SOLD/EXPIRED Buy Primers or Wait?

[DocB]

Howdy All,

Like the rest of you I'm dismayed, frustrated, disappointed, angry at times and suspicious most of the time at the lack of or the incredibly slow return of components to the consumer shelves.

So now I have to make a decision... whether to buy now components that I consider to be non-optimal or to just wait... and wait.

I have been holding out for FED GM215M primers for over a year (as well as H1000 but that's another thread). For whatever reason, they are not showing up. However WinLR and WinLRM are on the shelves and online (Third Gen SS). IMO Win primers history of reliability issues make them less than optimal for LR precision.

But if it comes down to 'it's all there is, use it and suck it up' then my question is, would those of you who use FED GM215M or FED GM215s rather just wait out the drought or use 'what's available'?

Right now, I'm undecided.

Thanks guys,

DocB

Animo et Fide "Courage and Faith"

 

[Dr. Vette]

I've found the 215Ms and H-1000 both on the shelves here; at least they were a few weeks ago when I went shopping.

I suspect it is a matter of where you shop and who's been there before you. It can vary greatly from shop to shop and week to week based on what I have seen personally and heard from others. On the trip mentioned above I went to a few different shops to find some powders and primers, and even then still didn't find a couple that I was looking for.


PS. This topic probably belongs in the reloading section, not the Classified Ads.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I haven't seen Federal Match primers for quite a while.

Using CCI 250 instead.

 

[Greyfox]

Having run into the same issue, myself and several of my shooting buddies tested the Win LR/SR primers as a substitute in several rifles and loads. We found little if any difference in velocity, ES, and accuracy compared to Federsl match primers. While we would have preferred tp stay with Federal primers, the Winchesters worked fine. I have also found that in my 300WM and 6.5x284 LR rifles, that the standard Fed215's produced identical results as the Federal 215M primers in velocity, ES, and accuracy as well. I used Winchester primers for several years when I first got into target/tactical competition and did exceptionally well with them. I don't know what's going on with Federal with all their components, but they do need to get their act together.

 

[FEENIX]

I always buy them for future use or trading potentials.

 

[Dosh]

I always buy them for future use or trading potentials.

+1, bird in hand.

 

[acloco]

primers

DocB,

I have EXCELLENT success with WOLFE and TULA brands of primers. Might give them a try.

I have seen WOLFE small rifle at 23.99 per 1K. If you buy enough, the hazmat fee would dry up quickly.

Tom

 

[DocB]

Thanks acloco, I'll give them both a look and see if they are in my area. My wife is getting into reloading now, yeah isn't that awesome! lol, and she doesn't mind driving to avoid the hazmat fee. Comes to a savings of about 7 gallons of gas!

Thanks

DocB

 

[FEENIX]

Thanks acloco, I'll give them both a look and see if they are in my area. My wife is getting into reloading now, yeah isn't that awesome! lol, and she doesn't mind driving to avoid the hazmat fee. Comes to a savings of about 7 gallons of gas!

Thanks

DocB

The 215s are in stock at Midsouth Shooters while I am responding for $30.19 for 1000 and $26 for haz mat fee. Having said that 7 gallons of gas @ ~ $3 is not really a saving; not to mention travel time and wear and tear on vehicle ... just saying.

Good luck!

 

[TLD338]

I have come to prefer the Winchester primers for the 338 Lapua. I had always avoided them in the past based on there reputation for non/inconsistent ignition. About a year or so ago I picked up a brick of wlrm's to test them in my load development for the Lapua and to my supprise, we're producing much more consistent mv's than the 215 match primers I had been using. I can consistently get 1/3 moa groups out to 600 yards with 91.5 grains of h1000 and 300 grain accubonds and have yet to find one that didn't go bang. I am currently doing load development for a recently acquired 280AI using the same primers and things are looking promising there as well.

If you can pick them up at a fair price, give em' a shot. They might just surprise you. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Greyfox]

I have come to prefer the Winchester primers for the 338 Lapua. I had always avoided them in the past based on there reputation for non/inconsistent ignition. About a year or so ago I picked up a brick of wlrm's to test them in my load development for the Lapua and to my supprise, we're producing much more consistent mv's than the 215 match primers I had been using. I can consistently get 1/3 moa groups out to 600 yards with 91.5 grains of h1000 and 300 grain accubonds and have yet to find one that didn't go bang. I am currently doing load development for a recently acquired 280AI using the same primers and things are looking promising there as well.

If you can pick them up at a fair price, give em' a shot. They might just surprise you. Just my 2 cents.

Are you using magnum or standard LR Winchester primers in your 338?

 

[TLD338]

Are you using magnum or standard LR Winchester primers in your 338?

I'm using the Winchester long rifle magnums (WLRM).

 

[Trental]

My latest go'round with Winchester LRPs. Had to send 5000 back to Winchester and instead of replacements I just got a check back in the mail... for less than I had paid for the primers. These are minimum 7mm-08 loads.

 

[Trental]

And yes, in case you are wondering... it did etch the living hell out of my bolt face.