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Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

dvdt

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 13, 2009
646
5
Dallas,TX
Guys -

I'm in the market for some new primers. I've about shot all of my supply up. I'm a huge CCI primer fan. I run them in everything except my Bullseye rigs. The CCI primers run great in my Dillon 650 and have always gone boom. I'm happy with them to say the least.

I'm a relatively new reloader, I've only be reloading for a couple of years. I've always used the best components to make sure I got the best results as I was learning or starting out. Thanks to many of you fine folks here, I've become pretty comfortable with what I have and how I go about my reloading.

I had been using CCI BR2's but they've been as rare as hen's teeth in my neck of the woods. In a pinch, I picked up some CCI #200 for my 'emergency reserve' while I waited on primer prices to fall back to earth. Well, I'm down to just a couple hundred primers and have a few matches on the horizon. I need some primers here pretty soon in other words.

I checked the most recent prices and it's still $50/1000 for CCI BR2s!! That's crazy. The CCI #200 are $25.

Grafs:
CCI #200 $26.00 / 1000
CCI #200 $127.00 / 5000

CCI BR2 $50.99 / 1000
CCI BR2 $238.99 / 5000

PowderValley (My personal Go To shop for components):
CCI #200 $30.00 /1000
CCI BR2 $44.00 / 1000

Note: I did not see a discount for bulk purchaes on PV.

I read a few posts on here and Google'd a few and found that a lot of guys are finding very little difference between CCI #200 and CCI BR2 primers. The same thing for Fed 210 vs Fed 210M (in full disclosure, I did very little searching). Some guys mentioned some BR shooter that took high speed pictures and had other fancy equipment to measure the flash from each primer. Anyone have a copy of this ?

Since I had both CCI #200 and CCI BR2s available, I decided to test these out in my rifle and share the results.

I tried to make this as consistent as possible. My rifle is chambered in 6.5CM. I'm using Hodgdon H4350 and 139gr Scenar bullets.

All brass was 2x fired out of the same chamber
I cleaned w/ SS media
FL sized w/ same die
trimmer w/ the Giraud
charged with a Chargemaster (same lot of powder)
seated with a Redding comp die base to ogive 2.222"
All loaded the day before and shot the next day
All components stored the same way

I did 20 shot strings with my CED M2 w/ <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">Infrared shields</span></span> and fully charged batteries all the way around.

CCI #200:
Max 2856
Min 2773
Avg 2812
SD 19
ES 83

CCI BR2:

Max 2876
Min 2748
Avg 2812
SD 28
ES 128

If I throw the low and high off and recalculate I get:

CCI #200:
Max 2819
Min 2783
Avg 2800
SD 12
ES 36

CCI BR2:
Max 2856
Min 2773
Avg 2812
SD 19
ES 83


I shot the CCI #200 string first. My method was shoot, open bolt and extract round, record the # in my book, load, fire, open bolt and extract round, record # in my book. So, it wasn't like I was just sending 'em in rapid succession. The barrel was "cold" before firing. After the first string, I went and ran my mouth w/ the RSO (good guy) and then 30 mins later fired the CCI BRs.

Conditions:
CCI #200
<span style="font-weight: bold">67.5 F</span>
45.5 % humidity
<span style="font-weight: bold">29.86 inMg</span>
time 4:50
Alt: 326 ft
DA: 780
12-15ft muzzle - Chrono

CCI #200
<span style="font-weight: bold">63.6 F</span>
45.5 % humidity
<span style="font-weight: bold">29.87 inMg</span>
time 5:20
Alt: 326 ft
DA: 780
12-15ft muzzle - Chrono




Conclusion: I'm thinking about ordering a case of CCI #200 as they seem to be the 'better' primer for me and they cost a heck of a lot less.

What do you think ?
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I've never used the BR2's as I'm not a bench rest shooting, but I have no problem getting sub moa groups with the CCI #200's and I can't imagine that improving much from paying extra for the BR2's.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

Agreed, I'm not a BR guy either (not knocking, just not my cup of tea right now). Both were hitting 8" steel at 325yds yesterday with ease. I didn't have time to shoot groups except at 100yds.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

Interesting.

How about ES and SD for the first 10 rounds of each string?

Also, I contend this isnt a fair test, because ideal load workup wasnt performed for each individual primer.

Still, those results seem convincing.

I'm not being critical. Godd work and thanks for posting!
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I read somewhere that BR has softer primer cup ...
Thanks for sharing your test!
In my 308 i mixed 210m and BR2 primers and i couldnt' see the difference in accuracy . Out of 945rounds with BR2 i had one misfire...
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

This is a great topic, I'm in the middle of ordering BR2's, might change my mind and get 200's. The cost is what seals the deal. If 200's perform the same as BR2's, why use BR2's.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

Thanks for response guys. I've had a few PMs from some folks and I appreciate the feedback.

To be clear, I'm not saying this is the end all be all test. Turbo54 made a great point this might be a true valid test since this load was developed using the CCI BR2s and not the CCI #200. Folks with much more experience than me might say this isn't the optimum charge for this rifle/barrel/bullet combo since the ES and STD is so far off.

turbo54 - sure here's the raw numbers:

CCI #200
Shot 1 2784
Shot 2 2783
Shot 3 2798
Shot 4 2815
Shot 5 2809
Shot 6 2801
Shot 7 2819
Shot 8 2808
Shot 9 2791
Shot 10 2785
Shot 11 2849 ***
Shot 12 2794
Shot 13 2804
Shot 14 2815
Shot 15 2801
Shot 16 2813
Shot 17 2800
Shot 18 2786
Shot 19 2786
Shot 20 2758 ***

CCI BR2

Shot 1 2820
Shot 2 2832
Shot 3 2748 ***
Shot 4 2856
Shot 5 2814
Shot 6 2814
Shot 7 2812
Shot 8 2773
Shot 9 2803
Shot 10 2820
Shot 11 2831
Shot 12 2787
Shot 13 2797
Shot 14 2797
Shot 15 2795
Shot 16 2826
Shot 17 2876 ***
Shot 18 2827
Shot 19 2803
Shot 20 2808

Note: The *** are the low and high numbers I threw out in the calculations.

#########################################

Calculations based on just the first 10 shots without throwing out the extreme high and extreme low.

CCI #200
Max 2819
Min 2783
Avg 2799
SD 13
ES 36

CCI BR2
Max 2856
Min 2748
Avg 2809
SD 30
ES 108


Also, just to throw some more data out there. On 15 Oct 2011 I did another 10 shot test only using CCI BR2s.

CCI BR2s (test date 15 Oct 2011 indoors)
Shot 1 2771
Shot 2 2768
Shot 3 2803
Shot 4 2876 ***
Shot 5 2816
Shot 6 2853
Shot 7 2779
Shot 8 2762 ***
Shot 9 2810
Shot 10 2783

Max 2876
Min 2762
Avg 2802
SD 38
ES 114



 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: trailrider121</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is a great topic, I'm in the middle of ordering BR2's, might change my mind and get 200's. The cost is what seals the deal. If 200's perform the same as BR2's, why use BR2's. </div></div>

This is exactly what I was thinking. I cringe at the thought of dropping $50/1000 for the BR2's especially when it seems the regular ole #200's are running better for me right now. I'm hoping someone else can confirm some numbers and can help straighten us all out.

btw - had a friendly nudge to look at Widener's for primer prices:

CCI #200 $24/1k - http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=246&dir=278|284|316
CCI BR2 $30/1k - http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=257&dir=278|284|316

Definitely consider these folks. I've been to their store a few times and they're good people. I just completely forgot to check them. Thanks!
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

The BR-2 primers are good, but I like the Federal 210M primers better. I use Varget powder.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I have always used 200s in my 308 loadings and they shoot better than me.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

Sub moa groups out of my OBR and custom Remmy 700.... All accomplished using CCI 200 primers. No issues to date. Thanks for the write up. It was a good read.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I use both BR2 and 200's. Won't touch Federal products after my father's experiences with them. Which is fine because CCI has me convinced through my own experience about their products, all the way to their Stinger .22 ammo. Good stuff. If others have success running Federal, great. It's a personal preference thing.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

dvdt, thanks for the info. I am a CCI guy as well and have always used BR-2s in my accuracy loads. I never really thought about comparing those to the CCI 200s. I may have to do some testing of my own before I buy more primers. Thanks again.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

My understanding of the BR primers is they are done by the best workers in the factory. It is supposed to be a prestigious job.

I also understand the primers are filled in a similar fashion to a tile setter installing grout...With a squeegee trowel! Obviously there is some technique involved and the operator skill plays a big part in the final product.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I was using CCI BR-4's in my .22-250 untill I couln't find any on my last shopping trip. So I picked up some Winchester WLR standard primers. While I dont have a crono, my groups were just as small as with the BR-4's at almost half the price! I feel that if I had a custom benchrest rifle vs. my stock 700 VSS it might make a differance, but my wallet likes the standard primers just fine!
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

I though that the Hardness Played a role? I had emailed Federal once and asked them the difference and they said the mixture/primer is the same the only difference. The Regular federal primers required good firing pin hits and the Match Grade were for lighter firing pins which guarantees ignition.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

Just saw this thread get bumped. I hope it helped or at least offered a different opinion. I'd love to see someone else try this and report some numbers.

FWIW, I bought some CCI #200 from my friends at PowderValley. The load shoots great.

I still have a few of the CCI BR2s laying around and may test again since I've purchased more powder and need to shoot another ladder test with the new lot of powder. I shot a match recently with the CCI #200 and didn't have any problems.
 
Re: Experiment : CCI #200 vs CCI BR2

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: X-fan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My understanding of the BR primers is they are done by the best workers in the factory. It is supposed to be a prestigious job.

I also understand the primers are filled in a similar fashion to a tile setter installing grout...With a squeegee trowel! Obviously there is some technique involved and the operator skill plays a big part in the final product. </div></div>

Yes that is correct. There's an expanded explanation in the Speer reloading manual.