federal match vs blue box primers

[br1111]

as hard as match primers are to find now, I had to get some blue box primers, large rifle. there is a difference. I have not use them enough to tell, but I have been told the accuracy with them is the same. for 30 years I have only used match primers. today I was loading, and I had 1 primer out of 20 , the anvil was seated so high, that the case wouldn't go over it in the shell holder. a couple more ,the anvils were high on 1 side but went in. I have never encountered this in 30 years with match primers. I heard the primers passed under a bar that captured the ones with high anvils, and that's the extra inspection the match primers get. the oddballs go in blue box. are cci benchrest primers as good as federal match, because I have access to them. thanks for any imfo

 

[dkhunt14]

I would think if they had a bar they would all go through that process. I was told from a guy who visited the plant that the match was made by the more experienced guys. That was supposed to make them more consistent because their experience should make the ingredients better mixed and filled in the cups. Matt

 

[Kakumba]

I have only used a few thousand federal primers, mostly match, but have had exactly zero issues, and so far I havent been able to discern a difference in terms of group size or consistency of MV. Maybe if I were a benchrest shooter, but shooting F-T/R, I use match if I can, blue box if I must. Would also have no problem switching to CCI, but the CCI BR primers are quite a bit more expensive here.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

Have only used Match and Blue box Federals since I started reloading and im not a good enough shot to find any difference between the 2. If the M becomes available again one day I might get some more but for now the blue box stuff does exactly what I need

 

[Cold Bore]

today I was loading, and I had 1 primer out of 20 , the anvil was seated so high, that the case wouldn't go over it in the shell holder.

I heard the primers passed under a bar that captured the ones with high anvils, and that's the extra inspection the match primers get. the oddballs go in blue box.

So, according to what you "heard", apparently 19 out of 20 in your blue box are match primers.

 

[JarheadAZ]

Some years ago I switched to CCI BR from Federal FGMM, simply because the CCI's were available more often off the LGS shelves. I also bought a brick each of CCI-200's/400's to keep as standbys.

On a fluke I did a load development series using the CCI-200's instead, then tested them against the BR-2's with the otherwise identical load. The test results for 200rd each were a statistical tie (+/- 1/2%) with regard to accuracy, shooting round-robin.

Since then, my reloading strategies have been altered to use the most locally and readily available chamberings with brass, primers, powders, and bullets that are most often available. I mean, one has to start somewhere; and it might pay to start with the biggest pile of shelf stock.

Few things can confound one more than finding a good load that never has all its components available shortly thereafter.

Greg

 

[nmkid]

This primer thing had dogged me for several months. Last Sept. I started my current build, a 6-284. It's finally finished and I should be shooting in the next few days. All the loads I have "gleaned" from shooting forums on this round has them using Federal Match primers. Needless to say I haven't seen one of them since I started looking. So, 2 weeks ago I had a chance to buy a brick of CCI BR primers at a very good price. So, I guess my load development will be with CCI instead of Federal. Maybe I'll never know the difference! I can only hope.

 

[butchlambert]

Federal does not have a primer line with rookies and another for the old hands.

 

[JohnKielly]

Was a time it was said that Federal tested batches of primers & wax on better performing ones until they have enough GM. The rest go in blue boxes.

But that was years ago.

 

[butchlambert]

I think if you research it or ask Federal, a visual inspection is the only difference.

 

[4xforfun]

I think if you research it or ask Federal, a visual inspection is the only difference.

LIES...ALL LIES!!!

I have it on good authority that on the third Tuesday of every month a fairy sprinkles gold pixie dust over the assembly line. Primers made that day are boxed in GOLD boxes and marked "MATCH"!!

 

[shoot4fun]

After years of being sold on the Federal Gold Medal Match primers because, well, they are "Match Grade" I switched off to CCI 400 in my latest 223 Remington development. Imagine my surprise when velocity went up, SD came down to single digit and accuracy was not affected.

 

[LHSmith]

One of those questions where the answers received will never come to the same concensus. When in doubt, use the one YOU have developed the most confidence in.

After years of being sold on the Federal Gold Medal Match primers because, well, they are "Match Grade" I switched off to CCI 400 in my latest 223 Remington development. Imagine my surprise when velocity went up, SD came down to single digit and accuracy was not affected.

Imagine my surprise when I switched from Fed. 205M primers in my 6PPC to the Russian white box primers and SD came down to 1 and 2's from double digit SD of the Gold Match, but my agg's went from .1's and .2's to .3's

 

[shoot4fun]

One of those questions where the answers received will never come to the same concensus. When in doubt, use the one YOU have developed the most confidence in.

Imagine my surprise when I switched from Fed. 205M primers in my 6PPC to the Russian white box primers and SD came down to 1 and 2's from double digit SD of the Gold Match, but my agg's went from .1's and .2's to .3's

I never found any Russian white box primers. I saw Wolf primers once.
Any way, I learned a long time ago SD doesn't make everything better. A lot of one step forward and two steps back in the reloading game.

 

[butchlambert]

Doesn't matter to me but the internet scatters a bunch of BS sometimes.
Have you heard of Jim Kelbly? He just posted this on the other forum
Quote:
Don't waste your money on 205M's they are exactly same primer as 205, no difference PERIOD This was told to us by some Federal reps back in the 90's. They charge more for 205M as they guarantee them to fire. Funny thing is I hear more problems with not firing on the 205M than the 205's

If your very anal and think you have to have 205M's than you better get them instead of 205's but you are just waste money, something a BR shooter never does!!!!!

Jim
Reply With Quote

 

[DBailey]

Doesn't matter to me but the internet scatters a bunch of BS sometimes.
Have you heard of Jim Kelbly? He just posted this on the other forum.

Wait....... there's another fourm???

 

[Tstroop]

Blue box versus Match... Anyone wanna provide the chrono numbers??

 

[butchlambert]

Wait....... there's another fourm???

Don't know about a different fourm, but there is maybe one more"forum".

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

I think if you research it or ask Federal, a visual inspection is the only difference.

Russ Hayden once went through their plant and that's what they told him.

 

[ireload2]

Like wise I refuse to use the powder of the month or any other unobtanium.
Example - some of the Alliant propellants like Reloder 7 have came and gone several times so I avoid them.
Norma 205 gave velocities unmatched by any other propellant but in 45 years of handloading I have never seen a store with a reliable supply of Norma powders.

Some years ago I switched to CCI BR from Federal FGMM, simply because the CCI's were available more often off the LGS shelves. I also bought a brick each of CCI-200's/400's to keep as standbys.

On a fluke I did a load development series using the CCI-200's instead, then tested them against the BR-2's with the otherwise identical load. The test results for 200rd each were a statistical tie (+/- 1/2%) with regard to accuracy, shooting round-robin.

Since then, my reloading strategies have been altered to use the most locally and readily available chamberings with brass, primers, powders, and bullets that are most often available. I mean, one has to start somewhere; and it might pay to start with the biggest pile of shelf stock.

Few things can confound one more than finding a good load that never has all its components available shortly thereafter.

Greg