possible Federal 210M issue

[Graycliff]

Hello everyone, I just received 1000k 210M primers from Brownells and opened my first box...

I’ve never worked with these or any federal primers before, only BR-2s and CCI 200...

Has anyone every run across this? I’ve never seen such inconsistency of appearance in a box of primers.

Thanks in advance

 

[Thud]

That looks normal for the feds

 

[SEM]

That looks normal for the feds

yep that's what they look like

 

[Graycliff]

Thank you very much for the responses. I appreciate the help

 

[old_heli_logger]

Good nuf fo da gubmint

 

[243Lapua]

Normal

 

[tsyarnall]

Good nuf fo da gubmint

Yeah, and I guess good enough for me, since I, too, just purchased some.......

Scott Y

 

[JohnKielly]

I've had two different anvils in the same brick of GM primers.

 

[RegionRat]

Two different anvils should never show within a batch of 210M. Maybe okay within standard 210, but not 210M.

After all, it is a lot of work to stabilize a match or critical hunting load to tolerate slop when being charged extra for what is supposed to be a higher workmanship quality than standard.

If they made me benevolent dictator for a moment… I would force them to show me the performance quality control metrics for primer batches (or anything called match or bench rest for that matter).

Maybe it is my personal gripe, but when you throw the words Bench Rest or Match on the package and charge me more, I am good with that if I can trust your calibration and test team with a report of what that batch does In standardized testing. The corruption of quality control being turned into vague marketing should have been nipped in the bud, but the precedent has been set and would be hard to break after they have been getting away with it for more than 50 years.

Every single brand of primers has had what we call escapes over the last 40 years, some more than others. If you live long enough and are paying attention, you will see it again.

Beginners would do well to pay attention to the lot numbers and batch sizes they buy. Unfortunately, you are forced to bet on the come since procuring a large batch isn’t a guarantee of success till you have that batch in your hands and it tests good.

 

[Erud]

I haven’t shot a lot of 210m’s (maybe a few k), but I’ve shot many thousands of 205m’s. I have never seen mixed colors of compound in the same batch before. Of any primer actually, not just federals. It would concern me, and I’d definitely get ahold of the manufacturer about it.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Me? Be damn glad you found any. Load up and go shooting!!

 

[kvd]

I just pushed in some Federal GM205M's last night and didn't see any variation in terms of color. The only thing that could be is priming mixture - and if so, there definitely appears to be more in some than in others. Maybe weighing the red ones and the regular looking ones would give some insight into why they appear different. If the weight difference is significant - like perhaps a tenth of a grain or so. It would be worthwhile to contact Federal and discuss the situation with them.

Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[dkhunt14]

I haven’t shot a lot of 210m’s (maybe a few k), but I’ve shot many thousands of 205m’s. I have never seen mixed colors of compound in the same batch before. Of any primer actually, not just federals. It would concern me, and I’d definitely get ahold of the manufacturer about it.

They are all red and not different colors. The red is the stuff that is supposed to keep them from going off when a forklift driver runs over a case that fell off the skid. Happened at Federal, years ago. Then the divided plastic trays and the coating was put in place. I use Fedeal 210 for my matches. I pick them out by amount of coating and also weigh them. I never had a problem with accuracy or going off. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

I just pushed in some Federal GM205M's last night and didn't see any variation in terms of color. The only thing that could be is priming mixture - and if so, there definitely appears to be more in some than in others. Maybe weighing the red ones and the regular looking ones would give some insight into why they appear different. If the weight difference is significant - like perhaps a tenth of a grain or so. It would be worthwhile to contact Federal and discuss the situation with them.

Just my 2¢ worth.

It's not the priming mixture but the coating that is supposed to keep them from going off when an accident happens. Matt

 

[ebb]

There are things that you can control and things that you can't. The only thing you can control here is to buy another brand of primer. I am not sure it is still true but in the past Fed Match primers were the go to primers for BR shooters. Pretty high praise for the Fed match primers.

 

[Erud]

They are all red and not different colors. The red is the stuff that is supposed to keep them from going off when a forklift driver runs over a case that fell off the skid. Happened at Federal, years ago. Then the divided plastic trays and the coating was put in place. I use Fedeal 210 for my matches. I pick them out by amount of coating and also weigh them. I never had a problem with accuracy or going off. Matt

That’s fine, but I’ve still never seen any variation in color whatsoever within a single lot of primers, they all look the same. So if I saw something like what is pictured above, I’d be concerned.

 

[kvd]

I don't have any 210's but I do have some GM215M's, large rifle magnum primers and checking them I see no excessive red material. I stand corrected if this is in fact some sort of detonation retardant and not priming compound. Whatever it is, there appears to be more of it in this lot of primers than in others and more than in other primers within the same lot. Whether this is a problem or not, I can't say because I've never shot a primer with red material coming out of it that I've noticed. It certainly gives one pause to ask the question concerning the inconsistent appearance.

 

[DaveTooley]

detonation retardant
Oxymoron when it comes to primers. If you drive an anvil into the cup it will go off. Want to see my scare.

 

[Bojo]

Send them to me and can quality test them for you.

 

[Minshooter]

Hoping these are being used in bolt guns?
The 210 and 210M are specifically not recommended for use in autos.
Source of primer info:
sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=56422.0