Manual with .357 Mag. using Federal 200 primers?

I use the Fed 200's interchangably with CCI550 primers for small pistol magnum loads. They are a bit warmer, so you should reduce load a touch and test if you're on the high end of your charge. If you're middle of the road, I wouldn't worry. I've never had issue with them in the mid range.

-Steve

Used up old primers.

Not to hack the thread, just a note. I got almost a full tray of older Federal Small Rifle Bench rest primers in a trade with other items. They looked rather rough inside the tray=dull+dusty/dirty around the anvil/primer mix. I thought waste not-want not. Loaded them up in some 9mm, 124gr hard cast, with #7 A-A powder. They shot just fine, with no miss fires, or FTF/FTE. ==I just HATE to throw anything out that MAY be usable.:banghead:

I'm not seeing two different Federal 200 rifle & pistol primers.

According to Lyman # 49, and Federal website.

Federal Premium® Gold Medal® Centerfire Primers
A GM205M is Sm Rifle Match.
And GM200M is Sm Pistol Magnum Match

Federal® Champion™ Centerfire Primers
A 205 is Sm Rifle
A 200 is Sm Pistol.

http://www.federalpremium.com/ammunition_catalog/components.aspx

rc

At one time, Federal recommended their No 200 small rifle primer for .357 magnum because they did not at the time make a small pistol magnum primer.

Specific recipes these days? I doubt it.

Anybody know of one?

Click to expand...

Much ado about nothing.

Use data for any brand Mag primer if that's what you have.

There is not enough differance between them to make one little bit of differance.
You have to work loads up from starting data anyway.

PS: Even if you have the exact same cases, bullets, powder, and primers called for, they are not from the same lot numbers used in the data. There is as much or more combined variation there then there is in primer brands.

rc

RamShot lists Fed 200 SP mag primers in their Load Guide Edition 4.2.2.
Of course, since this is their load data, they only list their powders.

The right way.

Work up a load with those primers. If you need tips on how to, do this: Use data for any of the primers and bullet of the same weight you want to use. Data can be had from the various powder companies or in any of the manuals you mention.

Put together 6 to 10 rounds at the start load (IE at 10% below maximum) and 6 to 10 at each subsequent 2% increase (IE. 8%, 6%, 4%, 2% below maximum). Take them to the range and starting with the start level rounds shoot them and check for pressure signs and accuracy as you shoot each susequent batch at the next higher charge level. If pressure signs appear, the pervious charge level is your maximum. If you find a load that's particularily accurate without any pressure signs, that would be the charge level I'd load for all my rounds using your Federal primers and that particular bullet.

Change any component and you should do it all over again.

Skookumchuk,
Like the others have said, the Federal and CCI small pistol Magnum primers are so close in performance there's really no reason to worry. Unlike shotshells using the exact components listed in the load data for pistol rounds is much less critical.

BTW, which powder and bullets are you using?

Well the Magnum primer is almost a necessity when using H110 but IMO you will get better results using a standard primer with Unique.

I also use both of those bullets. I like the Hornady 158gr XTP/HP bullets. They are a tough bullet that can be driven harder than you would want to push them. I also like the 158gr LSWC/HP Hornady bullets. I use them to make my FBI replica rounds. The lead is soft enough to expand at the velocities generated in a .38 Special +P. I use HS-6 in the .38 Special +P reloads.