifle competitors like Wolff prmers made in Russia. I doubt most folks chronograph data is all that good. Expecially when two different people get different results in velocity average and spread shooting the same rifle with the same ammo using a rest atop a bench. Us humans are not very repeatable in how hard we hold the rifle into our shoulder nor how our body positions itself as the rifle's held. I've seen as much as 60 fps difference between my chronographed velocity and a friends. Others have seen about 100 fps difference. Most accurate method is to clamp the rifle in a machine rest so it's held exactly the same way for each shot.

March 28, 2012, 02:06 PM	#7
McDAccountant Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Posts: 23	For me, my most accurate load for 30-06 was using Varget with Federal 210 primers. Tried WLR primers with Varget but didn't find a load quite as accurate as with the Fed210 and Varget. Recently bought some CCI200 primers but have not had a chance to load/shoot any with those yet. As for velocity, I can't say as I have never chrony'd one of the loads...but considering how well they grouped I'd say velocity variance was small.

March 29, 2012, 09:25 PM	#8
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	I just use normal (not mag or benchrest) CCI large rifle primers in my .308 with varget... Dont have a chrono yet, but I get sub MOA on my Sub $300 rifle, so I figure the primer must be just fine

March 29, 2012, 09:40 PM	#9
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	My favorite primer to use with Varget is the one that I can get. As of late it is CCI. I have a few Winchester on hand. I use those mostly for small pistol though. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 29, 2012, 09:41 PM	#10
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	CCI BR-4 and 25.5 Varget for my 223 __________________ NRA Certified RSO NwCP- Performance Isn't Optional

March 30, 2012, 01:05 PM	#11
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Favorite primer for Varget There is probably more to this than can be imagined but if a "hot" primer moves the bullet more than the "cool" primer that would have an effect on the time pressure curve of the round and introduce that as a variable in consistency of the rounds and therefore its accuracy. I can adjust my powder charge by weight to be as exact as I can but I have no control over the primer so I think that a cool primer would be more accurate with Varget than a hot primer. This way it is only the powder charge moving the bullet rather than the primer first then the powder. Any thoughts form you amature or professional ballisticians out there? Thanks, Bill Daniel __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903

March 30, 2012, 04:05 PM	#12
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	I'm currently working up some loads featuring Varget, with a 95 grn B-tip, and a CCI primer is all I use in all my loads even handgun,, I'm not sure why exactly other than I've been using them since 1989 with total success and why switch right? This new load will be for my .243 win, and I use the CCI 200 Large rifle Primer. (wish me luck,,,right) __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

March 30, 2012, 09:40 PM	#13
toolguy2006 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2010 Location: Western Washington State Posts: 144	Bill: You might give this a read: http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com...mer-study.html

March 30, 2012, 10:22 PM	#14
Bill Daniel Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2000 Location: Bowling Green, KY. Posts: 518	Favorite primer for Varget Great article toolguy2006. Thanks Bill Daniel __________________ Prosecute criminals to the fullest extent of the law and their weapons will become harmless. "Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready." Theodore Roosevelt 1903