Federal Primer packaging

[PaulH]

I hadn't reloaded in a while and Saturday afternoon, when I decided I needed some .38 Special, I hit the reloading bench. I had finished with the CCI primers I had in the previous session, and broke out a box of Federal primers that I had bought some time ago. When I went to fill up the Lee Primer Tray, I was suprised to find Federal used this massive plastic insert to hold the primers. I mean, it was a good 1/2" thick and about 5" square. It was much larger than the CCI holder. In order to dump them into the Lee tray, I had to slide the cardboard sleeve over a little bit and drop a row at a time.

Does anyone have a simplier solution to getting the Fed Primers into a Lee tray? Maybe Federal has changed their packaging since I bought these, but there seems to be way too much plastic and cardboard.

[rwilson452]

I made a tray from a piece of poster board one end was tapered to act like a funnel.


ADD:
a cereal box will work instead of poster board.

[SteveWag]

The Lee instructions specifically say “Do NOT use Federal Primers” in any of their primer dispensing devices. That aside, Federal primers are packed with “space” between them because they are liable to “sympathetic” detonation, if one goes off, then they all go. Federal and Lee both recognize this. Federal uses “spaced” packaging and Lee says don’t use them.
Steve

[PaulH]

Thanks for the responses. I don't remember reading Lee's warnings about Federal, but then again, I've been using the same reloading stuff for about 20 years.

I'll have to be careful.

[wsmallri]

I believe Lee's Safety Primer System is now OK to use with Federal primers.
In Lee's "Modern Reloading", Second Edition, page 86, they discuss this "new" safety primer system. It also says, "now any brand of primers may be used."

[fingers80002]

just be glad you can get primers!!!!!

[Iron Sights]

I'm new to reloading and noticed the same thing myself. The Federal look like they come in a shoe box. I haven't had any problems, but it does seem strange. Better safe than sorry. (Total Safety)

[PaulH]

Apart from the goofy packaging, is there any difference in the Federal's that other brands? Is that the only reason Lee doesn't recommend them?

[Flash]

Apart from the goofy packaging, is there any difference in the Federal's that other brands? Is that the only reason Lee doesn't recommend them?

Lee, when I have talked to them about that, said, "We only recommend using Winchester and CCI primers", and when pressed on that, told me that there is a danger of large-scale igtnition. They recommend a "blast shield" piece of Lexan (tm) on their presses if you use primer brands other than CCI and Win.

No, I have no good idea why, that is merely the "what".

Flash

[Computer Steve]

I take the entire plastic sleeve out.

I take a primer flip tray and turn it upside down, then place it over the plastic primer sleeve.

Then I hold the two together, flip the whole thing over, and when I lift the plastic sleeve, they all simply lay in the primer flip tray.

Then just cover the tray, wiggle it, shake it, and viola your primers are all face up or face down depending on your tray.

It's controlled, primers don't get away from me.

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