Federal Primers -- Opinions?

[bench]

Which type of federal primer the fellas using in ftr and benchrest
I am thinking of trying some and have never used any federal primers.

 

[JEFFPPC]

3 yrs ago I had 3 competition rifle with ES from 11 to 17. I shot every brand small rifle primer I could get my hands on. I now use only sorted 205m. I had to buy some to test as I had never owned any. Took ES to 1 on my 6PPC and on 2 6BRXs 4 and 8. Might have been a fluke but those are the results.

Forum Boss: Yes that is a fluke. 205ms are good other primers have yielded lower ES in many of our tests. Depends on powder, cartridge, primer lot, temperature etc.

 

[bsekf]

Federal Gold Medal, Match Large and Small, Match Magnum Large and Small. Cheaper than CCI, but I like the CCI. Good luck finding them!

 

[std7mag]

I used Gold Medal Match also.

I haven't seen ANY for sale in about a year.

 

[Bill Norris]

I used Gold Medal Match also.

I haven't seen ANY for sale in about a year.

Natchezz had some about 2 weeks ago. I'm sure they are all gone by now as there were alot of guys ordering on here.

 

[std7mag]

Natchezz had some about 2 weeks ago. I'm sure they are all gone by now as there were alot of guys ordering on here.

I only saw where they had the blue box Federal primers.
Sold out before i could get my order in.

Only time i've seen even those in about a year.

 

[JEFFPPC]

3 yrs ago I had 3 competition rifle with ES from 11 to 17. I shot every brand small rifle primer I could get my hands on. I now use only sorted 205m. I had to buy some to test as I had never owned any. Took ES to 1 on my 6PPC and on 2 6BRXs 4 and 8. Might have been a fluke but those are the results.

Forum Boss: Yes that is a fluke. 205ms are good other primers have yielded lower ES in many of our tests. Depends on powder, cartridge, primer lot, temperature etc.

Hey Boss, glad for your input and you maybe right. However, a friend who has been featured on this forum in the past, going off what I did, who had never shot 205m in his number one 1000 yard rifle tried the same thing after buying some 205m. He was was sold on another primer. He got the same type of results as I did. So lightning struck twice . No it is not an everyone thing but it is worth trying different components searching for the best tune . Tune it well, read the wind correctly, you will be in the mix.

 

[JFrank]

Which type of federal primer the fellas using in ftr and benchrest
I am thinking of trying some and have never used any federal primers.

Test as many appropriate for your firearm primers as you can find.

Be sure to use wind flags when testing.

 

[Falfan2017]

I’ve used a lot of the large federal gold medal match for f class in 284 and always been happy with them. I don’t know if they’re better than other primers like BR2 but I had a bunch so just stuck with them.

 

[tmwinds]

Right now the best primers are the ones you can find.

 

[butchlambert]

Do you know the difference in the 205 and 205 match?

 

[LAH]

Do you know the difference in the 205 and 205 match?

Tell me Butch I have to get back to painting my shed.

 

[butchlambert]

None! just an extra visual inspection.

 

[Ned Ludd]

According to Federal, the difference between the regular and "M" primers is that the Ms are assembled at certain times by their most experienced line operators, and inspected [more?] carefully. The components (cup/anvil/priming compound) that go into both the regular and "M" primers are supposedly the same. I have always used the regular Fed 205 and 210 primers, largely because the M's were never available in the quantities I wanted when I wanted to purchase them. I have never been disappointed with the Fed regular primers. I recently purchased some CCI BR4s and 450s, just to have in case the Fed primers don't provide acceptable ES/SD with a given load. I have only tested the BR4s/450s in a single load as yet, but the ES/SD values were much higher than with the current Lot# of Fed 205s. Nonetheless, I don't think there is any way to know with certainty in advance which primer might provide the best precision and lowest ES/SD. You just have to have a few brands on hand and determine empirically which works best on the target and the chronograph.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Test as many appropriate for your firearm primers as you can find.
Abbreviated incremental charge test of each primer covering each side of your original node than compared subjectively should give you enough information to make a decision about your individual rifles ignition preference.

Be sure to use wind flags when testing.

The wind is your friend

 

[butchlambert]

Tell me Butch I have to get back to painting my shed.

Got your barn painted. Ain't fun but it looks good.

 

[Dub]

I use 205s and 205Ms very successfully. They are my go to small rifle primers

 

[JEFFPPC]

Test as many appropriate for your firearm primers as you can find.
Abbreviated incremental charge test of each primer covering each side of your original node than compared subjectively should give you enough information to make a decision about your individual rifles ignition preference.

Be sure to use wind flags when testing.

I agree with the wind flags, at least for those shoot off them in a match. If you don't pay attention in a match I guess it's not required when testing. Plus if your good with 1/4 and 3/8 groups probably doesn't matter either. If your good with both your a donator, lol.

 

[Dave M.]

Federal Gold Medal, Match Large and Small, Match Magnum Large and Small. Cheaper than CCI, but I like the CCI. Good luck finding them!

I tried 6 different primers in my 6 dasher and nothing proved more accurate and had lower SDs than CCI 450’s (small rifle magnum). Hard to find but worth the wait.
Dave

 

[Larry Koch]

If all or most primer makers are owned by the same corporation can we expect there being a difference other than the box????? https://vistaoutdoor.com/brands/