Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
I have routinely used Fed205s with Berger 80.5 Fullbores and 90 VLDs over H4895 and have never been disappointed with their performance. However, you didn't mention any specifics about your bullet and/or powder choices. A different bullet weight or powder choice might easily work better with a different primer - only direct testing will give you the answer.
On that note, it is also important to be aware that changing primers can easily cause a significant change in the load itself. In order to carry out a "true" test of different primers, it may be necessary to actually optimize charge weight and seating depth with each different primer before a valid comparison can be made. For example, at one point I compared some Russian primers and CCI450s to Fed205s in my H4895 90 VLD load without changing any other load parameter. Both the Russian and CCI450s gave me 25 to 30 fps greater velocity with the exact same charge weight/brass/bullets as the Fed205s. Needless to say, those loads were way out of the optimal window, and therefore not a fair comparison of the Russian or CCI450 primers in terms of grouping or velocity data. Comparing several different primers can therefore require a significant effort if you have to optimize the load separately for each primer. Nonetheless, it can be worth the effort.
On that note, it is also important to be aware that changing primers can easily cause a significant change in the load itself. In order to carry out a "true" test of different primers, it may be necessary to actually optimize charge weight and seating depth with each different primer before a valid comparison can be made. For example, at one point I compared some Russian primers and CCI450s to Fed205s in my H4895 90 VLD load without changing any other load parameter. Both the Russian and CCI450s gave me 25 to 30 fps greater velocity with the exact same charge weight/brass/bullets as the Fed205s. Needless to say, those loads were way out of the optimal window, and therefore not a fair comparison of the Russian or CCI450 primers in terms of grouping or velocity data. Comparing several different primers can therefore require a significant effort if you have to optimize the load separately for each primer. Nonetheless, it can be worth the effort.
