CVA Mag Hunter
Bushnell scope (cheap)
100 grains of Goex Pinnacle 3F
200 grain Shockwave
Winchester 777 primers

A few days ago i noticed that my supply of Winchester 209 shotgun primers was getting low. China Outlets had only the Winchester 777 primers; i bought a pack at $6.97.

Took my CVA Mag Hunter out today to sight it in for the 200 grain Shockwave bullet. Had removed the scope from that gun awhile back and put on a Bushnell 3X9 with thick crosshairs. The gun was boresighted with a laser boresighter before leaving for the range. Scope was set on 4X and left there.

Put my target at 25 meters and fired a round. The bullet hit about 5" directly below the center of the bull. Made my scope adjustments and put three bullets in a .5" group one inch above the aiming point.

Took the target to 100 meters. First bullet went 6" above the point of aim. Made my adjustments and fired one round that impacted 2" above the point of aim. Fired a three shot group that strung vertically for 5" centered on the bull. Checked the scope mounting and all was well. Checked the screw that holds the barrel/receiver to the stock and all was well there too.
Fired another three shot group that strung vertically for about 6" centered on the bull.

Went to using 209 shotgun primers and shot a cloverleaf group that measured about 1.5" centered 2" above point of aim. Shot another cloverleaf group that measured about 1.25" centered 2" above the point of aim. Shot a third group that measured about 1.25" and quit. Looks minute of doe accuracy to me.

Apparently those Winchester 777 primers were giving inconsistent ignition. Also noticed that the Winchester 777 primers leave a lot more residue in the barrel than the Winchester shotgun primers do. It is much easier to load a barrel that is fouled using a Winchester shotgun primer.

not inconsistent ignition. Ive dealt with the same thing. One powder likes one primer and shoots great, the next primer makes it shoot horrible. CCI 209s shot horrible in an Optima that i owned. Winchester 777s shot excellent 3 shots touching @ 100 yards. Thats why i always tell the new shooters to buy a package of each 209 primer that the store has in stock and just work up a tight load, then change the primer and see how accuracy goes.

Good that you got her sighted in though. Im sitting here right now loading up another shot for my kentucky. God awful groups at 100 yards! Im back at 50 yards adjusting sights.

I've had similar experiences- some primers are consistent for me, some aren't. I know many people say they can't see an accuracy difference between primers, but I sure can. For me, the Federal 209A's gave consistently mediocre groups, but not the tightest. Kleenbore primers were all over the place. I would also recommend trying several different brands of primers.

I have a box of those win. 777 primers to, I tried them in 3 TC inlines and one Knight they gave me vertical stringing on all the guns with all the loads I tried. Yet there are some people that think they shoot good. I would like to shoot along side some one that gets good groups with them. Lee

Sounds like you worked all the kinks out T7 primers are all I've used lately. Omega shoots good with them and 130gr RS under 250gr shockwave.

Good to hear from a shooter who had an experience like mine with those Winchester 777 primers. They left a lot more residual crud in the barrel than the Winchester 209 primers that i normally use. There was no crud ring, just a lot of crud for the full length of the barrel. Today when i switched to the regular Winchester 209 primers the sabot loaded much easier with a dirty barrel.

Several years ago i was using Pyrodex and tried most popular makes of primers and chose the Winchester shotgun primer. Been using them ever since except for some trials of Winchester 777 primers and 777 powder. That was a wasted effort.

Tomorrow i will stop in Duncan and get some more Winchester 209 primers.

The main thing is you were willing to check alternatives that could have caused the problems. Discovered the reason, and then solved the problem. That sure sounds like a good shooter.