I see a lot of data for the .375 and big 40's and most of it uses Federal magnum primers.

Ocassionally some Remington and CCI but surprisingly little Winchester?

Do you guys see the samething or am I missing something?

The only primer I'd use is the old (and hard to find) Herter's Model Perfect.....
I just might have the world's last remaining stach of them.....and yes they're expensive!!!

I am partial to Federal primers as well. There are no scientific reasons or empirical data. My reloading friends favor them and they have always performed well for me. Maybe I'll live on the wild side and try something else.

Eric

I use whatever is toward the front end of the primer locker on a given day. I'm on a WLRM kick right now. Never have noticed a huge difference between brands.

lawndart

Carmelo,

Federal 215....you can't go wrong there...thousands of rounds fired, no hang-fires / mis-fires.

Winchester???? Are they still a company?!!!

JW

Thanks all.

Jeff, I would tend to agree with you. I use Federal primers exclusively in my auto pistols and they always perform. This will however be my first application with the Fed 215 magnums.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
The only primer I'd use is the old (and hard to find) Herter's Model Perfect.....
I just might have the world's last remaining stach of them.....and yes they're expensive!!!

Vapo, never heard of them? Are they American made? European?

quote:

Originally posted by carmelolisciotto:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
The only primer I'd use is the old (and hard to find) Herter's Model Perfect.....
I just might have the world's last remaining stach of them.....and yes they're expensive!!!

Vapo, never heard of them? Are they American made? European?

Actually I was jerking your leg a bit....they was made by RWS and as far as I'm concerned a primer is a primer.....I've never bought a bad lot of primers!

I use CCI 250 Large rifle primers for my .500 Jeffery loads. I would like to get my hands on some Fed 215 but they are hard to come by in Denmark
The CCI 250 works fine and I have no complaines so fare.

Cheers,

André

Most likely primers are primers, BUT, you gotta go with what you know...Fed. 215 Mag for me.

JW

Federal primers are my choice for all my handloading...Never found a reason to change...

I currently reload only with Federals and CCIs both are excellent primers.

Winchester's are the only primers I have personally had any issue with. That was because I believe they are a little harder than other primers. Out of a good weapon probably no issue. If the firing pin spring is a little weak though all you will get is click.

Other than that the only place I believe primer difference would manifest itself is through a chronograph. Any body ever tried that? Keeping everything else equal of course.

Federal 215s are said to burn a bit hotter than most other magnum primers. Good choice if you want to ignite large amounts of powder. Other than that, I'm sure other brands will work well.
- mike

actually vapodog is just showing off his minnesota roots

I use the gold medal version in my 45-3.25" Sharps, over the chronograph I can tell a slight difference in velocity between brands of primers. I prefer the Federal's with the long powder column of the 45-120, it takes a lot to ignite all that powder. I've played with smokeless also and they seem to be very consistant in the 375 H&H, standard deviations were smaller.

Kurick,
I can definitely see differences in velocity from primer to primer that is for certain.

With African weather being generally on the warm side I was more or less curious if there was a specific primer that had better results in the climate there.

I've heard or read that Federal 215s were originally created to light off Weatherby magnum ammo with large doses of slow burning powder.
If they are good enough for Weatherby they are good enough for me.

I use CCI 250's in my 375 H&H and 416 Rigby and have never had anything but complete combustion. I've never tried the others because they're never in my gun store.

If I were just shooting a primer is a primer.

If I care what kind of performance I want there is one simple answer Federal 215 Match

I have used other primer and got good accuracy, then turn around and shot the exact same load doing nothing except changing the to the 215 and from a bench cut the group size in half, other people I know have also. and they go off everytime.

quote:

Originally posted by carmelolisciotto:
Kurick,
I can definitely see differences in velocity from primer to primer that is for certain.

With African weather being generally on the warm side I was more or less curious if there was a specific primer that had better results in the climate there.

I'm as apt to use a Remington, as a Federal, as CCI in warm weather, no big deal.

Cold weather for Musk Ox is where the rubber meets the road.

quote:

Originally posted by slammer:
If I were just shooting a primer is a primer.

If I care what kind of performance I want there is one simple answer Federal 215 Match

I have used other primer and got good accuracy, then turn around and shot the exact same load doing nothing except changing the to the 215 and from a bench cut the group size in half, other people I know have also. and they go off everytime.

I've heard other people say the same thing. I am working up some loads now with Federal 215's and Remington Mag primers for my .404

quote:

Originally posted by Terry Blauwkamp:
Cold weather for Musk Ox is where the rubber meets the road.

Terry, as you know I plan on the rubber meeting the road (musk ox-caribou hunt) this Oct. I plan to use the rounds I used last year in RSA (300wsm, 200 XTS, with federal primers). As you also know I'm from Alabama and haven't done much cold weather hunting. So do you see a problem with this load or what would you recommend?

Mark:

Go for it, that ammo should do jsut fine