Fed 210 vs 210M

[locked&loaded]

Age old question. Any experience with differences out past 600yds?

 

[308sako]

Only one way to know the answer, but I would say it is a lot to lot game of chance.

 

[918v]

Is Federal Gold Medal brass more consistent than American Eagle? Are the bullets more consistent? How'bout the powder charge weights?

If all three of the above are more consistent, why not the primers ?

 

[Luky]

Been using up a 1k box of 210 I picked up about 2 years ago while doing load development on a couple of .308 using 2000mr powder. Done ladders and ocw. Like the ocw process and it seems to have produced winning loads for my guns (finally got a .5 moa load for my lr308 that I have been dicking with for about 6 months with nothing showing better than 1 moa.) Using a magnetospeed I am finding my loads mv are about 8-12 fps std dev on 10 shot strings (bolt gun). The few times I have measured 20 shot strings the sd stays the same. I think the 210 have been fine for consistency, but only 1 box/lot and I am down to my last 100. Then I have an unopened case of 210m I will break into. Be interesting to see what impact (if any) it has on my loads.

 

[427Cobra]

My Chronograph and targets tell me there is no difference

 

[sib1948]

I have not been able to notice any appreciable difference, but still prefer to 210M when they are available.

 

[afate45]

Ok, so this may be total BS and fostered by internet armchair experts in the primer business, however, I have read this on numerous sites and several guys have insisted this is true...

The "match" primers are no different in their components, the only difference is on the assembly line the guys with the most experience spreading the primer "compound" or "paste" whatever you want to call it, are the guys who make the match primers. So, in theory, the match primers are more consistent because the guys who make them have the most experience spreading the compound over a tray of primer cups. Whether or not there is any truth to this, I don't know.

I have never noticed any difference in my use over the years, but, if the match primers are available, I'll grab them instead.

 

[Pinecone]

If you look at the thread on sleuthing the FGMM load, it seems Federal does not use match primers in their own match loads.

But I use 210M primers for my serious .308 loads.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

I do my load development with non-match primers, then do some final testing to see if the match primers show any improvement. Usually, they don't. There may be some statistical difference, but I'm thinking it's too small to see in my test batches; and I have to draw the line somewhere.

Greg

 

[bigedp51]

Age old question and visual answers.

Primer Flash Test Photos

The Rifleman's Journal: Primers - Small Rifle Primer Study

The Rifleman's Journal: Primers - Large Rifle Primer Study

The Army and Lake City like magnum primers and magnum spark plugs.

 

[918v]

That test does not help. They tested 1983 vintage 210 vs 2005 vintage 210M. They were made 22 years apart.

 

[gstaylorg]

The critical info (which comes directly from Federal, by the way) is that the only difference between the two is that the 210 match primers are assembled using the same components, but only on certain days of the week by more experienced line workers. All supposedly go through the same QC process. This suggests to me that as long as they go "bang", it's unlikely most of us would ever notice any difference whatsoever. It's possible there might be a slightly higher rate of misfires with the non-match primers. However, I've shot thousands of them so far and have yet to have one NOT go bang. YMMV.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Age old question I never bother with because I use 210M exclusively. It's MOJO.

 

[LRDD]

My Chronograph and targets tell me there is no difference

This. I have tested many times trying to convince myself the 210m is better but I can find no differences in the 210 and 210m.

 

[Pinecone]

But if it makes you feel better, you will shoot better.

 

[Rob01]

I tested 210 vs 210M and 215 vs 215M and found no difference with my loads in velocity, ES/SD or accuracy. I don't bother with Ms anymore.

 

[milo 2.0]

I don't bother with Ms anymore.

It seems the "M's" have been more readily available lately, unless my searches are faulted.

 

[Rob01]

It seems the "M's" have been more readily available lately, unless my searches are faulted.

Had a good supply from before the craziness so haven't looked in a while. Guess you got to buy what you can find.