new to small cartridges what primer?

[squirrel_slayer]

long time lurker here, finally built my first wildcat rifle. not the 17 I always wanted but still pretty fun none the less.

it's a shortened .223 with the same case capacity as a 22 hornet (14.7gr) and I just took it out for the first time today.

groups weren't that great but man these small cases really respond well with small charges.

I've read that small pistol primers can sometimes yeild better results in these small cases? is there ones that work better than others? will they handle full pressure loads (55k psi)?

if not are there small rifle primers that work better than others?

I used cci 400's today with lil gun powder. 13gr yeilded 3143 ft/sec avg from a 18.5" barrel with a 40gr armscor jhp bullet,

no signs of pressure. the ES was 77 ft/sec! and the 50 rounds I shot the ES/SD were high with all. all charges were hand weighed.

I guess I may be asking for alot, i'm just used to my .308 and .223 where I get single digit to low teen's for SD's

is it common for these tiny cartridges to have high es/sd?

[southernman]

I have found little gun to be great for speed, but erratic, and spiky with little changes, and I was weigh loads too, tried it in my .17 hornet, .22 hornet, and .221 fireball.
Perhaps a powder, less erratic with small changes, might work better, Ie H4198, works well for me in my .221 fireball, and 20 Vartarg.

I like CCI 400, WSR and Rem 7.5 primers.
But the Remington 6.5 primers gave improved acccuracy in by my hornet cases,

Good luck,

[squirrel_slayer]

ok i'll look for some 6 1/2's I've read that somewhere else. I have the first three, go figure the one I don't have may be best. lol

[georgeld]

I only use CCI's for everything.
They work fine for my needs.
Even in the little .17x28 VR

I think you're trying to make problems where
there isn't any. Stick with what you've always
used and you'll be fine.

[ray h]

Sounds like your case is about the same a 22 TCM or slightly larger. I'm still playing with the TCM but I'm using Rem 7 1/2.

[dungheap]

So, Mr. SquirrelSlayer, just what is this mysterious cartridge you're monkeying with? It sounds like a .22 TCM, but...

[Daryl]

I tried 1680, H4227, W296 and H110 but settled on LG for my best powder in both the .22 Hornet and .17AH. I crimped every bullet using the Lee Factory Crimp die I had for the .218Bee - worked just fine with the Hornet. Did not have to crimp the .17AH.
My SD's in the Hornet were below 20fps, and the accuracy was superb, so I stuck with it.
Primers were mostly WSR, Fed205, or BR4's for the .17AH. I used 7 1/2's only in the .17Rem.
The .22 Hornet gave me the best accuracy with Small Pistol WW or Fred 100's - first Hornet.
The second Hornet did not care if I used SPistol or SRifle primers.

[df06]

I use Rem 7.5 exclusively in many small rifle cartridges. One exception though is the 22H where I use Fed sm pistol primers.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

CCI BR primers in everything from .308/7.62 all the way down to 17 VHA and LOTS of in between rounds. Will be working with the "20 TCM" in short order. The factory TCM brass has it all over making it from .223. Been there, tried that with the 20 VT "short". Didn't even look back once I found the TCM brass.

What primer also has a lot to do with what you can get your hands on, when available. Find them and stock up.

[georgeld]

Anyone interested in seeing the difference primers make in loads.

Saeed on the Accuratereloading.com site, in the Reloading section
is now doing an extensive comparison. Ideal setup, inside, tunnel range
100yds, bench rest type shooting. Hunting calibers though.

IF you have trouble finding it, just scroll way down to the thread: Reloading, it should be near the top.