The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Reloading => Topic started by: DeltaM on May 28, 2013, 04:54:59 PM

Title: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: DeltaM on May 28, 2013, 04:54:59 PM
In the past, I would purchase CCI primers 1st choice, then Winchester, small pistol primers.  I don't know for sure when, but sometime the first part of this year I ordered primers from Natchez that were Federal and were put on back-order.  They were on my porch today.  Given the current state of affairs, I'm not that picky but the boxes of 100 have the primers sideways instead of vertical.  I can't figure out a good way of getting them into my primer flip tray.

Any ideas?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/dsc0036lp.jpg/
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: Majer on May 28, 2013, 05:00:26 PM
Open the box, put the bottom of primer tray over the box,flip it over,shake it until they're all in the same direction and load into the tubes as usual
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: ellis4538 on May 28, 2013, 06:11:18 PM
I use an old small RCBS flipper and find it easiest to dump 50 at a time.  If I had the bigger Dillon pf I would just dump the whole thing in shake it around to get them anvil up, put the lid on and flip it over and pick them up with the Dillon primer tube.

Richard
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: DeltaM on May 29, 2013, 06:09:01 AM
Appreciate the advice.  Mine is a Dillon flip-tray.  I'll finagle with it a bit.  Just an old habit of using the CCI & Winchester primers, flipping with only one motion.

I wonder why these Federal are boxed sideways and in such a big box relative to the size of others?
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: Majer on May 29, 2013, 08:46:57 AM
Federal primers are more sensitive than other primers so they get more room for shipping safety.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: JoeG on May 29, 2013, 08:56:10 AM
Federal primers are more sensitive than other primers so they get more room for shipping safety.

I have heard this stated repeatedly in many places including in the Lee reloading instructions, yet I have not seen any real data on it other than "experience". Not disagreeing just wondering if this is has some urban legend in it. It could be that the guys that designed their boxes just used a bigger safety factor and got a bigger box. It happens all the time.

Does anybody have any data? There must be an industry standard test of some kind.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: Majer on May 29, 2013, 06:05:40 PM
I'm going by the word of some CAS Gunsmiths,  regarding the "Race" action jobs they do on guns,They will only work with federal primers(most sensitive) ,if you use any other brand they have to "adjust" the hammer tension. I have heard this from a lot of CAS shooters as well.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: robert69 on May 30, 2013, 01:00:33 AM
I have used a flipper tray, but I went back to my old reliable way.  I just dump the box of primers into a small box, with 1 -2 inch sides.  I then just shake the box until a number of the primers are shiny side up, and place the primer tube input end over them, and push down. I've been doing this for years, and it works with all mfg of primers.

Regarding the sensitivity of Federal primers, they are more sensitive than CCI primers by my tests, with small pistol primers and a Glock 35 with a trigger job, (2 1/2 #).  I use CCI and Federal primers exclusively.  For rifles I use CCI BR2, and Federal 210M. With my 45's, I use CCI large pistol without problems.

Fortunately I have a good stock of components.
Best to all, good shooting.

















Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: JoeG on May 30, 2013, 08:03:43 AM


Regarding the sensitivity of Federal primers, they are more sensitive than CCI primers by my tests,



Please describe your tests.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: mooner on May 30, 2013, 08:35:03 AM
Along that same line of questioning, anybody have a comparison of which primers are the least sensitive???  How about a chart somewhere comparing:

Federal
CCI
Winchester
Remington
Fiocchi
Magtech
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: robert69 on May 30, 2013, 11:57:58 AM
Regarding primer sensitivity, the test that I did was with a Ruger gp100.
I had installed a reduced spring kit, which worked very well, but had ignition problems when using the pistol in double action.
Single action I had no failure to fire problems, but with double action I would get 1 or 2 rounds with failure to fire.
I then loaded up with Federal small pistol primers, and had no failures.
But, to not to have problems with CCI primers, I replaced the hammar spring with one that is a 12# spring rather than the 10#
spring.  I don't have a problem now.
That's how I solved the problem. It was definitely spring related, as I did not have the problem with the original springs.
By the way, the Ruger GP100 is the easiest revolver that I ever tuned.

You could have the same type of problem with a semi when using reduced load springs, especially Like I had with my Glock 35.







Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: JoeG on July 28, 2013, 11:01:40 AM
Thanks for the details. I have heard similar stories from other folks tuning guns for a light strike. As an engineer I am curious what the industry spec is for primers. I suppose it could all be proprietary details for each brand. I would think there would be a SAMMI spec or equivalent.

After reading different reloading books and their varying speed rankings for powders, it seems the devil is in the details.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: alfsauve on July 28, 2013, 12:46:02 PM
(See my other thread on Federal Packaging)

I was in the habit with CCI, of just turning the box upside down on my flipper tray and pulling the sleeve away while holding the plastic insert centered over the flipper.  But with Federal, the plastic insert is larger than the flipper.

I've developed after my first 500 the technique of slowly moving the plastic insert as I pull it out of the sleeve so that the primers always fall in the middle of my flipper. 

I'd think there might be a market for a little hopper that you can set the Federal primer box on top, upside down, then pull the sleeve away and they'd all fall right in the hopper.  Then you could pour from the hopper to the flipper tray.

This would be a cheap and easy project for a 3-D printer.


Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: Majer on July 28, 2013, 02:48:38 PM
How about something like this??

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/466211/rcbs-primer-turning-tray

(http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/primary/466/466211.jpg)
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: alfsauve on July 29, 2013, 07:39:06 AM
Perfect.   DELIGHTFUL, Majer.

I didn't realize somebody already made a square flipper the size of the Federal box.  4"

My rounds ones are all 4" buton the Federal box the opposite corners are 4.75 apart.

Will definitely pick one of these up and retire the round flippers.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Getting Federal primers out of the box
Post by: Majer on July 29, 2013, 08:45:06 AM
You're welcome,I am here to assist... ;D ;D ;D