CCI or Federal Primers?

[pittpa]

I started using Federal about 15 years ago after some FTF in my Python (with a trigger job) caused alibis in my Bullseye matches. Since switching to Federal, I have never had a FTF. I switched so long ago, I forget the brand that FTF. I never had one go off in my progressive press, including the upside-down ones I punched out.

 

[Cyrano]

Lee says there are safety issues with Federals when used in their hand priming device. When using up my big, fat, box of Federals, I use a RCBS hand primer.

 

[GregG]

I use the Federal 215 for my magnum hunting rifles, and the 210 Match primer for target loads in .308. I've only had one FTF.

I've also had several factory rounds throughout my life fail to fire. They were all Federal factory loads.

I presently use CCI [primers for home defense. In 25 years of reloading, and many thousands of rounds loaded and fired, I have experienced zero failures.

All of my guns indent the primer deeply and surely. I wouldn't use a gun that was marginal on firing pin force as a defense weapon anyway.

 

[7P's]

When I shot benchrest the Federal primer was used by 99% of the competitors, as it was more uniform from shot to shot. People had done camera tests and the Federal 205 & 210 “looked” very uniform compared to the others and they always gave satisfactory performance. Seemed like everyone in the top 20 used Federals, so what was good enough for them was good enough for me.

I think the CCI 350’s are probably the hottest magnum pistol primer out there today and will significantly raise the peak pressure in your magnums. The only difference between the Federal standard & magnum pistol primer is cup thickness, so don’t compare the Federal 155’s to the CCI350’s, as the difference is like night & day.

 

[SMSgt]

Naturally, if you modify your hammer/hammner spring in a production gun designed to fire production primers, why would you not expect to have have problems with some primers? Yes, different brands are "different," but as long as they ignite, so what? My cars are diffferent, but both get me from point A to point B.

I buy whatever brand primer the LGS has on hand. After many many reloads I've had one (1) misfire. That's pretty reliable in any brand name.

 

[johngalt]

Federal small pistol primers seat a little easier than CCI. When using nickle brass CCI primers are difficult to seat, while Federal are no problem. I haven't tried CCI large pistol primers.