This is the Federal Primers showing slight flattening with the loads I worked up for my Savage LRP in .260rem. No other signs of pressure. I worked these up in the heat of summer so I was thinking they would be slightly less in winter. I am not seeing any signs on the bolt face or in the rest of the case. It is a Max load according to Hodgdon, but it is what my rifle shoots best. SHould I back it off or keep the load. I have shot approx 100 of these so far.
- Thread starter mnhntr
- Start date
Re: Acceptable or not
I agree with turbo, Fed primers are fairly soft. As mentioned, note bolt lift, I don't see any major ejector swipes either. What happens when pressure is excessive is the case makes a tight cast of the chamber and fails to rotate in the chamber when the bolt is rotating to extract, that's where the ejector swipes come from and major pressure signs are showing up.
Primer flattening could mean soft primers, primer flow can mean large firing pin hole. Both shouldn't be ignored entirely but are not the best indicators either.
Kirk R
I agree with turbo, Fed primers are fairly soft. As mentioned, note bolt lift, I don't see any major ejector swipes either. What happens when pressure is excessive is the case makes a tight cast of the chamber and fails to rotate in the chamber when the bolt is rotating to extract, that's where the ejector swipes come from and major pressure signs are showing up.
Primer flattening could mean soft primers, primer flow can mean large firing pin hole. Both shouldn't be ignored entirely but are not the best indicators either.
Kirk R
Re: Acceptable or not
IMHO it's just the way Federal Primers are, try some CCi 200/BR2 primers, they have a harder cup, and with Win 7-08 brass resized to 260 the added case capacity benefits from using H4831sc instead of H4350, start around 46.5 and work up with the 140 class of pills.
IMHO it's just the way Federal Primers are, try some CCi 200/BR2 primers, they have a harder cup, and with Win 7-08 brass resized to 260 the added case capacity benefits from using H4831sc instead of H4350, start around 46.5 and work up with the 140 class of pills.
Re: Acceptable or not
i like winchester primers the best
i like winchester primers the best
Re: Acceptable or not
Excessive headspace (setting the shoulder back too far when reloading) can give the flat primer appearance.
Excessive headspace (setting the shoulder back too far when reloading) can give the flat primer appearance.
Re: Acceptable or not
That looks fine to me. The top down photo makes it look bad, but the 3/4 perspective looks good. I use wolf and they start to lose the roundness at the edge, as yours are doing, with minimum loads.
I hate to admit it, but I loaded some pistol rounds that were pretty hot by mistake. That's when I saw primer flattening for real. The primer filled the lip around the primer, up to the base of the brass.
I would never advocate loading hot just to see what it looks like, but you almost have to see it first hand. Once you do, you won't worry when your primers lose some roundness.
I think above all, exercise cation (what your doing) and if something feels wrong it is!
That looks fine to me. The top down photo makes it look bad, but the 3/4 perspective looks good. I use wolf and they start to lose the roundness at the edge, as yours are doing, with minimum loads.
I hate to admit it, but I loaded some pistol rounds that were pretty hot by mistake. That's when I saw primer flattening for real. The primer filled the lip around the primer, up to the base of the brass.
I would never advocate loading hot just to see what it looks like, but you almost have to see it first hand. Once you do, you won't worry when your primers lose some roundness.
I think above all, exercise cation (what your doing) and if something feels wrong it is!
Re: Acceptable or not
if you're fl sizing you might back the dies out a bit so you are not bumping the shoulder too much.
if you're fl sizing you might back the dies out a bit so you are not bumping the shoulder too much.
Re: Acceptable or not
I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.
I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.
Re: Acceptable or not
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.</div></div>
My experience is the opposite of this. Federal primers (SR) start to flatten at pretty mild loads. My long range AR15 loads (77gr bullets, 23.6gr Alliant AR-Comp) is pretty hot, and the Federal primers flatten right up. CCI primers in the same load look perfect with nice rounded edges.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.</div></div>
My experience is the opposite of this. Federal primers (SR) start to flatten at pretty mild loads. My long range AR15 loads (77gr bullets, 23.6gr Alliant AR-Comp) is pretty hot, and the Federal primers flatten right up. CCI primers in the same load look perfect with nice rounded edges.
Re: Acceptable or not
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Temp9</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.</div></div>
My experience is the opposite of this. Federal primers (SR) start to flatten at pretty mild loads. My long range AR15 loads (77gr bullets, 23.6gr Alliant AR-Comp) is pretty hot, and the Federal primers flatten right up. CCI primers in the same load look perfect with nice rounded edges. </div></div>
Same here; in handgun loads, as well.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Temp9</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've not found Fed caps to be any 'softer' than others. In fact, they crater less than others in my old 03A3 Springfield.
Federal does use a slightly more sensitive compound than others so they go off with a lighter pin strike and that tends to make them a bit more reliable. IMHO.</div></div>
My experience is the opposite of this. Federal primers (SR) start to flatten at pretty mild loads. My long range AR15 loads (77gr bullets, 23.6gr Alliant AR-Comp) is pretty hot, and the Federal primers flatten right up. CCI primers in the same load look perfect with nice rounded edges. </div></div>
Same here; in handgun loads, as well.
Re: Acceptable or not
Primers are the last thing I look at and only then to see if they're leaking or pierced.
I've seen factory loaded ammo with "flatter" primers than in the pictures.
Bolt lift and ejector marks are the best. Chronograph readings will also tell the tale should the average speeds be far and above the published max for a given cart/bullet/powder combo.
Primers are the last thing I look at and only then to see if they're leaking or pierced.
I've seen factory loaded ammo with "flatter" primers than in the pictures.
Bolt lift and ejector marks are the best. Chronograph readings will also tell the tale should the average speeds be far and above the published max for a given cart/bullet/powder combo.
Similar threads
