Good to know. What problem exactly? I’m using cheddite 209 with Alliant Steel no issues

 

A Fiocchi primer is not going to light off Steel correctly when it is 70+ degrees out. For that matter Most primers won't light Steel off correctly.

There are only 2 primers that I have ever consistently seen light off Steel correctly from -5 degrees F and warmer and they are the CCI209M and the Federal 209A.

Cheddites and Winchester 209's can, maybe, sometimes be coaxed to work with Steel powder in warmer temps.

Alliant specifically has always recommended the Federal 209A as the primer to use with Steel powder and that was before Alliant and Federal were part of the same company.

 

That’s interesting, I have never had an issue with W209’s and alliant steel and I hunt sometimes into negative temperatures. I use between 4-6 lbs of steel powder a year.

I have never tried fiocchi primer with it.

 

BPI has a lot of different recipes that pair Fiocchi primers with ASteel

 

I didn't say the stuff won't go bang when it's cold, but I haven't ever seen Steel be all that consistent with other primers, many times at 70 degrees F.

A good cold load at 0 degrees F, will not drop more than 5% velocity off of the same load at 70 degrees. It should exhibit an SD no worse than 14 FPS and an EV of 35 FPS or less. 10 round string, with the rounds cold soaked at 0 degrees F for least 24 hours.

 

12 or 20 ga? I've never had a problem with either but most of my 12 ga, when I was shooting 12 ga, was with 2 3/4" loads so less powder. What are your loads doing that indicates a problem?

 

I think my post says it all. I developed over 170 steel shot loads using many different powders including Alliant Steel. These loads were all published in manuals, so they HAD to work and be consistent whether it was 80 degrees or -10 degrees. Not once did I ever have Steel powder respond well to anything but CCI209M and Federal 209A primers. As I said, sure the loads went bang when using Winchester or other primers, but once you looked at the data, they weren't worth the time spent. You can put Blue Dot in that same category, with few exceptions.

 

Not trying to dispute what good testing equipment has proven. Yes the loads go bang and kill ducks. I use what I have available and what primers I can get to stay in the hulls. Never could get a CCI or Fed to stay in a Euro hull with any amount of primer pocket conditioning.

 

I agree that weaker primers don't do well with A Steel especially in larger capacity hulls. I did get some good results out of the 1st edition of the Lightning Steel manual, but those results were in the smaller capacity tapered shells. Of course, I hunt in predominantly balmy California, and our idea of bad weather is the temperature dropping from 70 to 50.

The two worst primers I've used in steel loads were Wolfs and Optimas. Both of which are long gone from the US market.

 

I use cheddites in my steel loads, fiochi is just too cool. Crimp strength is super important too.

 

I've had problems with inconsistent ignition when using Fiocchi primers in 20s degree F weather, even with Clays, 700X, and Red Dot. I stopped using them during the winter here in PA. -Ed

 

I should have researched it more before I bought a bunch of fiocchi hulls w/primers.
I loaded a bunch last spring and have had consistent issues with the powder igniting in cold weather. 12ga.
The recipe I used was from BPI. They have quite a bit using fiocchi and A.Steel.
Thankfully I do have some Longshot powder that I've never had issues with the fiocchi primers, so I'm going to dedicate that powder to those hulls.
I've also loaded A.Steel using fed209's and never had a problem.
Thanks for the responses.

 

I don’t think asteel is hard to ignite fyi. Just need enough pressure and a good crimp to build it quickly. But Remington and fiochi are dead last on my list of waterfowling primers but I’d take ‘em if that’s what was a available, they will work just not as good as other options.

 

The most difficult shotshell powder to ignite is Alliant Steel. You just have to use a chronograph and ten rounds each of equally prepared lots with the only difference being the primer. If you want to see a bigger difference cold soak the ammo for 24 hours at 0 degrees F.

 

Interesting, I’ve never had any issues, I’ve had more issues with bluedot honestly. I was testing some loads in -15 degrees yesterday some were warm some were pretty cold soaked all worked well and were between 1400-1450fps. This is with cheddite primers 486 gr of steel shot in a lbc wad, asteel powder in a GM hull. Very clean load, the crimps are perfect if not a little tighter than normal, just a slight crunch. There’s no unburnt kernels left in the barrel even in the cold, I think the crimp is key.

 

OK.