Federal Primers

[mikenyE9]

Just starting to reload for my grendel. Will be loading with Lapua brass and gunna use the XBR 8208 powder and Hornady 123 A-Max. I see everyone useing Wolf or CCI primers. I have a large supply of Federal Match Small primers that i use to reload my 77g 223. Does anyone use the Federal Match primers and if not, is there a reason? Also, if anyone uses the Federal Match Primers, would it be bennificial to use the small match magnum primers rather then the standard match primers. Thanks in advance for the info.

[bootzey]

Just starting to reload for my grendel. Will be loading with Lapua brass and gunna use the XBR 8208 powder and Hornady 123 A-Max. I see everyone useing Wolf or CCI primers. I have a large supply of Federal Match Small primers that i use to reload my 77g 223. Does anyone use the Federal Match primers and if not, is there a reason? Also, if anyone uses the Federal Match Primers, would it be bennificial to use the small match magnum primers rather then the standard match primers. Thanks in advance for the info.

I use Federal small rifle in Lapua brass, XBR 8208, and Hornady 123 A-Max. Very accurate loads easy sub-MOA all day.

[hugh]

Testing loads with aa brass arcomp same load same bullet shot side by side ....
Only difference was cci450 vs fed gold medal match primers.
Cci450 shot two five shot groups at 1 moa
Fed gmm shot two five shot groups at. .42 moa and. .34 moa.
Go figure?

[mikenyE9]

Glad to hear to since i have a brick of 1000 Fed GMM. Both you guys just used to standard GMM small and not the small GMM Magnum correct.. cause i was planning on just useing the standard small GMM. really pumped to hear the success you guys are having with that round workup

[louieprkr]

This is good news to my ears also considering it's tuff for me to find any magnum primers. I have asked this in another thread but why not see if we can cover it here. Why is it that everyone is using magnum primers. Whats the intended advantage. All I have heard is that a magnum primer should be avoided prior to 60 plus grains of powder?

[mikenyE9]

Yea, i don't have enought knowledge about reloading to answer that, but i am in the same boat as you, in that a lot of the guys on here advocate magnum primers. Not sure why either. But so far, all the info i have gotten from the guys on here has been sound and very tried and true, so i don't question too much. Would love to know why as well..

[louieprkr]

I too dont want to appear to be disregarding advice I just want to know why. There must be some form of education within the explanation. I hate it when someone ask "why are you using magnum primers?" and the best response I have is "cause the guys on the internet said so".

[hugh]

I my be wrong but I didn't think fed made magnum in small rifle ...
I had a good load with hornedy brass at 27.4 gr arcomp but with aa brass I had to go up to 27.9
Maybe the flash hole being smaller was what made a difference? I don't know

[mikenyE9]

Hugh, you are right. i was looking at small PISTOL magnum primers. Guess that kinda solves the debate i was having between the Fed primers!! LOL!! Still would like to know if there is a major difference and bennefit useing mag primers over the Fed Match primers.

[hugh]

While testing loads for my 223 the crono said the mag primer loads where slower ...
the only logic I could come up with to explain that is the bullet my jump sooner thus greater capacity
At the time of burn. Only a guess.

[LRRPF52]

While testing loads for my 223 the crono said the mag primer loads where slower ...
the only logic I could come up with to explain that is the bullet my jump sooner thus greater capacity
At the time of burn. Only a guess.

That would make sense it the magnum primers do in fact burn faster, and thereby initiate a longer bullet jump into the rifling before the powder reacts to the flash, creating a larger volume case basically.

[hugh]

Thanks for a confirm on that ... I struggled over that observation because it was not what I expected .

[bobke]

Hugh-
Weigh your AA cases(Lapua mfg) and your Hornady brass-if like mine, Hornady is a bit heavier and has a lower net capacity in grains of water, yielding higher pressure, or less powder to get to same velocity as compared to your AA brass. I know this because same near max load in Lapua brass blew entire primer out of Hornady brass. Always start low and work up when using unfamiliar components, including primers.

[mikenyE9]

Which loading manual has the best info for reload the grendel? I have the Sierra Manual and the Lyman Manual, and neither has any loading data for the grendel.. Thinking the Hornady should have the grendel but just wanna confirm before i purchase and also find out what you guys are useing...

[bobke]

Check sticky on this site and AA website for very good base data. For retail manual, likely Hornady if it's in there yet, as they are only one of the majors currently loading and selling Grendel. The Hodgdon magazine format manual is still out in bookstores and has some info, as well.