What is de difference in rifle primers?

[Freezer]

When I was reloading, I used CCI or Winchester primers. With the shortages, my move and a surplus of ammo, I haven't needed to reload. I now have two rifles I need to load for and no components. I found powder at a decent price, I have brass, but no large rifle primers. While surfing the web, I saw Natchez and another company have CCI mil spec #34 primers in stock. What is the difference between them and standard large rifle primers?

[Elk Creek]

From what I know the 34’s are a harder cup than their civilian counterparts.

[Bigslug]

Like Elk Creek says, the CCI 34 (large) and 41 (small) are a harder/thicker cup, useful for preventing slam fires in guns with floating firing pins or perforations with hotter load.

I run the 34's when I'm working off the reservation.

[Justsomedude]

I have a buddy, the one with the 416 ruger that absolutely insists that his bad groups have nothing to do with the barrel not being free floated and touching 8 inches of forearm, that's trying to get me to make bushings that will allow him to use small rifle in large rifle pockets. He also said there's a market for them.

[Freezer]

Thank you, and I have another question. I had a problem with hard primers, Chinese ammo, in my PA 63. I'm pondering using these for sporting rifles, Savage 99, Rem 700, Mossberg Patriot, and two custom Mausers, what are the chances I'll have problems with them? Primers are still hard to come by.

[Wambli Ska]

You shouldn’t with modern guns with good springs. You might with older guns with cruddy firing pin channels or weak springs. A problem easily fixed.

[Freezer]

I have been surfing the web for components, dies I found, brass is not east for the 6.5-05 (25-06), Primers? Forget it! The only place I found them is GB for $79/500. By the time you pay all the fees, it is $130! The Natchez Mil spec will be $152. When last I bought primers, and I still have small rifle and pistol primers, they cost me $2.00/100.

[Bigslug]

Never had the slightest problem with 34's. If you're doing goofy stuff like wimpy striker springs to decrease bolt lift or wimpy trigger & hammer springs to reduce trigger pull, there's some small increased potential for failure to ignite with any primer. If you're running man parts, you'll be fine.

[Varmintmist]

I have shot 34's since I started competing with the couple of 30 cal old wood guns I have and the hunting rifles in the house with no issue. Pretty sure I just dropped about a buck 30 for 1K win 34's. Such is the world we live in.

Primers are made by hand in a wet safe room so it isnt like you can keep the machine running all night.

[Wambli Ska]

I’ve read in a few places that military primers are a little hotter that regular primers but have ZERO proof this is the case so I’ve been using the ones I have to replace regular primers to no negative effect. But I can’t say I can scientifically prove any difference in performance either way.

[Varmintmist]

I’ve read in a few places that military primers are a little hotter that regular primers but have ZERO proof this is the case so I’ve been using the ones I have to replace regular primers to no negative effect. But I can’t say I can scientifically prove any difference in performance either way.

Nope. IIRC CCI41 are equivalent to CCI400

[mitdr774]

My understanding has been that the #34 and #41 primers are equivalent to the standard primer counterpart (#200 or #400) but with a different primer cup that could take an impact from a floating firing pin hitting it without motivation from the hammer.

I have a brick of #41s to try some time. When I picked them up I couldn't get any #400 or #450 and wanted to be sure I had a reasonable supply of primers for playing with .223, .350, and 6.5G. i jave not had a chance to muse them yet since range time has been lacking for a while.

[Wambli Ska]

Good to know. Thanks