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Primer choices? What to use in all copper bullets?

Lee Whitsel

Silver $$ Contributor
In the Hodgdon 2023 loading annual page 48 says they had a military test on all copper bullets and your to use only primers with a lead content as the non lead primers cause copper fouling to a point of danger in as little as ten shots? And to use CFE powders with copper bullets anyone else know what primers are to be used with all copper bullets.
 
I would like to review the military study. Do you have a reference?

I've used a wide variety of primers with monolithics and have not noticed a difference in fouling.
 

HODGDON CFE FAMILY​

CFE BLK contains our Copper Fouling Eraser ingredient, originally used in military propellant, which greatly deters copper fouling and contributes to longer periods of top accuracy with less barrel cleaning time.
 
I've run Cutting Edge Bullets with RL17, RL19, RL26, PP2000MR, H414, IMR 4831.
Primers Fed 210, Fed 210M, Fed 215, Fed 215M, CCI, Win, Rem.
Cartridges 7mm-08AI, 280 Rem, 284 Win, 7mm Rem Mag.

Never had any issues with excessive copper fouling.
 
"Point of danger?" What is this?

I've always used CCI-200, CCI-250, Fed. 210, Fed. 210M, Fed. 215, and Fed. 215MM without problems for years with Barnes copper bullets in a variety of standard and magnum chamberings. I've used three powders: H4895, H4350, and H4831. Cartridges include ..270, 7x61 Sharpe & Hart, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308, .30-06, .300 H&H Magnum , and .300 Winchester Magnum.

No incredible out of the ordinary copper fouling.
 
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I've always used Federal 210M or 215M primers with Barnes, CE, Nosler, Hornady and Hammer mono-metal bullets. Some of the powers that I use have CFE properties, but not all. No catastrophes yet.
 
The bullet manufacturer will also list the primer used in developing their load data. Another safe route to take.
I’ve never experienced any excess fouling with mono’s either and have shot thousands.
 
I would like to review the military study. Do you have a reference?

I've used a wide variety of primers with monolithics and have not noticed a difference in fouling.
Get the
I would like to review the military study. Do you have a reference?

I've used a wide variety of primers with monolithics and have not noticed a difference in fouling.
Hodgdon manual 2023 annual loading page 48 read it for yourself. It's got me wondering. I think I'll call Hodgdon tomorrow and see what's up with this. Don't make any sense to me at all. Never heard of anything like this before.
 
You've got me confused. I've never shot monolithic/solid "copper" bullets but I have shot a few "copper" jacketed and "copper" washed/plated bullets. Now you say someone or organization is saying you need a specific primer to shoot "copper" bullets? What seems wrong with this?
 
Does anyone voluntarily use lead-free primers? They've been around for something like 40 years (I remember them from the 80s, I think) but I rarely hear of them nor see them for sale. They were substantially more expensive than regular lead-based (after mercury was phased out) primers.
 
I’ve used Barnes bullets with CCI, Federal and Winchester primers without copper fouling. I’d like to hear more about the military test. WHat caliber, bullet and velocity?
 

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