Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: gutsnthegrass on March 29, 2021, 08:45:26 AM

Title: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: gutsnthegrass on March 29, 2021, 08:45:26 AM: I have always used CCI primers and still have several hundred, but a friend had some Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers that he kindly gave me. My question is, how much will they effect the POI if any, compared to the CCI large rifle magnum primers with the same loads?

Thanks
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: Emptyhanded on March 29, 2021, 08:53:14 AM: If it were me and my load was toward the top end, I’d drop my powder charge a bit and work back up to my previous velocity. Federal 210m seemed hotter than CCI 200 in my rifle.

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Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: Magnum_Willys on March 31, 2021, 04:11:13 PM: I think it depends on the powder. If you have a fast powder its being lit quick anyway so probably won't notice a difference. But with rl33 the 215 was about .5 grains powder difference. In fact I was getting hangfires with the CCI until I switched.
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: jasnt on April 01, 2021, 06:01:17 AM: Every rifle is different. Drop charge and work up is the safest route
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: NWShooter on April 01, 2021, 07:58:17 PM: There isn’t enough difference between the two to matter. Load them and shoot. Skip the fluff.
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: hogslayer on April 01, 2021, 09:19:44 PM: Assuming you were using CCI 250’s, there won’t be to much difference. 10-20 FPS in my testing. But drop a grain and work up in .3 increaments and you’ll find out. One out of 10 rifles I do load work up on like Fed 215’s. Other than that, CCI 250’s for the win every time. Hang fires with 250’s is attributed to a firing pin/fall issue. I have used them for over 100 grains of powder on many of rounds with not 1 hang fire in over 10,000 shot.
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: Magnum_Willys on April 03, 2021, 04:15:34 PM: I think the CCI 250 generally has lower es especially with H1000, but large capacity slow powders like RL33 in a 338-378, especially in new brass with large headspace you may have an issue. The firing pin moves the brass forward soaking up the pin energy. With second firings and a good die properly setback .002 and a strong firing pin spring it might not be an issue. The Federal 215M being much softer goes off.

FWIW What Custom Reloads of Dallas says: " The CCI #250 falls in between the standard primer and Fed 215, Rem magnum primers. The CCI #250 primers are not recommended for powder charges over about 70-80 grains. The #250 primer simply is not hot enough for the slow burning powders found in the large cases with slow burning rifle powders, like in a 338 Lapua. Many years ago I had loaded up some 338 Lapua ammo with 250 grain bullets and CCI #250 primers. A customer was complaining of some hang fires and a few failure to fire. I had some more of this ammo so I went to the range to test it. Sure enough, hang fires and one failure to fire. Why??? I called ATK (the parent company of Federal, CCI, and others) and spoke to their lead tech about primers. He explained all this to me. He said the CCI #250 is "listed" as a magnum primer, because it is hotter than a standard primer, but is not as hot as other magnum primers. The hang fires were due to not properly igniting the 92+ grains of slow burning powder I was using in the 338 Lapua. He said I must use the Fed 215 or Rem mag primers for this. That's when I switched over to all Fed 215's for any magnum cases. I have not had an issue since."
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: hogslayer on April 03, 2021, 04:35:56 PM: Interesting about the primers. I do agree that the 215 is hotter than a CCI 250. Good points on the short head space. Thats a very common problem. The gunsmith i use (Alex Wheeler) times the actions to have .240-.250 firing pin fall. That firing pin sure hits hard. That must have something to do with it. Karl is the same way, he only use's Federal because of the same issue's.
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: b23 on April 03, 2021, 05:00:22 PM: I think Defensive Edge predominantly uses CCI 250 primers in there 300 and 338 Terminator cartridges. I think Shawn even uses CCI 250's in his big 375 Terminator and that thing shoots a mountain of powder. I asked him about primers once and why he didn't use 215's instead. He told me he usually got better ES with the 250's.

I've always, for the most part, used Federal Match primers in everything and they've been good to me but I have used BR2 and BR4 in a few things as well and they were good too. I've just always had a lot more Fed M's on hand so they've always been my default primer.
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: jasnt on April 04, 2021, 04:11:43 PM: I used 250’s in the 37XC and it have some odd results burning 120gr h1000. 215gmm did much better
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: Magnum_Willys on April 04, 2021, 04:32:05 PM: Quote from: jasnt on April 04, 2021, 04:11:43 PM
I used 250’s in the 37XC and it have some odd results burning 120gr h1000. 215gmm did much better

That explains the H1000 powder shortage ! Hehe
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 04, 2021, 05:44:44 PM: I always keep some 250's on hand just to test in new guns to see if they tighten es over 215's. They never do but for some reason I always feel the need to pop a few :chuckle:
Title: Re: Federal 215 large rifle magnum primers
Post by: jasnt on April 05, 2021, 05:35:32 AM: Quote from: Magnum_Willys on April 04, 2021, 04:32:05 PM
Quote from: jasnt on April 04, 2021, 04:11:43 PM
I used 250’s in the 37XC and it have some odd results burning 120gr h1000. 215gmm did much better

That explains the H1000 powder shortage ! Hehe
:chuckle: that barrel only burned up about 18lbs of my stash