[mwellan]

I just started reloading with Fed No. 100 primers for my CZ Shadow. Have notice the fired primer looks flatter than usual. Usual means comparing with fired factory ammo and my handloads.

My previous handloads:

Range fired Rem. cases
4.3 gr. Titegroup
Zero 115 gr. round nose jacket bullet
CCI small pistol primer
Very,very light taper crimp
OAL = 1.135

The fired Federal primer looks much flatter that same load using CCI primer. Is it a pressure problem or is the Federal primer made of softer material.

Thanks

[chris in va]

Federal primers from what I've seen are much softer than CCI, and so are the cases. I also got flatter primers when fired through my CZ 75, but not the case with the CCI's in the same powder charge.

My CZ 527 carbine can't reliably pop Wolf or CCI primers so I'll probably switch to the Federals next go-round.

[rcmodel]

Softer according to all the guys who shoot target game revolvers with light hammer springs that won't set off anything else.

I'm gonna guess you have a 9mm?
Hodgdon shows 4.3 Titegroup as a max load with a 115 lead bullet.
But they also show 4.5 start to 4.8 Max with a plated Gold Dot HP.

That would indicate you are loading under a starting load, so primer set-back and reseating may be flattening them.

I'd increase the charge and see if they get back to more normal looking.

rc