Match primers vs regular

Slavex

Slavex

Morning Star, The Lightbringer
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I just picked up 1000 regular Federal Large Rifle primers as no one has any of the Match Federal primers right now (and likely won't). But I have some rounds loaded with the match ones already, should I expect much difference in performance?
 
not sure about the federals but I do know for sure that cci 200 and cci benchrest primers are excactly the same, same cup anvil and compound. If a batch of 200s starts and finishes within tight specs and the operator is consistent from start to finish they then make mark them as benchrest primers.

I suggest loading five new rounds with the regular primer and shooting a group compared to the old group, it is the only way to know for sure.
 
I agree with yodave.

What makes a match primer?

The priming compound is spread by hand. The companies use the oldest members for the spread of match primers.

They take a tray with (IIRC) 500 cups and they spread the compond in with a plastic scraper, spreading from 4 different directions and 4 times. After drying, they test some of the primers.

The standard primers are spread 2 ways and only twice, a couple of thousand at a time.

The mix is the same for match and standard.

I saw a documentary of this a number of years ago.

I've never seen any difference with CCI standard and BR's and I only use Fed match primers when I use Federal.
 
Actually the Benchrest cups and anvils are selected for execptional uniformity first. the operator is choosen from the most experienced on the line who has demonstrated a performance record of consistant charging technque when making other primer products. quoted from the speer number 12 manual.
the benchrest primers are balistically equal to the regular rifle primer of the same size. Uniform parts result in consistent detination, heat and flame.
 
Yodave,
Your second post sounds better, and matches their website as well. This is the part of your first post that I was having trouble with:

If a batch of 200s starts and finishes within tight specs and the operator is consistent from start to finish they then make mark them as benchrest primers.

Sitting and stareing at my BR primers I just couldn't see how they could do that.
 
This may be BS but I read that one company gives their primers an extra inspection by trained personnel then considers them match grade if they pass.
 
shouldnt be a huge difference..only one way to find out

any primer is better than no primer..I think we might all find this out in the next while...:(
 
Slavex said:
I just picked up 1000 regular Federal Large Rifle primers as no one has any of the Match Federal primers right now (and likely won't). But I have some rounds loaded with the match ones already, should I expect much difference in performance?
Click to expand...

Over the chrony my extreme spreads and standard deviations always show the Fed 210M's outperforming any regular non match primer. Its not by much, but enough that its a statistical difference that shows up. Match primers have always performed better than regulars for me when I put the numbers over the chrony and then break out the calculator and the old college stats textbooks.

For me, the numbers are in the pudding, and my numbers show a clear trend one way. Match is the way to go. Your spreads and SD will be tighter, resulting in tigher and more consistant groups on paper overall. I've had this conversation at the gunstores a lot recently with the absence of match primers, guys telling me that match primers aren't any different.

I'd like to think a university degree and my knowledge of numbers is pretty sound and would pass any peer review if someone wants to put my chrony numbers to a test.

Exteme spreads with match primers in my 700P (.308) using 168gr. SMK's are sometimes as low as 40fps with match primers, with non match, in that exact same prepped cases-up to 70fps. SD for match primers is usually below 10 on good loads and generally 15-20 for non-match primers using the exact same components shot on the same day/time in the same rifle. Overall, group sizes are smaller using match primers than non-match.

For what its worth, believe it if you want, match primers do perform at a higher standard in my rifle. I will pay the extra.....and yes, I have a stockpile of 210M's!
 
that's the problem, there are no match ones available right now. I had gearloads of them, but I guess I either traded them or used them. piss me off. might have to try the BR ones from CCI? but for now will use the regular ones for the sniper match.
 
Slavex said:
that's the problem, there are no match ones available right now. I had gearloads of them, but I guess I either traded them or used them. piss me off. might have to try the BR ones from CCI? but for now will use the regular ones for the sniper match.
Click to expand...

Slavex-Load 'em up for your match and shoot em side by side with your regular match primer loads and report back here to see if you notice a difference in the field....

I kindof lucked out and stockpiled I while ago, then traded a bunch of Small Rifle Match primers for a swack of LR 210M's last week to add to the collection. Now if I only had enough Varget to burn......
 
If you change any one component, you have to work up the load again. No matter what primer you use. Match components are supposed to be more consistent than regular components.
 
Tried match primers. No real difference. Now if I was shooting benchrest... But then I'd probably invest in a flash hole uniformer.

If one is not careful, shooting can become a real head game.
 
yeah the BR ones are available, just not the match ones.
ok so today was the test day. other than I couldn't shoot worth a ####, all went well. No difference between match or regular for performance or FPS really.
Have new dies on order, and am just trying to decide on whether or not to go Redding Bushing die, or Lee Collet die for the necks..............
need to get a runout guage too I guess at some point?
 
Some of my best matches have been shot with standard primers. I once ran a test in .308 and a 6.5x284 with Fed210M & Fed 210. The standard primers actually gave a lower SD. I gave up on match primers long ago because of that. I could dig up the results if I could find the time. I think a lot of it has to do with your loading technique, products on hand, chronograph, weather and if the stars are all lined up too.
 
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