Laboratory Primer Testing
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2023 11:07 pm
Guys,
If you read the excellent article at the following link you’ll note that sorting primers by weight is mentioned. https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... last_waves
I’ve previously seen it suggested in jest here & on some of the other BPCR forums, but after additional research I’ve found that some of the precision high-power match shooters are actually sorting primers. So for grins I sorted 10ea. of the following on a laboratory analytical scale that has a resolution of 0.001gram (1mg or 1 milligram) although not to the precision/resolution mentioned in the article.
CCI 350 LP Mag: 296 – 305mg (difference of 9mg)
CCI 550 SP Mag: 223 – 229mg (difference of 6mg)
Win LR: 341 – 350mg (difference of 09mg)
Fed 215 LR Mag: 362 – 369mg (difference of 7mg)
Fed GM215M LR Mag Match: 363 – 367mg (difference of 4mg)
Fed GM150M LP Match: 305 – 308mg (difference of 3mg). This is the stuff I use.
I know some of you have wondered what the difference is in standard vs. match primers & are the additional prices of match primers worth it? Of course a much larger sampling would be required and a better scale, but even this very limited sampling suggests that the Federal match stuff is more consistent, although the same may not apply to other manufacturers.
I have read that the difference in standard vs. match is the experience of the operators applying the primer solution in the cups. One manufacturer said they rotate operators on the cup and anvil machines but not the primer solution squeegee station when making match primers. Apparently there are little or no weight variances when punching out the cups and anvils, so it’s not operator critical. Applying the primer solution is the critical step which makes sense if you think about it. In any case I’m sticking with match primers. And nope, I’m not planning on sorting primers as standard practice.
Wayne
If you read the excellent article at the following link you’ll note that sorting primers by weight is mentioned. https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... last_waves
I’ve previously seen it suggested in jest here & on some of the other BPCR forums, but after additional research I’ve found that some of the precision high-power match shooters are actually sorting primers. So for grins I sorted 10ea. of the following on a laboratory analytical scale that has a resolution of 0.001gram (1mg or 1 milligram) although not to the precision/resolution mentioned in the article.
CCI 350 LP Mag: 296 – 305mg (difference of 9mg)
CCI 550 SP Mag: 223 – 229mg (difference of 6mg)
Win LR: 341 – 350mg (difference of 09mg)
Fed 215 LR Mag: 362 – 369mg (difference of 7mg)
Fed GM215M LR Mag Match: 363 – 367mg (difference of 4mg)
Fed GM150M LP Match: 305 – 308mg (difference of 3mg). This is the stuff I use.
I know some of you have wondered what the difference is in standard vs. match primers & are the additional prices of match primers worth it? Of course a much larger sampling would be required and a better scale, but even this very limited sampling suggests that the Federal match stuff is more consistent, although the same may not apply to other manufacturers.
I have read that the difference in standard vs. match is the experience of the operators applying the primer solution in the cups. One manufacturer said they rotate operators on the cup and anvil machines but not the primer solution squeegee station when making match primers. Apparently there are little or no weight variances when punching out the cups and anvils, so it’s not operator critical. Applying the primer solution is the critical step which makes sense if you think about it. In any case I’m sticking with match primers. And nope, I’m not planning on sorting primers as standard practice.
Wayne