jschweg Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I've been using Federal primers in all my reloads since I started. I really like them because they don't give me any issues and always fit perfectly in all my mixed range brass unlike a few other brands that seem to be finicky. Something that has always bugged me is that they are as flat as a pancake on all my spent rounds. This has always happened with all my different combinations of powders and loads. Factory rounds don't seem to do this. I know my reloads are not particularly hot as all of them are within specs and validated on my Chrono, but is it because of the whole deal with Federal primers using a softer metal compound which results in more flattening? Just wondering if others are seeing this with the feds. Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 What caliber? What particular reloads? (Powder and quantity and OAL and bullet weight)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathanb Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 In my stock 2 yes. Anything else no Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 What caliber? What particular reloads? (Powder and quantity and OAL and bullet weight)? 9mm124gn cast, 4.6gn Unique @ 1.11147gn cast, 3.4gn 231 @ 1.14 (830fps) Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 This is what they generally look likeSent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 I don't believe you're in the danger zone, but I wonder if your chrono readings may be off - you may be loading them a little hotter than you think ??? Are the rounds passing The Plunk Test? Getting any bullet setback? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 I don't believe you're in the danger zone, but I wonder if your chrono readings may be off - you may be loading them a little hotter than you think ??? Are the rounds passing The Plunk Test? Getting any bullet setback? Yes, they plunk and spin. I measured the chamber in my gun and it's pretty huge, I could probably load them out to max and they would still fit. I think setback is good too, I re-racked one of the rounds 10 or so times and then tried to muscle the bullet into the case on the end of my table and couldn't do it. Crimp is at .380 with the bullets at .356. I know technically they should be at .358 or so, but everything was staying put so I didn't adjust it any further. While the 231 load I'm using is somewhat undocumented, the unique load was right out of my Lyman. The velocities I was getting out of those on the chrono were pretty close to the book numbers, so I *think* my Chrono is working as it should, but who knows with those infernal machines [emoji4] If I look at the rest of the case, it looks OK. I don't see any excessive marring that would indicate any hard extractions, but I'm no expert. Maybe I'll pick up some CCIs and load some rounds with those and see if they do the same thing. If those are flat, then obviously I have a problem somewhere. Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 15 hours ago, jschweg said: This is what they generally look like Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk They don't look bad at all. I run 5gr unique under 125gr cast no problem. I always look at the outer edge of the primer for pressure signs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 They don't look bad at all. I run 5gr unique under 125gr cast no problem. I always look at the outer edge of the primer for pressure signs.Okay, good to know on the Unique load. What do you look for on the outer edge?Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 1 minute ago, jschweg said: Okay, good to know on the Unique load. What do you look for on the outer edge? Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk Look at a new unfired round at the rounded edge of the primer. If your fired primer shows any change, that will be pressure issues. If the gap is gone and brass to primer is flat, time to back it down. As far as the firing pin dimple area that will change between different guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anachronism Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Primer flattening really isn't a reliable indicator of chamber pressure, especially with FC std primers which are favored by many because they have soft cups. Your primers appear to be quite normal. I've seen worse primers in unfired cases, flattened by seating them in the cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Primer flattening really isn't a reliable indicator of chamber pressure, especially with FC std primers which are favored by many because they have soft cups. Your primers appear to be quite normal. I've seen worse primers in unfired cases, flattened by seating them in the cases.Okay, I'm glad everyone is basically saying they are fine. I didn't think that they were that bad, but they do look significantly flatter than various factory rounds that I have shot which is why I was questioning them.Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DudeRick Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 They don't look bad. I'm pretty sure that federal primers, being softer, flatten a little easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9x45 Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 They look normal, for any primer. Here is what flat looks like.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Religious Shooter Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 Did Federal change the color of their primers? (first picture) Or is it not showing correctly? The primers look like they are gold/brass color. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschweg Posted September 10, 2017 Author Share Posted September 10, 2017 Did Federal change the color of their primers? (first picture) Or is it not showing correctly? The primers look like they are gold/brass color.Just must be the picture, they are the normal silver color they have always been.Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeinctown Posted September 11, 2017 Share Posted September 11, 2017 Federals are softer and I have noticed on my 650 that the brass wich have slightly tighter primer pockets do cause the primers to flatten out some as they get pushed in. So far not a single one has failed to go bang. Winchesters are a bit harder anddon't flatten out the same for me on tight primer pockets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdh821 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Your primers look fine to me. If you wanna see flattened primers, shoot 9 major loads with a federal spp. Those get washed out bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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