Which Primers Shoot Best???

[bearpaw]

I have mostly shot CCI primers in reloads since the 1970's and they have done very well. I was recently informed that groups could be tightened by shooting Federal Match Primers, especially at long range.

Does anyone have any experience or data comparing CCI, Federal 215, and Federal Match. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I've read up on this and seen plenty of research showing that yes the Federal 215M are typically the most consistent primer.  Also one of the hottest ones along with CCI.  The sites I viewed had their conclusion based on data showing the 215M as having the least standard deviation in velocities as measured by their chronographs.  The 215Ms are seemingly scarce right now.  The only primer I haven't been able to get a hold of since Nov 08.  They along with CCI seem to give about 100 fps faster loads than Rem 9 1/2 M.  Good Luck.

[carpsniperg2]

I have not used the federal match. But I have always used CCI they have never let me down and I have went threw many k's of them. But when primers were hard to come buy. I bought some federal LRM primers and loaded some 300 win mag shells with them. Same loads as before, with everything the same but the primer. The new loads on avg shoot around 1/4" better at 100 yards. Never even thought about the primer making a difference until I saw that. I have shot them side by side 3 times now. I have got the best groups with those federal primers. So it could contribute for sure is my

[bearpaw]

I have not used the federal match. But I have always used CCI they have never let me down and I have went threw many k's of them. But when primers were hard to come buy. I bought some federal LRM primers and loaded some 300 win mag shells with them. Same loads as before, with everything the same but the primer. The new loads on avg shoot around 1/4" better at 100 yards. Never even thought about the primer making a difference until I saw that. I have shot them side by side 3 times now. I have got the best groups with those federal primers. So it could contribute for sure is my

Just the kind of info I was looking for, THANKS MUCH

Does anyone know how the Federal Match primers compare as far as velocity. Will the same load used with CCI 250 Magnum primers shoot as fast with the Federal Large Rifle Magnum Match primers?

[Jamieb]

One summer I did some informal tests, .223, 22-250, 7mm08, 7Rem Mag, .338win mag, 300RUM, and .375H&H
I already had good proven loads for all my rifleswith CCI primers. I backed off 2/10'ths of a grain of powder in the .223 and 22-250, one full grain in the others.
I loaded batch's of 10 with one primer, then 10 with another, and so on. The Crony showed Win primers to give a little more speed then the others.
The only cartridge that seen any benefit in accuracy from a primer change was my 300RUM. Fed 215's is what shot the best, the speed was the same as with cci-250's. I repeated that one and now my RUM loads are with Fed. 215's. With the exception of that 300 RUM, the only difference I seen was the speed thing and worse accuracy with the Win, primers. I load CCI's in everything other then my 300RUM/200gr accubond/Retumbo load.
From what I seen the brand doesn't make much difference as long as you pick one for a cartridge, work up the load and stick with it. I tried every flavor I could get of CCI's, Fed's, Win's and Rem's.

BTW I've got 1000 Magtec LR primers that I got in a trade that are up for trade if anyone is interested.

[bearpaw]

Jamie did you try the Federal Match primers at all?

[Jamieb]

Yep, I didn't see any improvement in accuracy.

[Ray]

I have used a fair number of federal match primers in the past year or so. I don't think I can conclusively say they make the final product more accurate. I probably shot 2-300 of them.

[bearpaw]

Do you mind if I ask what kind of group size were you guys shooting with your guns?

[Ray]

I was shooting a Weatherby Mark V in 7mm at 3/4 inch 100 yards and a Tikka T3 in .25-06 1/2-3/4 inch at 100 yards. Both of these rifles are usually good performers with just about any handload I have used.

[bearpaw]

Nice shooting Ray, pretty tough to close those groups up much...

[JackOfAllTrades]

I have come to much the same conclusions as JamieB over the years. I prefer CCI's in just about everything, but my wildcat does prefer Fed215's. I'll ad that I've had the least consistency with Rem and Wolf primers. Federals are most always a tad larger in diameter than CCI's, Federals, and Winchesters.

In hunting rifles, where I'm not looking for match quality groups, in super cold weather, I would prefer Federals as the primer cup metal is the thinest.

In pistols I do prefer CCI's for my magnum loads, Federals for target loads, but since it's been tough getting CCI's and Feds for the last couple of years, I've been shooting Win's with good success.

-Steve

[Jamieb]

All my rifles including the heavy kickers will consistently shoot under 1" groups at a 100 yards. It doesn't matter if the barrel is cold or smoking hot.
My .223 and 22-250 will hold 5 shots at or under 1/2" at 100, the .223 sometimes way under. Group size is important but I am looking for both good groups and a low extreme velocity spread before I print a drop chart and start verifying come up's at longer range.

[bearpaw]

I don't shoot often enough myself to shoot as well as I used to, I doubt I could shoot a half inch group now with the best of guns. If I can get 1 inch groups I am happy, just the way it is now. 

Sounds like it's not going to be a big difference in the variance of the Feds or the CCI for the most part. I had some loads that were working pretty well with CCI but have one gun which I have yet to come up with a load that will shoot as well as Remington Factory Corelock Ammo. Going to try loading some flat base bullets for it one of these days.

Thanks for all the advice guys. 

[mazama]

I have had good luck with Rem 9 1/2m,used them for 35yrs on 7mag,350mag,338mag good groups with all never used a chrono in the past,for my 338Rum i use Federal 215m,get very good groups also going to use Federal 215 in brothers 300Rum.

[cwuwildcat]

I'm a CCI guy, but also a big believer in picking something and sticking with it.  If you keep one thing consistent, it makes it easier to tweak the other thing.  If you keep changing items, how do you know which item helped and which hurt?

[high country]

I have put a good number of primers to work. I have seen slightly more consistency with the gm's then the rest, but in all honesty, if you can get a brick of cci and load from the same lot......you will be doing fine. There are no really BAD primers made by the big boys today.

[Harold]

off topic, but where can i get federal 215s in the tacoma area? looked all over guy at cabelas said they sell out within hours of getting them...

[carpsniperg2]

Don't know if you have a wholesale sports in that area. The last one I was in had some in stock.

[Harold]

yeah there is one in lacey, thanks for giving me an excuse to go there now  i love that place   

[Bob33]

Bearpaw, I fiirmly believe there is no single "best" primer.  It is no different than the other components: powders and bullets in particular.  Every gun I've met has particular likes and dislikes. I have a reloading friend that says CCi primers shoot best for him, and I have another friend that uses nothing but Federal Match primers.  I really think you need to ask each gun what it likes.

[bearpaw]

I have always just used CCI primers, but when primers were really tough to get, I bought some Federal 215's because they were all that I could find, still haven't loaded any of them. I have heard from a number of guys that the Federal match primers were capable of shooting tighter groups so I was thinking of trying some of them. I figured I would ask around and get some more opinions first though.

[carpsniperg2]

yeah there is one in lacey, thanks for giving me an excuse to go there now  i love that place   

No prob