Primers? fed. 205, 205M?

B

bucksnort06

New member
I've been using 205M primers for my 204 for the last few years but now I can't find any. All I can find is federal 205 (not match) primers. Anyone know how these will affect my groups or should I look into another brand primer.. Always had great luck with the 205M's. thanks
 
Fin,Feather and Fur in Ashland, OH had a lot (10-20k)of them 3-4 weeks ago....you can try calling per their # on their website.

They also have Federal and CCI and Remington which are all fine primers.

Changing the primer brand is not a big change in hunting loads as long as you are not loading at/past a listed maximum...always a good idea to start at a middling load if you are changing primer brands on a near max load, and review for pressure signs.
 
Never tested them myself, but I've read they are the same exact product, only difference is the match primers go through an extra inspection process. Don't know if that's actually true or not...
 
I can tell you that my score actually improved (not to say that took a lot) when I had to substitute for the Camp Butner shoot last April. I don't shoot BR any more, possibly those guys can tell the difference.
John
 
I've used Rem 7 1/'s, CCI BR4's and Fed 205M's in my 204. Now all I can find is the Fed 205's and have about 2000 of them and I've been been using them. I really don't push the limits when reloading but will go up to the max listed loads for my hunting rounds. I haven't had any problems with the 205's and they are producing accurate rounds. My only complaint with Fed is "Why in the [beeep] do they package them in such a big box?". I like the way Rem and CCI package theirs. Its a lot easier getting them into my hand primer. This really is a pet peeve of mine and has kept me from buying Fed's before when you could go into a store and buy anything you wanted. But now you have to buy what you can find and as far as I'm concerned the 205's are a good primer its just that their packaging sucks. Dave
 
bucksnort - what powder are you using? What kind of pressures are your loads generating? You may not need the 205M, the 205 may work fine, or even better!
Mark
 
Ditto! Glad to see someone else thinks the Fed 205 packaging sucks. I've found the primers work just fine in my .223 reloads which produce very accurate and tight groups. You'd think the packaging would cost them more to do, not to mention its nuts that the primers sit on the their side instead of flat like CCI & Winchester. Oh well, until they change it, I guess all my complainin won't change anything because the product works great. Just my feelings.

Happy Year Ya'll!
 
According to Federal they're the same primer except the 205M get a final visual inspection to insure the anvil is in place. I've been using both for benchrest and see no difference in groups or pressure. In fact I quit buying the Match ones because I could get the regular 205's so much cheaper. And yes, the packaging sucks! the boxes are so big I can't just flip them over into my Lee auto primer without spilling them everywhere.
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoMark,
The "M" is for match with federal primers not magnum.
John

Fed made some 205M small rifle magnum they didn't have the word Match under the Gold Metal label and they only did those for a short time. I still have about 3K.

As to the large trays here is what happened
"A few (Quit a few ) years ago Federal had a truck that was carrying
trays of wet newly made primers from the building behind the factory
where they were made to the factory. Some thing made the truck blow up
and the biggest piece of the truck found was half of the ring gear out
of the differential. I would suspect that that is why they are cautious
about packing primers."
 
Originally Posted By: Orneryolfart357Are you sure those werent the No.200 Small rifle primers? Right below that it says " And High Velocity Pistol" ?

"I know how to read"

I don't know if Fed made Gold Metal label primers for pistols but for rifles they used these # GM215M/GM210M the M was for Match according to the labels the GM205M I have label didn't list them as Match instead they were 205 small rifle magnum primers and they came in the white/black boxes. If you look at the new Fed rifle primers boxes they still use the label Gold Metal for match and Champion for the standard primers and the GM205M are now Match.

I still have some older small tray 205M primers and they didn't have any color sealant and if you look at the newer Gold Metal 205M they all have a color sealant the 205M small magnum rifle primer I have don't have any color sealant.
 
Yes the 205M does exist as a magnum small rifle primer. They are OEM primers and your description of the box confirms this. They are not meant for commercial distribution.
John
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoYes the 205M does exist as a magnum small rifle primer. They are OEM primers and your description of the box confirms this. They are not meant for commercial distribution.
John

I got to ask whats "not meant for commercial distribution" mean?
 
I was not disputing your ability to read " Roper" I have a few boxes of 205M's in different color boxes, and was just asking a question. I had never heard of the 200 SR primers until I found soome at a Gun show.. later found out they were also used as a Mag pistol primer. Please dont take offense. Good Hunting.
 
What I am saying is that they were not marketed for the handloader. To the best of my knowledge (limited at best)the OEM primers marketed under the Federal name are very similar to those they market to the handloader. This is not true with many OEM primers.
John
 
Originally Posted By: pcammoWhat I am saying is that they were not marketed for the handloader. To the best of my knowledge (limited at best)the OEM primers marketed under the Federal name are very similar to those they market to the handloader. This is not true with many OEM primers.
John

If there not marketed for the handloader who were they for? I think it was 1995 that Fed changed to the name Gold Metal for match primers prior to that you got 205M "Match" in the red/black box/tray also when Fed when from the small tray they listed which year the primers were made. They stopped doing the year when they put the standard rifle primers under the name Champion. My oldest 205M red/black tray are dated 1993. I may call Fed next week see what they say if I do I'll post back.
 
Originally Posted By: DucksoupAccording to Federal they're the same primer except the 205M get a final visual inspection to insure the anvil is in place. I've been using both for benchrest and see no difference in groups or pressure. In fact I quit buying the Match ones because I could get the regular 205's so much cheaper. And yes, the packaging sucks! the boxes are so big I can't just flip them over into my Lee auto primer without spilling them everywhere.


+1,,, The match primers get an extra inspection and thats the only difference with the "Federal" primers.
 
Originally Posted By: mark shubertbucksnort - what powder are you using? What kind of pressures are your loads generating? You may not need the 205M, the 205 may work fine, or even better!
Mark

I'm at 28grs. of H4895. Thanks eveyone for the info.. Looks lke I will go ahead and pick up some of the regular 205's. Sounds like they will be just fine..
 


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