Primer Question- Federal

08 April 2010, 18:52

Hi guys,

Need some info on priming. I’m loading .338wm, 250gr Woodleighs and 69.5gr Somchem S365 (South African powder) and Federal Large Rifle magnum primers. That’s the info.

My problem is that I’m using a Lee hand priming tool and they specifically say not to use Federal primers with their tool. Have anyone used this combination before? If loaded about 50 rounds without incident- am I risking detonation the primers or will it be fine?

Cheers
Johan

08 April 2010, 20:32

Doc224/375

Is that a Maximum load at 69.5 grains ?. Why does the priming tool care which brand of primer it's

seating ?. I would be more concerned with the powder load than the primer aspect .

I would stay a couple of grains UNDER max loads and work up slowly and check for pressure signs .

Opinions vary that's what the forums all about !.

08 April 2010, 20:40

mgoodrich

I use the lee tool with federal primers and have not had a problem, and have loaded thousands of rounds this way.

The supposed issue is the cup has thinner metal than other primers thus it may detonate in the tool.

Even if one did it would just make a loud bang.

08 April 2010, 21:11

thndrchiken

My Lee primer tools instructions state not to put more than 50 magnum primers in at a time. I have used and still use Federal primers and have no issues at all.

08 April 2010, 21:26

Stonecreek

At some point in the past Lee has had a piss fight with Federal over some proprietary issue. I'm not sure exactly what it is and who it is that started the fight, but the result was Lee simply putting a disclaimer with its priming tool (one of the very best on the market IMO) NOT to use Federal primers.

It seems that Federal may have issued some kind of cautionary (CYA) statement about the hazards of placing primers in a bulk container like that of the Lee tool; or alternatively it may have had something to do with Lee's disagreement with Federal's practice of making their primers ever so slightly larger in diameter than other brands, thus requiring more pressure to seat.

Bottom line: I use nothing but the Lee tool for all of my primer seating, and I use Federal primers whenever the notion strikes me. I do not feel at any risk by so doing.

09 April 2010, 00:08

Randominator

I have used the same Lee priming tool for 25 years and have loaded a LOT of Federal and Remington primers with it. Never had an issue.

09 April 2010, 04:41

wistrapper

I only have a Lee primer seating tool. I have used Federal 210, 215, and 205M without any issue at all.

09 April 2010, 08:43

Gadge

The reason behind the Lee warning, is that Federal primers use a more sensitive compound than other manufacturers [that's also the reason for the extra spacing in the Federal packaging, to meet transport classification standards as Class 1.4S].

So if the primer being seated pops, it will almost certainly set off those in the tray as well. Lee has tested several brands of primers, and say that Federal are the most dangerous in this situation.

With some other brands/types, Lee place limits on the number of primers in the tray.
CCI are the only brand where all primer types are Lee approved to have 100 in the tray.

Quote from Richard Lee's 'Modern Reloading 2nd Ed.':
"If a tray of those primers approved for 100 primers should go off; they will blow off the cover. Safety glasses will prevent any serious injury to the user. Other brands detonate with such force that it turns the tool into shrapnel. Federal brand primers are the most dangerous when used in the Lee tray fed priming systems. This is not to imply they are inferior, they simply are dangerous when used in tray fed tools."

So if you're using them, full protective equipment [face shield, leather gloves and apron], and keeping only a few at a time in the tray is advisable.

09 April 2010, 09:59

homebrewer

Why, if one primer were to pop when being seated, would the others be in any danger? I don't get it. The other primers are behind the ram. And don't primers need to be struck to do what they do? I use Federals now and then in my 300WSM shells. I've had 50 or so in the tray at one time, only because I never have to load any more than that. I think the "Federal scare" is just a bunch of hot air...

09 April 2010, 11:48

Johanv

Hi guys,

Thanks for the reassurance; obviously caution is the word in reloading. 63.5gr were my starting load and 69.5gr seems to be my optimum charge weight (max. should be approx. 70.5gr), will do final tests at the range tomorrow and I will keep you posted. Thanks again for your valuable comments and advice.

Cheers
Johan

10 April 2010, 05:55

SlamFire

Yes, its all a stupid, stupid, stupid lie. Federal primers, the most sensitive primers on the planet, they never go bang in a priming device.

http://www.thehighroad.org/sho...=federal+primers+LNL

quote:
Don't be stupid & light off your primer tube. A public service announcement.

So I had my first "That was dumb. Yep, I still have 10 fingers." moment while reloading some 9mm last night. I was sitting at my Hornady LnL progressive press, which seems to have a problem with Federal small primers hanging up when the cam tries to slide them forward. On most days it's only been a minor annoyance, however last night for some reason every single one was sticking in there. I started down the wrong decision path by getting annoyed.

After 5 teardowns to clear the jam, on the 6th one I stupidly decided to just rack on the cam a few times to clear it out. The smart thing to do WOULD have been to stop, tear it all down, and leave it alone until I could chamfer the bottom of the hole where the edge of the primers were hanging up. I must have left my thinking cap at work.

So, what did the stuck primer say to his 94 friends sitting on top of him in the primer tube? BANG!!! The protective blast shield steel tube that surrounds the aluminum primer tube acted like a barrel and shot the ruptured aluminum tube an inch into my ceiling! (see photo) Primers are no joke, folks, the entire full tube lit off insantaneously just like a gun shot.

Be safe, guys, and don't let the combination of testosterone & malfunctioning machinery get the best of you. I take full responsibility for the ID10T error here, it could have easily caused an injury much greater than my pride & a ringing in my ear. I'm pretty embarrased about it but maybe my story will save someone else some pain

Oh yes, they don't slamfire in Garands either. Which is why I must have imagined those two out of battery slamfires, one of which which blew the receiver heel in my face.

10 April 2010, 16:58

Lloyd Smale

im not saying it cant happen but ive used lee tools to seat many many thousand fed primers without incident. As to your primer tube lighting off my buddy did the same on his 650 and he was using cci primers at the time so i wouldnt blame federals for the problem you had. NEVER force anything on a progressive press. If it doesnt feel right STOP and find the problem.

11 April 2010, 19:22

tsturm

quote:
Originally posted by Johanv:
Hi guys,

Need some info on priming. I’m loading .338wm, 250gr Woodleighs and 69.5gr Somchem S365 (South African powder) and Federal Large Rifle magnum primers. That’s the info.

My problem is that I’m using a Lee hand priming tool and they specifically say not to use Federal primers with their tool. Have anyone used this combination before? If loaded about 50 rounds without incident- am I risking detonation the primers or will it be fine?

Cheers
Johan

I have seated 10,000 + fed-215m primers with my Lee Auto Prime & will continue to do so! HERE IS A LINK TO THEIR WARNING http://www.leeprecision.com/ht...atalog/primtool.html What this says to me is, YOU CANT FIX STUPID

11 April 2010, 19:48

SR4759

There is nothing wrong with Federal primers.
I have seated tens of thousands of them with the original screw in shell holder tool that Lee made before the current design. Lee was not afraid of Federal when that tool was in production.
If you are afraid of the combination just buy another priming tool. I would quit using the Lee tool before I would give up Federal primers.

As far as the photo goes morons will find a way to blow up priming tubes with any brand of primer.