Difference between regular and match grade primes

[runtohunt]

I have been shooting Federal 215, 210, and 205 primers for a while now. Recently, I picked up "match grade" in the 215 and 205. What is the difference? Does a person need to start over with the load development or are the interchangeable?
I too have had a couple of different loads where I have two holes touching and one hole about 1/2 to 1" low. Wondering if switching the primer for match grade will make a difference?

 

[DrMike]

The big difference in match grade primers is that they are made by the most experienced technicians ATK has employed. This should mean that you get a greater consistency in brisance. It is always a good idea to start low and work up whenever you change a component, or even pick up a new lot of a given component. You don't necessarily need to do a thorough work-up, but you would want to verify that there is no unexpected surprise from the change, especially at near maximum pressure.

 

[R Flowers]

Dr Mike gave good advice as always. All I can add is that whether or not you can tell the difference is up to the gun in question.

I own a 300 Wby magnum and a 375 H&H that show no preference when testing the 215 primer versus the 215M. NONE

I own a 7mm Wby Magnum that after extensive testing reveals an average of 28% smaller groups when using the 215Match versus the standard 215.

Where I really see some difference is when using the 210M in some of my "standard" caliber rifles.
I had a custom 6mm Remington made up a few years back. Spent lots of money, Shilen barrel McMillan stock, Jewell trigger, good gunsmith, etc. It shot well, but not up to what I thought was its potential. I always seemed to get a flyer of some sort. Man I could get 4 shots in a .25 inch, but never all five. I switched to the Fed 210M and all the flyers went away, the gun became an honest .25 inch rifle.

The biggest surprise was when a 700 Remington Mountain rifle chambered in 7-08 Remington responded quite favorably when fed the 210Match primers versus the standard 210 or WLR primers.

 

[35 Whelen]

$2.00? :shock: