From a developed XL spread sheet after doing a frequency graph, the distribution was bimodal with one centered at 96.0 and another at 102 grains, respectively. I sorted the brass by weight and it was all over the place with a low of 90 and a high of 118 grains. I am not a fan of Hornady brass but could not look a gift horse in the mouth. So this test is about the Ruger 77 rifle, BR4 primers and brass. The BR4 has the same thickness as the CCI 450 magnum primer and according to what I could find a lesser brisance. After calling several other supply stores found one that carried CCI BR4 primers and those were purchased for testing. I could not find any small rifle magnum primers in several local supply stores and did not want to pay haz mat shipping charges for an Internet purchase. There are other reports magnum primers have more brisance and may be better for ignition of ball powders. The thinner standard primer cups may show pressure signs much earlier. There are reports in the literature that magnum primers should be used with the 204 because having a thicker cup than standard. After having such good luck with both 375 and 416 Ruger Hawkeye acquisitions, I decided to purchase the Ruger 77 Mark II rifle. After checking the trigger pull and the bedding, the owner said there were some goodies including 200 pieces of Hornady brass, 30 factory rounds of 40 grain Hornady Amax ammo, 100 pieces Norma brass and a set of RCBS X FL and seating dies. The only part that was somewhat disappointing was the barrel was a regular contour rather than the heavier barrels seen on many of these rifles. The dealer indicated the rifle had been professionally glass bedded and the trigger had been reworked to a crisp 2.5 lbs pull. The outside of the rifle looked just about brand new and the internals looked lightly used. I was at my local supply shop and came across a Ruger 77 Mark II in 204 Ruger caliber.

Cci primer recommended seating depth