Are fed primers softer?

[savagelh]

So I'm not a new reloaded but I'm new to using federal primers. The rifle is a tikka t3 7rem Mag. I'm getting about 2950 fps from my 140ttsx but I was hoping to push it another couple hundred fps. The primers are fed215m and are just beginning to flatten out. There are no other pressure signs and I do know what to look for. So far I've tried h4831sc and rl22. Accuracy is good but I really want to squeeze a little more performance out of this calibre because I'm sure it's capable of it. I guess I could try to source some cci Mag primers and see how the react but they are hard to find around here. I've gone to 65gr with the h4831 and 67 with the rl22.

 

[Fargone4sure]

Yes, federal primers are softer. I only use them in guns that tend to have light primer strikes.

 

[savagelh]

Just reread my notes. I'm actually at 68gr with the h4831

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Watch your bolt lift.

Watch your velocities.

Federal are the softest , CCI I believe the hardest or next to it.

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...098-215-vs-BR-vs-200-primers-photo-comparison

A thread I started with photo comparison of CCI BR , 200 and Fed215

Should be in the 3100-3200 ft/sec range when pressure starts to become a concern and halting any further load increases.

Mind you are are just shy of where I was getting the BEST accuracy in the TSX, just below 3000.

 

[Ganderite]

RL22 is the better choice of powder. If it was me, I would try for 3,050 fps, watching for any hint of bolt lift issues.

 

[bigedp51]

Simple Trick for Monitoring Pressure of Your Rifle Reloads
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/tips-and-tricks/simple-trick-monitoring-pressure-your-rifle-reloads

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRIMER - A PRIMER ON PRIMERS
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/?topic=56422.0

Mysteries And Misconceptions Of The All-Important Primer
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st_mamotaip_200909/


savagelh
I was primed and ready for this question.

 

[savagelh]

Thanks for the replies. I kind of want to stick with the hodgdon simply due to temp insensitivity. That and it seems to give me about the same velocity per charge weight. It was -6 today when I was shooting and I don't want to be borderline high pressure and have issues in the spring when it warms up. So far bolt lift is fine.

 

[bigedp51]

Good read below


Primer Effectiveness Study
http://www.the-long-family.com/primer_study.htm

 

[polaris]

I like Federal primers for their consistency, but as everybody here says, they are soft.

 

[stubblejumper]

I had no problems reaching 3100fps with R-22, in the few7mmremmag rifles that I have loaded the 140gr TTSX for. I used the 215 primer in all of them, and I use it in every one of my magnum cartridges.

 

[savagelh]

How high did you go for charge weight?