Anyone else noticed they're a little difficult to find? Suggestions?

I don't know how many you need but G&S has some left.
http://www.grafs.com/fc/browse.php?o=2&p=3528&q=&v=&s=

Powder Valley http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ has them also.

While on this subject, how does one go about picking which brand of primer to use. Are their things that each does best.

I have always shot CCI primers exclusively. But after joining AR, I see hardly anyone uses them. Should a person always try several types when looking for that perfect load?

I would appreciate a primer lesson as I feel ignorant here.

ledvm, I'm definitely not the one to give you a primer lesson, but I do know that they vary in brissance--how hot they are--so to speak. There is a list or too around, and I would guess that 'Steves Pages' probably have some intel on this.

Having said that, I too almost exclusively use CCI's, although I have some of everything. I probably would say Federals are my least favorite, they're the only primer I've ever had not go bang! 12 of them to be exact.

There is definitely nothing wrong with CCI's!

I use federal primers [215M] I live on the east coast and they are used by alot of shooters. The Federal primers seem to last longer. The Winchester Magnum primers are hotter from what I was told. Sometimes I use them to. I never noticed any difference. Sometimes different primers are used with different loads as with different rifles. If CCI works use it I wouldn't change.

Well, I guess what I am asking is there some kind of logical way to make a decision to change to a different primer. Or is it just a trial and error kind of thing. Like if your not 100% happy with your groups change to a different primer and see what happens??? How much difference would one expect a primer change to make? Is it possible to make a 1.5" grouping load go to < 1"?

I am just trying to learn!

The federal 215's are very difficult to find and have been since the end of last year. The match primers are almost impossible to find.

I have been checking back with Grafs, Midway, Cabelas and some of the other larger sites since the end of last year. Not in stock, no backorder, will be there is a month, etc.

I believe that http://www.lockstock.com/ has them in stock - at least they did a week ago.

Ledvm,

Primers are an enigma in load development. I use Federal primers for the most part but I have loads developed with CCI, WW, and Rem. I wouldn’t worry about primers. Primers are a part of the load but should be the last equation of the load.

Primers should be the starters of the explosion, not a big part of the explosion.

The powder should always be the primadonna (the fat lady singer in the opera) without more than a little jab from the ballerina (the primer) to start her singing.

Here (Sask, canada) Federal primers be it 210, 215 or Match of either are non exsistent this year. Winchester and CCI no problem. The reason I have been told by the dealers is the US Military Contract. I have heard others dispute this claim. It seems they are short supply in many places though, only the shadow knows what the real reason .

I use Federal Match, b/c they worked and I buy them by the case.

I am exclusively CCI also. I have tested Federal and Winchester and groups changed so I stayed with the old reliable CCI in all my loading.

Thanks, Gentlemen. I ordered some Federal and CCI primers from Powder Valley today. 215M for large rifle magnum and BR-4 for large rifle. Got enough to last a while.

I just bought 2000 of the 215 Gold Medal Match primers from Powder Valley a couple weeks back. They seemed to have quite a few in stock.

The Federal 215 GMM primer is the best Magnum primer I've come across. I've used WLRMs and CCI Mags and neither have given me the same results as the Feds on paper and over the chrono.

If I'm not mistaken the 215 is the hottest Mag primer available. My chrono verifies that claim when compared to the other two I mentioned.

You can't go wrong with 215s.

Good Luck

Reloader

They are listed in the new Sinclair catalog which I received yesterday. They are probably struggling to fill military orders and this is a temporary shortage for us.