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Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:50 pm
by bish789
Has anybody used both of these types of primers in large rifle and noticed any big differences between them?
I know the best way is to try them both myself, but if there are any particular experiences among the experienced reloaders on the site it may save me some pain (and money)
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:05 pm
by Daryll
They're at opposite ends of the sensitivity scale... Federal are very sensitive, CCI are one of the least sensitive.
However, if you have stock springs in your gun, it should have no problems setting CCI off... and they're cheaper than Federal!
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:18 pm
by hitchphil
in RWS cases Fed were an utter pain to fit very hard to press in, CCI were easy & work well grouping to 1/2 moa at 1000yds so nothing wrong with them.
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2017 10:49 pm
by The Gun Pimp
Laurie Holland did an extensive article on the various primers and their effect on accuracy in Target Shooter magazine a year or two back.
Go to
www.targetshooter.co.uk and have a search.
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:15 am
by ovenpaa
We did some basic ignition testing a few years ago with the CCI BR versus the FED210M and although we were more interested in 'Do they go bang' we did gets some interesting images and high speed footage, details here:
http://shootingshed.co.uk/wp/2012/12/c- ... n-testing/

Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:32 am
by TomH
The Gun Pimp wrote:Laurie Holland did an extensive article on the various primers and their effect on accuracy in Target Shooter magazine a year or two back.
Go to
http://www.targetshooter.co.uk and have a search.
http://www.targetshooter.co.uk/?paged=6&cat=58
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:45 am
by Daryll
hitchphil wrote:in RWS cases Fed were an utter pain to fit very hard to press in, CCI were easy & work well grouping to 1/2 moa at 1000yds so nothing wrong with them.
I found the same with GGG .308 cases, and REM and CCI primers... with a quick ream to remove the primer crimp, the CCI's fitted fine using a Lee hand primer.
I ran out of CCI's and started using Rem primers and they were VERY hard to seat... virtually impossible by hand.
I ended up re-reaming the cases a couple of times before the Rem primers fitted easily.
Re: Federal or CCI Primers
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:34 pm
by bish789
This is an interesting post for two reasons
1. Looking at the videos the Fed looks like it has possibly a faster and more pronounced reaction.
2. I've got some Federal cases and even though they aren't showing signs yet, the documented loose primer problem may have a short term fix with the Rem primers.
Food for thought?