Federal Match Primers becoming extinct?

[birdbustr]

I am down to my last 100 or so Federal Large Rifle Magnum Match and small rifle match primers. I can't find another 1000 of either of these anywhere. It seems like all of the normal reloading suppliers are OUT OF STOCK. I've got my loads worked up with these and want to stick with the same components. I've never had any complaints with Federal until this.

Anyone have any leads on someone that has any of these in stock?

Is Federal handmaking these or something? Where's the supply?

 

[dmftoy1]

Maybe the "match" guy is on vacation or retired? I'm not sure if it's true but I seem to remember reading that the "match" primers are the same as standard except they're made by a guy who is noted for his consistency. FWIW

 

[birdbustr]

If there was a reloader that could actually verify the same velocity was achieved between the 2 primers, I would just get the regular primers. I just hate to change primers now that I have a good loads developed with these. Maybe the whole "match" thing is just a marketing ploy. Does anyone have first hand knowledge on this?

 

[Walkalong]

The only difference in Fed's regular primers and their Match primers is only the most experienced workers make the Match primers. Sort of like the "custom shop" workers in a gun shop.

 

[jameslovesjammie]

I have been out of Fed Gold Metal Match Magnum's for a while. I went into our Scheels store to get some more. They've been out for a few months. When I asked the reloading guy, he said they've been on order since July and have been out since August. No idea when they would be getting any in.

 

[BsChoy]

I switched to winchester lr primers....just seem easier to find

 

[redneck2]

There were a few threads a while back about shortages of components. Primers, and particularly Federals were in very short supply during the summer. I ran across 3k at one shop and bought them all. At that time, Federal said there wouldn't be any more available until Jan '08.

Our local shop has just started getting some more shipments of Federals, so some are now available.

As above, match primers are the same with slightly better (supposedly) quality control. I use match primers when I can get them, but if standard ones were available I'd use them rather than switch brands.

 

[Black_Talon]

Federal primers, in general, have been hard to get over the past 6-9 months. That said, I have managed to buy 15,000 Fed Small Pistol Match from Powder Valley just recently. They seem to go in and out of stock fairly regularly at PV. I'd keep looking at their website (www.powdervalleyinc.com) on a regular basis, and jump on the LR Mag Match as soon as they show "in stock".

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've used both, off and on for over 20yrs.

The ONLY reason I get the match version is if it's all I can get as they are $2-$4/M more expensive. And then, I only get enough to "get me by" until I can get more of the regular.

I've been unable to tell the difference either with my chronograph or machine rest. My custom S&W Mod10's with match barrels (PPC revolvers) will shoot equally good groups with either..........

Why pay more for the same "good" thing........

 

[birdbustr]

Thanks Goose. That's what I was looking for. I will see if I can find the normal primers instead of the "match". I thought there might not be any difference.

 

[retrieverman]

Not to brag, but I have about 4000 Fed GM210M primers in my gun safe right now. When I first got into reloading about a year ago, I bought them and haven't used more than 100.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I have been able to find regular Federal primers but have seen very little of the match primers.

 

[Adventurer_96]

I was down to my last 1k a little while ago and I've been concerned since they're as rare as a unicorn sighting in Utah. I found a couple of hundred that I bought at $3.50/100 and grimaced about it.

Two weeks ago, I went into Sportsman's Warehouse in Riverdale, UT and found 4k on the shelf. I bought them all, 1k are going to a friend for a Christmas present. They were about $33/k, before a 5% discount.

If I'm loading .308, it's for my bolt guns, and I just prefer having the best components that I can possibly get. That way, there's no question that any problems are shooter-induced.

 

[birdbustr]

I'm looking for the Small Rifle 205M and the Large Rifle Magnum GM215M. I'm on the waitlist at Graf & Sons, but if anyone has any of these they want to sell let me know. Thanks.

 

[Oohrah]

Really can not see a difference in real life use except for the cost.
More variance in lot numbers then BRs.

 

[Grumulkin]

I'm looking for the Small Rifle 205M and the Large Rifle Magnum GM215M. I'm on the waitlist at Graf & Sons, but if anyone has any of these they want to sell let me know.

There was an article in handloader comparing primers. It turned out there was an accuracy advantage with match primers. The percentage of accuracy improvement varied somewhat with manufacturer and Remington small rifle match primers came out ahead of the others. I've seen Remington match primers several times recently, tried them and like them.

If you can't find Federal match primers, you could also consider CCI BR 2 and BR 4 primers; I've tried them as well and they work fine. If Federal can't see their way clear to make me primers, pretty soon I'll have my loads converted to other's products and won't use Federal stuff for anything.

 

[birdbustr]

I may try the Remington small rifle match primers then. I'm down to my last 50 or so primers in the Federal. I've got to do something soon since I need to load some more .223 rounds. I'm hoping no change in the point of impact. If velocity is more or less I can live with it or adjust with powder. Thanks for the info.

 

[redneck2]

Just FWIW...I read a thing at http://www.stevespages.com some time back about primers, brands, etc.

On one particular load, he had less than desired accuracy. Tried lots of different bullets, powders. No luck. As a last attempt, he switched to Winchester LR primers and cut group size from something like 2" to 3/4".

Why it would have that much difference in one rifle, I have no idea. On most other rifles, primer brand probably makes little or no difference in accuracy.

 

[Down South]

I've heard from a couple different sources that Federal is taking care of military contracts. Most of their resources right now is devoted to making military componets.

 

[birdbustr]

I just got lucky at Sportman's Warehouse yesterday. They had both of the primers I was looking for. I got the last one of the Large rifle magnum match and the second to last small rifle match.