Tried Vari-Flame Adps. in Omega

mayguy · 04-20-2006, 02:46 PM

I had a chance to try out Veri-Flame adapters yesterday. I like them alot. I used CCI Magnum Small Rifle Primers. The accuracy was very good, on a par with the best 209s I have used. The primer pocket, on my Omega, after 20 shots, was nearly as clean as when I started. The crud ring, with 120 grs of 777 was very slight, if at all.
I used them with Jim Shockeys Gold and it was very clean. I always wet patch between shots but I tried loading a second shot with a dirty barrel with both 777 and Shockeys. I was using 290 gr TMZs and they load fairly hard with the supplied sabots, so I used HPH 24s for the second shot. They loaded with only slight difficulty with 777 and quite easily with Shockeys.
I had some Rem. Kleanbore primers and there was definately more of a crud ring,than with the small rifle primers, using 777. Couldn't tell much difference with the Shockeys. I had no problems with ignition with either powder. The Kleanbores leftA LOT more fouling in the primer pocket. The Shockeys was 3F and it was still was very course.

txfireman · 04-20-2006, 02:54 PM

Ime using the Variflame with CCI 400 small rifle primers and they work awesome with Pyrodex. Havent yet tried them on 777.

txhunter58 · 04-21-2006, 05:58 AM

Any idea how many shots the inserts would be good for? At $1.40 each, I hope that they would last awhile.

mayguy · 04-21-2006, 11:45 AM

I think they advertise that they can be reloaded up to 50 times. I have reloaded mine 3 times and can't notice any difference in them. The cost for them doesn't take long to make up when you consider I had to pay over $8.00 for 100 Kleanbores and 100 small rifle primers cost me $2.75.

Hunter John · 04-21-2006, 12:55 PM

Mayguy - I would be very interested if you performed the following test:

1. Starting with a clean Omega barrel, pop off 5 (or 10) Kleenbore primers with NO powder or projectile in your basement or garage. After the last one, take off the barrel, remove the plug, and inspect the barrel for fouling. Note the results...a picture like the Remington folks put on the Kleanbore package would be awesome.

2. Clean the barrel.

3. Perform step 1 with the Vari-Flames loaded with the CCI Mag Small Rifle primers.

I'm hearing a lot about the Vari-Flame concept and am considering it, but just need to hear a few more positive reports by the average Joe (not some muzzleloading site that the Vari-Flame folks sponsor) before taking the plunge.

I'd love the hear your objective thoughts. Thanks!

mayguy · 04-21-2006, 01:39 PM

That would be a good test. If I get time I will try it, but there is absolutely no doubt, in my mind, that the Kleenbores are much dirtier than the small rifle primers. There just wasn't any fouling in the primer pocket area with them and there was a considerable amount with the Kleenbores. There are draw backs with them, you have to prime and deprime them ( I bought 20 of them ) and you have to keep from loosing them ( I lost one ), but it sure is nice being able to just take the fired ones out by hand ( no primer removal tool ) and to pretty much do away with the 777 crud ring. I may still hunt with Winchester 209s just to be sure of ignition under bad conditions, I'll have to try them some more to decide for sure but they seem to be plenty hot enough.

Triple Se7en · 04-21-2006, 02:16 PM

Nothing really harmful with the excess mess Kleanbore primers bring. Everything there is non-corrosive.

I am not familiar with the small rifle primers strengths per manufacturer. I would only consider such a Vari-flame adapter if I could do the same as 209 primers -- meaning find a weak small rifle primer to use -- then the strongest one for rare occasions where the powder is just wet enough that the weak small rifle primer wont fire the powder -- that way I can put a strong primer in & the rifle will fire.

I do this with 209 primers. I use a weak 209 primer - but I always carry around a few of the strongest/hottest.... ie.... Federal 209A's so I do not have to pull my powder & bullet when it wont fire. On three different occasions, I had to resort to the Federals. They did the job - made the gun fireevery time.

mayguy · 04-21-2006, 05:17 PM

You're correct that the dirt that Kleenbore primers leave isn't harmful but to get rid ofthat dirt is supposed to be the reason to pay the extra money for them ( $8.85 per box , at the only place I can find them near me, compaired to $2.75 a box for small rifle primers ). There is less 777 crud ring with Kleenbores but there is even less, in my Omega, with the small rifle primers. There is virtually no primer pocket area fouling.
I use CCI Mag small rifle primers and they are fairly hot. I think I will use your reasoning and hunt with the CCIs and carry a hot Federal 209 primer for a back-up, just in case.
I would like to try the new Winchester 777/209 primers when they are ever available in my area.

goarmy · 04-24-2006, 09:17 PM

The groups from my el-cheapo CVA Staghorn shrunk to 1.5" (from 4") with these things. I'm a big believer.

Triple Se7en · 04-25-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: mayguy

You're correct that the dirt that Kleenbore primers leave isn't harmful but to get rid ofthat dirt is supposed to be the reason to pay the extra money for them ( $8.85 per box , at the only place I can find them near me, compaired to $2.75 a box for small rifle primers ).

Price you pay for living out in innowhere-land/boondocks.... especially at $3.00 per gallon.

I never purchased any Kleanbores. I still have almost an entire case of the Kleanbore's sister 209 primer.... that being the old, former Remington 209-4's -- that cost me $2.20 per tin buying them online.

I bought a case of Federal 209A primers at the same time. Since I only use them (3)to clear the bore of gun oilsat the range before loading the first shot, I won't need to buy anymore until 2023....lol