Federal vis Winchester primers

[gilcarleton]

It appears to be impossible to buy any Federal 215 or 215m primers. I have been trying for a couple of months now. I am thinking of changing to Winchester and I wonder if there is really that much difference. If you were me would you change to Winchester or another brand.

Thanks,

Gil

 

[jlow]

BIG mistake. Do a Google search on Winchester primer recall and you will know why....

Just helped out a guy who was wondering why he was burning out his 300WM bolt just yesterday, guess why?

 

[JRS]

BIG mistake. Do a Google search on Winchester primer recall and you will know why....

Just helped out a guy who was wondering why he was burning out his 300WM bolt just yesterday, guess why?

They had an ammo recall… not a primer recall.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I keep just about every type of small rifle and large rifle primer on hand for load testing, including all standard Federal, Federal Match, and Winchester primers. I have tried the Winchester primers in many large hunting rifles and their small rifle primers in many varmint rifles. I have never found a rifle to like them with any particular load better than Federal primer...Never. CCI primers are ok, but Federal always seems to work the best for me. Every centerfire rifle I own uses either 215M, 210M, 205 or 205M primers. I thought it may have been coincidence at first, but when every single one of my rifles likes Federal primers, it has to be more than just coincidence. One thing I will tell you is that sometimes the regular Federal primers shoot better for me than the federal Match primers.

Remington primers seem easy to come by these days and I have had better luck with them than CCI and much better luck than Winchester primers. To compensate for the Federal 215 magnum primer, I would try with a Remington 9 1/2 or 9 1/2 Magnum before I spent money on any Winchester primers. Just my opinion from a vast experience testing Winchester primers in many many different loads with no positive results compared to other brands.

 

[gilcarleton]

Thanks Ledd. Honestly I had not even thought of Remington primers. I have always used Federal and am somewhat at a loss now that I cannot find them. I understand that they are using them on their own ammo but I find that a little hard to believe. Who knows the reason for the shortage but I ordered a custom barrel for my 7mm rsaum and will continue looking for the feds but when I am close to a month of receiving it and still no feds I will try the Remingtons. It is certainly frustrating in getting components now when it use to be such a breeze. It is too difficult to buy several powders to see which is the best in your rifle.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Your quote at the bottom of your posts is hilarious! Reminds me of what I tell my wife I pay for guns and hunting equipment ;D

 

[SmokinJoe]

When you go from Fed primers to Win, you will think you are losing all your primer pockets. In my experience, the fed are largest & Win are smallest, with Rem in between. You might also consider the Tula primers; they seem to work well in a lot of applications & are usually available at a pretty favorable price.

 

[gilcarleton]

Thanks Joe. I have heard of Tula primers but have never had any experience with them. If I can find a place where I can buy a couple of hundred instead of a thousand and get them locally where I don't have to pay the $28 hazmat fee I would really like to try them. Have you used them with success?

 

[Ledd Slinger]

My father-in-law has used Tula primers with mixed success. More negative than positive as far as accuracy is concerned. But none of the testing was extensive so we don't consider it a definitive conclusion.

 

[Shynloco]

Personally, I use either Federal or CCI primers, both of which I have found to be very reliable and unlike the recurring problems with Winchester Primer. I can honestly say I've never had a failure with either of those primers. Can't say that about Winchester. Bruno's usually has both (Federal or CCI) in stock and I buy 1000 (or more) at a time. Sometimes you have to call them even if their website says they are out of stock. I do have some Winchester left, but at soon as they're gone, I will not be buying anymore. I for one am not impressed by the quality of Win primers.

Alex

 

[K22]

I've tried CCI, Winchester, Remington, and Federal primers.

I've had my best success in large rifle with Federal 210 and 210 match primers with: Varget & IMR 4895 in the 308, and Varget & IMR 4350 in the 243.

For small rifle (223), the Federal 205 match give me very consistent results. Also the Remington 7 1/2 give me equally good results especially with Varget, Benchmark and H4895.

 

[richiek]

I always used Winchester primers( lr, sr, lp, & sp.),but last fall I was reloading some 308 rds. to sight in a new rifle. Opened up a new pack of 100, and noticed the color of the anodize was not the usual brass color, more of grayish brass color. Also had problems seating the primers, had to ream out the primer pockets, this was also new Winchester brass. Anyways when I went to the range to sight in the new rifle, and resight one of my recalled Rem,700's. Almost all the rounds were duds, tried several times to fire, first in one rifle then the other. Ended up coming home and pulling the bullets, dumping the powder, and pushing out the primers. Got out a new pack of primers and noticed same lot number as previous pack. so I got out a pack of Wolf primers I bought at a gun show to try. Reloaded those same cartridges with wolf and no problems. I contacted Winchester and told them of the problem, they sent me a package to box the 2 packages of primers up, and said someone from some shipping company would come and pick them up. That was 4 months ago. Package is still sitting here on my desk. The lot # was 314G.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Sorry to hear that man. Sure hope they square up with you soon. Hate bad customer service...

I think Winchester makes some really good brass that is basically equivalent to Norma brass quality. IMO, Winchester brass is better than Federal brass and much better than Remington. But when it comes to primers, Federal and Remington have Winchester whooped by a mile