Federal Gold Medal Small Pistol Magnum Match primers - not a myth

Went by San Antonio Bass Pro Shop/Outdoor World to pick up my SIL a few boxes of 357 Magnum. I asked the guy at the knife counter if he had any primers stashed and lo and behold, he pulled out this brick of Federal SPM Match primers. $89.99 minus 5% vet discount. They also have (had?) large pistol.
Maybe things are picking up?

 

They've tripled in price in a year and a half! I just can't do it...and for now, I'm ok for primers...stocked up after Obama went his merry way and the hoarding/gouging went away with him. I stocked up at ~$31/1000.

The only ammunition expense I currently have is .22 LR....and at 10 cents to 14 cents a shot, I'm chocking at the prospect of even higher prices....Hope it goes away soon, but I'm not holding my breath. Best regards, Rod

 

Ok, noob here at reloading. but whats the big deal over primer type and make-up? are they not all contain the same ingredient?

 

No.
Federal uses basic lead styphnate, other brands use normal lead styphnate, different chemical composition.
The Federal mix is claimed to be more sensitive and their primer cups softer metal. They are preferred for use in competition revolvers and DA/SA autos because they will fire with a weaker mainspring/lighter trigger pull.

Lead free primers are mostly the Dinol mix but Federal has their own Catalyst unleaded with different ingredients.

 

Ok, I rebuild engines, and know the difference in bearing materials and metal compositions, I just not that keen on the primers make-up. makes sense, Thanks!

 

So is this why Lee has a beef with them? (Presuming you know Lee has a beef with them.)

 

I don't like how the federal are packaged. I broke open a case of them yesterday. I dropped a bunch trying to get some out of the 100 count tray. I opened up the other 9 packs over a plastic container. And kept them in it.

 

I love the things…know why? Because I have 1000 of em. Packaging is kinda large and clunky I guess, but it’s better than Remington’s mini-packs, no?

 

Federal would not give LEE samples to test so Lee just went with they are to sensitive and may go boom in their primer loading products.
Yes, Federal are more sensitive and folks with tuned revolvers use them. But normal mortal everyday shooters the Match primers make little difference,

 

Yes I miss the days of $25/1000 primers. But the increase in primer prices doesn’t bother me near as much as bullet price increases. Since I don’t cast, bullets are by far my greatest expense per round.
$90 for the match primers doesn’t seem too bad when you consider some retailers are getting $140 for CCI #41’s

 

They are more sensitive so packaging has more safety space.
I have a large square pickup tray for them.

 

The Frankford hand primer trays are sized to fit the Federal package perfectly.

 

Thanks. Yeah Im just a regular shooter and use them regularly without incident.

 

It's close for 9mm. You can get 1000 115gr 9mm FMJ's from RMR for $94 delivered, with no discounts. So a bit less than most of the mail order primers these days.

I've used a bunch of the subject primers in the last year. Still have a couple of bricks on the shelf. Worked great. I used to be a one brand primer buyer, Winchester was my personal favorite. But I've been very agnostic in the last year.

 

Was at Bass Pro this morning, decent supply of stuff, including the Fed primers. They also had some CCI LPP's at $79.99 per k.

Made my weekly trip to the indoor pistol range I belong to to shoot a quick 200 rounds. They have a small gun store there. CCI primers were $160 per k!!! Guy said they had to pay a lot to get them.

 

I did some swapping and came out with CCI SP marked $69.95.
Come fair weather, I will be at a match down the road from that store and will see what they have then.
A friend reports stores with good supplies of $140 primers, few sales.

 

I've never been able to favor one brand or the other based on actual downrange performance (in handguns that is)
I've been able to tell differences when working up a load, where one maxes out a litter earlier than another (from what I presume to be one primer can be a little hotter than another)

I noticed a batch of Winchesters top-hat (flatten) a little easier than CCI in SPP in 357 magnum mid-range 2400 loads with the same moderate powder charge thats just above published starting charges with 158 grain bullets. ......some may think this is because the metal is softer, but that is not necessarily true. Softer metal may obturate a little better in the primer pocket, and actually prevent "top-hatting". Sometimes light charges, or slower burning powders that build pressure slowly can cause primers to set back before forming a seal with the primer pocket, and cause flattening, too...... it is for these reasons that YOU CAN NEVER TRUST WHAT PRIMERS TELL YOU about the supposed "pressure" of your load. They flat out lie in most handgun loads.

 

I double checked and found I did not have any Federal small pistol primers…only large. All my smalls are CCI.

But I also found my favorite pyramid scheme and here’s a pic:

 

Me either. The reason I liked Winchester the best is that they ran smoother through my RCBS Ammo Master. Not an issue with my Dillon 650 or 1100 though.

 

My local gun shop has CCI SRP and they are selling them at $100/brick just so more customers can get some.
Again, buy what you need and don't be panic buying. It's the only way prices will ever come down.