Manufacturer:
CCI (Cascade Cartridge Inc.)
Based in Lewiston, Idaho, USA – a leading primer manufacturer known for consistency and quality.
Primer Type:
Small Rifle Bench Rest Primer
Designed for precision rifle shooting, particularly in disciplines like benchrest competition, varmint hunting, and long-range target shooting.
Primer Size:
Small Rifle (0.175″ diameter)
Intended for cartridges requiring small rifle primers, such as:
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.223 Remington / 5.56 NATO
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.204 Ruger
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.17 Remington
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6mm ARC (some loads)
Benchrest Quality Features:
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Match-Grade Consistency:
Every lot is individually tested to extremely tight tolerances in terms of:-
ignition delay
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flame temperature
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charge weight
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cup thickness
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sensitivity
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Selected Materials:
Only the most consistent primer cups and anvils are used in BR-series primers. -
Hand-Sorting:
Components are often hand-inspected and sorted for consistency. -
Reliability in Harsh Conditions:
Designed to resist degradation due to moisture, temperature variation, or storage conditions. -
Reduced Shot-to-Shot Variation:
Improves accuracy by reducing inconsistencies in ignition timing and burn characteristics.
Cup Composition:
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Thicker and stronger cup than standard CCI 400 primers
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Designed to withstand higher pressures – less risk of primer flow or cratering in high-pressure loads.
Sensitivity:
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Less sensitive than standard primers to avoid slam-fires in semi-autos or loose tolerances
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Best used with precision firing pins and strong hammer strikes
Common Use Cases:
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Benchrest competitions
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Long-range varmint shooting
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Precision reloading of .223/5.56 and similar cartridges
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Popular among reloaders seeking extreme consistency
Part Number:
CCI #BR-4
Packaging:
Typically sold in:
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100-count plastic trays
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1,000-count (10 trays of 100) cardboard boxes
Notable Comparisons:
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CCI 400: Standard small rifle primer – BR-4 is more consistent and has a tougher cup
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Federal GM205M: Another benchrest primer; BR-4 tends to be slightly harder and more temperature tolerant
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Remington 7½: Also a popular choice; BR-4 often edges out in consistency
Reloading Notes:
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Always consult official reloading data when switching primer types.
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CCI BR-4 primers can slightly increase pressure over softer primers—reduce powder charges and work up slowly when changing components.
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Some rifles with light firing pins or weak hammer springs may need adjustments to reliably ignite BR-4 primers.
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