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Posted: 1/9/2012 12:19:26 PM EDT
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On my Lee Press the instructions state that CCI primers should be used. Any others could result in an explosion.
What is the deal? Are all large pistol primers not created equal? John |
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I read that too years ago when I started reloading, and I didn't want to take an unknown risk. Then the shortages of primers, components, powders hit around election time. I had to use other primers.
I survived by gaining more knowledge and educating myself from manuals, and posts from the regulars on this site. I still prefer CCIs though. Just my .02. 
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On my Lee Press the instructions state that CCI primers should be used. Any others could result in an explosion. What is the deal? Are all large pistol primers not created equal? John I was using CCI and Winchester almost exclusivly up until this last component shortage. Then I discovered Magtech and added them into my mix. I started using Federals after lightening triggers on Glock 34, Beretta Elitte II and one 1911. Firing pins hardly would dent cups on CCI primers the cups are so hard and thick. Federals detonate much easier than other brands. That's one reason they get in short supply come early spring. IDPA, USPSA and other types of disciplines use Federals up quickly. Also why Federals command a premium price. |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 not saying this WILL happen but CAN happen. a buddy of mine reloaded a bunch of .223 with federal primers for his ar. he loaded up a few mags and headed to the range. he sticks in a mag and racks the charging handle. he then aims at the target and pulls the trigger. next thing he knows his semi-auto ar turns into an uncontrollable full-auto ar. this is why you will often hear not to use federal primers in firearms with floating firing pins. they CAN be prone to slam fires due to thin cup. that being said i like federal primers. i just know not to use them for my ar. and i friggin hate the excessive packageing. but i have a way around that. |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 not saying this WILL happen but CAN happen. a buddy of mine reloaded a bunch of .223 with federal primers for his ar. he loaded up a few mags and headed to the range. he sticks in a mag and racks the charging handle. he then aims at the target and pulls the trigger. next thing he knows his semi-auto ar turns into an uncontrollable full-auto ar. this is why you will often hear not to use federal primers in firearms with floating firing pins. they CAN be prone to slam fires due to thin cup. that being said i like federal primers. i just know not to use them for my ar. and i friggin hate the excessive packageing. but i have a way around that. I cut all my primer pockets and ensure positive seating of the primer. I have never had an issue in my 10/15. I think it's all about being careless |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 I cringe with one eye closed while turning my head the opposite direction of press when transferring Federal primers from pick up tube to feed tube. Federals have blown more than a few primer tubes. Dillon advises against their use as does Lee. I asked a friend about using Federals, he just looks at me and says. Yep, it happens. He'd blown a Dillon feed tube before while making the transfer from pick up tube. Then goes on with a smile while explaining what Dillon tech had to say afterwards. |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 not saying this WILL happen but CAN happen. a buddy of mine reloaded a bunch of .223 with federal primers for his ar. he loaded up a few mags and headed to the range. he sticks in a mag and racks the charging handle. he then aims at the target and pulls the trigger. next thing he knows his semi-auto ar turns into an uncontrollable full-auto ar. this is why you will often hear not to use federal primers in firearms with floating firing pins. they CAN be prone to slam fires due to thin cup. that being said i like federal primers. i just know not to use them for my ar. and i friggin hate the excessive packageing. but i have a way around that. I cut all my primer pockets and ensure positive seating of the primer. I have never had an issue in my 10/15. I think it's all about being careless it has nothing to do with being careless. its the mechanics of the firearm in question. not every ar's firing pin moves as freely or as far in the bolt/carrier. in the particular case i mentioned this PARTICULAR rifle apparently had a very free moving firing pin causing slamfires. this is not the only case i have heard of this happening. just not every case led to an unstopable mag dump. NOT EVERYONE will experience this problem even when using the same type of rifle. |
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"A common belief is that Federal primers shouldn't be used in these
rifles. The reasoning is that their primer cups are softer than most others and that will allow the firing pin to go further into them and detonate the primer. I don't belive this for a minute. As Federal primers are used about 50 times as often as other brands in service rifles for highpower competition, I think it's reasonable to believe that all these `slam-fires' have a higher incidence rate with them than others. In every situation where a slam-fire has occured that I've seen the ejected case, its primer has the same size dimple as one that was fired normally. I have never seen a slam-fired case with a dimple shallower than one caused by the normal indentation the floating firing pin makes. If a slam-fire is caused by the floating firing pin's forward movement after the bolt closes, the resulting dimple MUST be shallower than a normal dimpled case. All that pressure will press the primer cup back some amount; this, I've never seen in observing several dozen cases from slam-fires. Compare the dimple depth in a normally fired primer with a fired case that's been chambered and dry fired; there's quite a depth difference. So, I'm convinced that virtually all slam-fires are caused by insufficient sear and hammer hook engagement." Hmmmmmm...care to continue? "Virtually all `slam-fires' are caused by one of these situations: * The primer is not seated deep enough in the case. As the bolt rapidly closes on the chambered round, the primer is pressed fully into the primer pocket very quickly. That oft times will cause priming compound detonation which fires the round. * Sear engagement is insufficient. When the bolt slams into battery, the resultant shock disengages the sear letting the firing pin be struck which fires the round. * Disconnector not functioning correctly. After the bolt cycles from firing the previous round, the disconnector fails to retain the hammer back after the bolt closes on the next round. The hammer lets go, then striks the firing pin. * A combination of too light a trigger pull, too little backlash and poor trigger finger control. After firing one round, the trigger finger moves forward/backward in such a manner that the mechanics of doing so releases the sear immediately after the bolt's in battery firing the round." |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 not saying this WILL happen but CAN happen. a buddy of mine reloaded a bunch of .223 with federal primers for his ar. he loaded up a few mags and headed to the range. he sticks in a mag and racks the charging handle. he then aims at the target and pulls the trigger. next thing he knows his semi-auto ar turns into an uncontrollable full-auto ar. this is why you will often hear not to use federal primers in firearms with floating firing pins. they CAN be prone to slam fires due to thin cup. that being said i like federal primers. i just know not to use them for my ar. and i friggin hate the excessive packageing. **** but i have a way around that***quote] ********How do you work you way around the excessively large packaging. I thought it was put there to keep Federal primers from detonating during shipping and handling? Or do you mean when transferring them to a primer tray? I have a CVA Scout single shot rifle with a tuned trigger that has light primer strikes. I keep a few hundred 210 Fed primers for that rilfe cause they go bang everytime. Other than that I avoid Federal primers like I avoid telemarketers.******** |
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********How do you work you way around the excessively large packaging. I thought it was put there to keep Federal primers from detonating during shipping and handling? Or do you mean when transferring them to a primer tray?
I have a CVA Scout single shot rifle with a tuned trigger that has light primer strikes. I keep a few hundred 210 Fed primers for that rilfe cause they go bang everytime. Other than that I avoid Federal primers like I avoid telemarketers.******** [/quote] first off that whole pissing contest earlier i need to apologise for. someone got on my computer while i had some people over and that was the result. guess i shouldnt stay logged onto anything when other people are using my computer. anyways a fellow reloading buddy showed me a trick while teaching me to reload a few months back to get federal primers from their packaging to a small flip tray. you take your tray of primers and remove the cardboard sleeve. then while holding the tray set a piece of heavy paper or cardstock over the primers and tray. place your other hand on top of the paper covering the tray of primers. carefully flip them over. the paper should now be on bottom. while still holding everything put your bottom hand even with the edge of your bench. the hand that is on top can now be removed. using your now free hand drag the tray onto the bench using the paper. once everything is on the bench SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY lift the tray off the paper making sure no primers roll away. now simply pick up the paper by opposing sides and carefully dump them into your flip tray. like i said its incedibly annoying but manageable if you dont have a large flip tray. |
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Federal primers use a 'basic' priming mixture. This is a reference to PH (as in acids and bases) and Fed is the only primer manufacturer who does this that I know of.
Because of the mixture used, the primers are more prone to set each other off. If one goes...they all go. Also, Fed primers have a higher brisance which makes them more dangerous when they go off in tools like Lee's Auto Prime. So, if you want to play it safe, don't use Fed in priming tubes or hand primers. |
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Federal primers use a 'basic' priming mixture. This is a reference to PH (as in acids and bases) and Fed is the only primer manufacturer who does this that I know of. Because of the mixture used, the primers are more prone to set each other off. If one goes...they all go. Also, Fed primers have a higher brisance which makes them more dangerous when they go off in tools like Lee's Auto Prime. So, if you want to play it safe, don't use Fed in priming tubes or hand primers. I think that is a valid point. I love and use Federal primers, but load them one by one by hand for the aforementioned fact. |
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I'm not sure why Federal has such a bad rep. No issues on the press and no slamfires in my AR10/15 I cringe with one eye closed while turning my head the opposite direction of press when transferring Federal primers from pick up tube to feed tube. Federals have blown more than a few primer tubes. Dillon advises against their use as does Lee. I asked a friend about using Federals, he just looks at me and says. Yep, it happens. He'd blown a Dillon feed tube before while making the transfer from pick up tube. Then goes on with a smile while explaining what Dillon tech had to say afterwards. I didn't know they were THAT sensitive. I'm going to be more cautious doing that in the future. |
| When I can get them, I have use the CCI primers for both my rilfe and pistol rounds. In a pinch, I have also use PMC rifle primers and they have work reliable for me. I use Federal primers for my 45 ACP. Knock on wood, I have not had a misfire with any of my reloads. |
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