Thread: Federal large primers

I had around 5 misfires when I was doing my 308 loads using Remington 9 1/2 primers but I carnt remember how long the things had been sitting in the draw so I biffed them, actually worth a mention I was using hornady brass & the primer pockets where terrible I had to slightly reem each one with the deburring tool to remove the burr over each pocket that combined with new primers problem solved

Yep I used to use a primer pocket uniformer but have found not necessary with Norma and esp Lapua brass that I now use.

Originally Posted by Sr5dan

I normally use cci primers but due to the shop we use were out brought some federal primers.
Have had no issues with cci primers.
Loaded up quite a few went out last weekend and out of the 50 odd rounds shooting goats 6 rounds did not fire!
There was dent from firing pin and guns only had 100 or so rounds throu. Any one had issues with these primers.
Lucky these were goats and not reds

I have thousands of either brand of primers available

Generally the only time I've had dramas with misfires they have been CCIs not Federals.

The CCIs are harder in the cup & need to be HIT not tapped.

You can nearly get close to a Fed & give it a nudge & it will go off...

I would say you had another issue like head space or contamination, very strange for a Fed not to go.

I use tens of thousands a year & can't recall the last time I had a failure to fire

I dont buy the contamination theory unless maybe youre pouring oil or a paint stripper onto the primer first. I have done a small scale experiment with primers and soaking them in hot water and detergent for a few hours, drying them out, loading them and firing them. All went bang.

Amazing, still don't think I would use them for hunting.

@Kiwi Greg may be on it with a rifle malfunction, possibly crap in the bolt binding the firing pin occasionally.

Originally Posted by Mooseman

Amazing, still don't think I would use them for hunting.

What's that? A 270?

Live where my garage that I reload in doesn't see the sun for 3 months during winter. Use and store primers and powder that I bulk brought in the 1980's. Never had a miss-fire or any other problem.

Like what has been said, Federal primers are known to have a soft cup so usually ignite easily, most revolver shooters with lightened triggers choose them for this very reason. As has been said expect a reloading /primer seating issue
I do find the federal small primer a bit more difficult to seat than the CCI....... could be tight pockets on my part but I always check with a finger rub across the back of the case to ensure below case level.

Using GM215M primers for target work in 308.
ADI's Max load for WIN brass is 45gns AR2208, for 168gn bullets - Sierra TMK on trial.
Backed off to 43.5gns in Lapua brass, under same bullet - slight primer cup raised around pin strike (all went 'bang' fine), but corners were still round, and shape not flattened, no ejector mark on cartridge head.
Soft primers and a fussy chamber (case length), gave me this result.
So have trimmed cases to 50.8 mm - 2.0003", and will try again with the same powder weight/case.
Thanks to those who highlighted Fed primers as being softer than CCI.
Have used CCI with near max loads of 2208, in Lapua brass under 155gn HBC, and no issues with primer deformation.
Same with Fiocchi primers.

Originally Posted by Tikka7mm08

I use a Sinclair priming tool. Slowish, but beautifully made and seats primers best of the feeders I've tried.

Any photos mate?
I am over these crap set ups I have. I too handle primers and have never had an issue. 215M


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Sr5dan mate a few years ago I had trouble with cci200 primers so I went to rem 91/2 primers but later went back to the brass with the cci200
primers that had not fired and done a test of seating the primers the same way I had done previously and found that the
hand priming tool was making the primer flush with the butt of the brass and not seating it home so I went back to seating primers with my press
one at a time and seating them home firmly and haven't had a problem since
At present I use 4 different brands of primer and haven't had any issues with any of them in fact I've used many thousands over the years
with no issues except the cci200 issue but it was the seating tool that couldn't seat them deep enough to be home

cheers

Since my very first reload i use the brand, 205, 210 and 215 standards and match, never had a problem at all, exception very few (if) that "I" got wet.
Have used CCI's too and no complains at all…

I now only use a lee ram prime tool in the press. Its very sensitive and with some cases you feel the primer go in, stop and them go in further. Thinking back when i started reloading i used to reload 3030 with a lee hand loader, the one where you hammer the new primer in. Being a bit iffy about whacking them, some primers were flush or slightly proud of the base. I did have the occasional missfire but recocking the trigger they always went off second time. I guess the first strike seated the primer the 2nd set it off. Possibly worth considering

I use a ram prime as well after a bit of a play you can get a feel for it