Federal Champion 205 primers.

General Firearms Reloading & Ammunition
1

New to reloading here.

I found a 1000, 205 champion primers at my local store and picked them up yesterday in a panic buy.

I am so new to loading that today i did my first 20 bullets.

I currently have in my possession 3 reloading books. Hornady, Sierra and Speer. Today i loaded up some cheap Hornady 55gr FMJ BT exactly to the book standards.

My dilema is this…

The Speer manual obviously recommends CCI
The Sierra manual recommends Remmington 7.5
The Hornady manual recommends WSR

I have lots of CCI and lots of WSR but am not sure what manual if any recommends the federal primers.

To make a short story long. Does anybody know if one of the other books "Nosler, Barnes, Lapue etc. has a tested potion for the federal primers?

I would like to continue to load exactly by the book. If i have to buy different bullets and a different book so be it.

Just not sure which bullets and which book?

I have spent the last hour in the search function sorting through post after post of B.S. about the soft Federal 205’s and how they are not made for semi autos. Some guys and gals are scared and a few state multiple thousands of rounds of problem free fun shooting.

I did not find 1 actual report of a slam fire.

Anyway… All help here is appreciated.

If anybody could chime in on there secret potion for these and what type of powder they like it would be appreciated.

If not i may bite the bullet and start light with H4895 and W748 and post my test results.

Thanks,

AK

2

Seems i have found closure to this thread.

Instead of the orange search button i went back multiple pages and found what i was looking for.

http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/5.56-Nato.pdf

3

Some info, though a little old.

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=12741

4

It’s called “load development”. Find what works for you. Start low & work your way up, watching for signs of pressure. Try different powders with different primers.
I’ve used 205s & had terrible luck with them. For some reason, my equipment didn’t like 'em. I could get about 4 out of 10 to seat, the rest would crush. Bad lot? Maybe. I ultimately tossed 100s away. No problems with any other brands. From here on out, though, I’m steering clear of the Federals.

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5

Federal 205 Small Rifle primers are fine. Period.

6

Yep, I agree, period!

7

After some more research i found that Barnes tested/recommends the Federal 205’s for all of their 5.56 loads

Also loaded up a batch today and took them to the range. They shot great.

Nuff said i suppose.