Large magnum rifle primers - brand preference?

[jpr9954]

My local Sportsman's Warehouse has three different brands of large magnum rifle primers available. From everything I've seen, they seem to be hard to find.

They have Remington 9 1/2 M, CCI No. 250, and White River Energetics which is a newer brand. I didn't realize the White River Energetics were on the market yet. I spoke with them in 2023 at the SHOT Show and they were still building a plant in Arkansas.

I will eventually be loading for .375 H&H, .358 Norma Mag, 9.3x62, and .308 Norma Magnum.

 

[358 Norma]

Federal large rifle magnum match, #.215m

 

[deewayne2003]

Personally I prefer Winchester magnum primers.

White River I’ve never heard of but I’m curious.

I do find it funny that as brand new primer manufacturers come online, the lager manufacturers are suddenly more available and prices are lower.

I was able to buy my first 1,000 CCI primers off the shelf in years just a couple months ago.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

Fed 215 I use in all my nitro's, but maybe because it's all I have and all anyone had when I needed them.

 

[DLSJR]

In the past I’ve always preferred Federal 215 primers. Nowadays, I prefer whatever I can get!

 

[Safari Dave]

I seem to like CCI primers now.

 

[Vintageguy]

The last lot I purchased were CCI no. 250 that I used on working up 458 WM loads. The velocity consistency was outstanding. I will happily purchase more in the future.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

CCI #34 for me.

 

[Frederik]

FED 215 if you can find them second in line CCI250 and I have heard that White river is basically the same as CCI.
I have used Winchester before and PMP and would again if I was in a pinch.

 

[grand veneur]

My local Sportsman's Warehouse has three different brands of large magnum rifle primers available. From everything I've seen, they seem to be hard to find.

They have Remington 9 1/2 M, CCI No. 250, and White River Energetics which is a newer brand. I didn't realize the White River Energetics were on the market yet. I spoke with them in 2023 at the SHOT Show and they were still building a plant in Arkansas.

I will eventually be loading for .375 H&H, .358 Norma Mag, 9.3x62, and .308 Norma Magnum.

I used in the past mainly Fed 215 and CCI 250 primers, but I switched for some cartridges from the CCI 250 primers to the WLRM primers above all because I have a lot of them in stock. No difference in working. I also loaded some cartridges with RWS 5333 primers, but also no difference to the Fed 215 primers. Due to the powder charge I load into these Magnum and big bore cartridges, the differences in pressure are certainly not as relevant as with cartridges with smaller powder capacity. In his famous book, Art Alphin from A-Square compares the various Magnum primers and concludes that in the Magnum class, the WLRM primers are the strongest and the Remington 9 1/2 M primers the weakest. Fed 215 and CCI 250 primers are interchangeable.

For the cartridge 9,3x62, you don't normally need a Magnum primer. RWS recommends its standard primer RWS 5341, but Art Alphin in turn recommends CCI 250 primers. In my opinion the CCI 250 primers would be a very good choice for all the cartridges mentioned. I don't know the primers from White River Energetics.

 

[Russ16]

Historically I’ve preferred Federal. But all I’ve been able to get lately is Remington. I’m hoping they work out I haven’t used them yet. The fact no one mentioned them here isn’t encouraging.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Historically I’ve preferred Federal. But all I’ve been able to get lately is Remington. I’m hoping they work out I haven’t used them yet. The fact no one mentioned them here isn’t encouraging.

I also prefer Federal 215 Large RIfle Magnum primers but have in recent years loaded, shot hundreds of rounds in practice, and even hunted In Africa with those Remington LR Magnum primers. They both load and function as designed.

Art Alphin from A-Square compares the various Magnum primers and concludes that in the Magnum class, the WLRM primers are the strongest and the Remington 9 1/2 M primers the weakest. Fed 215 and CCI 250 primers are interchangeable.

As @grand veneur provided, Remington may not be the strongest or "hottest" primers, but they worked for me to ignite H4350 and H4895 powders. Loads with slower buring powders might be more consistant with hotter / stronger primers.

Also consider if one is hunting in sub-zero environments, a hotter primer may be much better. Maybe becasue this is just me thinking after only one cup of coffee...

PS: Whatever you are loading, use a chronograph and log in every shot you fire. Track the consistancy of the different loads. The spread of velocity is a good indicator. WIth all else and I mean ALL else the same, which primers produce the lowest difference in velocity?

 

[skydiver386]

A year ago, any Large rifle primer was a lucky find, and you took what you could get.

Now I can find most brands easily at any gun store I go into. Within the last week I've seen bricks of 1,000 available at 3 local gun stores and my local Cabela's/Bass Pro.

My preference is for the Federal Gold Medal Large Rifle Magnum primer #215, or CCI as second choice.

 

[Jack Stevens]

Federal large rifle magnum match, #.215m

I’ve had excellent results with both Federal 215 Mag primers and CCI 250 Mag primers.

 

[Luvthunt]

I’ve had excellent results with both Federal 215 Mag primers and CCI 250 Mag primers.

+1

 

[lkydvl]

Sellier & Bellot

check out accurate shooters primer tests

 

[mdwest]

I use Winchester almost exclusively (SRP, LRP, LRMP, SPP, LPP, etc)..

I don't know that its a preference so much as when I first started reloading again about 10 years ago (after about a 10 year hiatus) Winchester was what was readily available where I shopped.. so that's what I picked up..

Since then I have just stuck with them..

At this point I have enough primers on hand to last me the rest of my life I suspect.. so I don't see me changing for any reason.. Ive also got plenty of bullets and brass to likely get me to the point that Im ready to take a final dirt nap.. the only thing I might be slightly short on is powders... but Im likely safe there too..

 

[Hogpatrol]

Been using CCI 250s and Fed 215 mag match, but it depends on the target results.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Federal GM215 then either the std Federal 215’s or CCI 250’s.

 

[cajunchefray]

Federal GM215 then either the std Federal 215’s or CCI 250’s.

+1, and Winchester LRM as backup.
I need to go primer shopping.