winchester 209 vs remington 209p

Ed,

Please report back and give us the findings of your little test Thursday evening. I think I know what the result(s) might be.

Thanks,

Jon Reitz

Jerry, I wouldn't think so. I say that based upon my experience working up accuracy loads for rifles where the least amount of velocity variation between shells is important. You wouldn't be able to achieve deviations in the single digits over five shells if the primers varied very much.

Ed

Well, I conducted my "primer recoil" test last evening. I shot 100 targets with STS shells loaded with an ounce of shot, IMR PB powder and Remington TGT-12S wads. The boxes alternated between Federal 209A and Remington STS 209P primers - Fed, Rem, Fed, Rem. As recommended by IMR, I increased the powder charge with the Remington primers - they recommend 0.5 grain and the next larger bushing (a #30) dropped 0.7 grain more; close enough for me and at least I knew I wouldn't be cutting the Remington primers any sort of break.

The difference in the shoulder impact between the two loads was not dramatic but it was noticeable. The shells loaded with Remington primers and more powder shot softer than those with Federal primers. It was kind of a punch vs. push difference - I felt my shoulder was deflected backward the same with both shells but the Remington-primed shells felt "gentler," if that makes sense. I liken it to a fast-burning powder compared to a slow-burner.

I strive for about 1,150fps from all my 16-yard shells, whether loaded with one ounce of 8s during most of the year or 1-1/8 ounces of 7-1/2s for bitter cold weather shooting. Based upon the IMR data chart's increase in pressure differences between the two primers as the payload and velocity are increased, I believe the difference would be even more obvious if you load hotter than I do (and most people probably do). Arthritis has made me a recoil wussy.

For what it's worth...

Ed