Goofy Federal primer boxes

[97th Signalman]

Because of issues with seating primers in Armcor .45 ACP Brass I am trying Federal primers in place of Winchester and CCI. I use a Lee safety Prime that is an on press system where you place the primers into a round tray. I usually just place the tray on top of an open box of primers and flip that arrangement over, leaving the primers open side up (mostly) in the tray.

What's the best way to get Federal primers out of that goofy big box (where they are packed in those sideways slots) on to the much smaller round Lee tray so they won't roll/fall out of the tray? (Note that the safety prime setup is approved for use with Federal primers unlike their older hand-held tool). I want to give these Federals a good try but that crazy packaging is driving me nuts.

I have tried a primer flipping tray but it has it's own issues: Square box-round tray. I may try a square one from RCBS.

By the way I have heard all the stores about the feud between Lee and Federal over safety and why those delicate feds need to be coddled.



I'm just looking for tips to make working with those Federals a little less awkward.

 

[ReloaderFred]

First of all, be glad you've got the choice of primers that you have. When I first started reloading almost 50 years ago primers were scarce.

With that said, all you have to do is use something to lift the locking tabs on the back of the sleeve up and out of the way. A small knife blade or screwdriver works well for that. Then slide the sleeve enough to uncover as many rows of primers as will fit in your container without spilling. Then continue until the box is empty.

Federal packages their primers that way on purpose. At the SHOT Show their reps told me they were very worried about sympathetic detonation, which is why they use that kind of packaging.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[97th Signalman]

I figured out how to open the box and that's not an issue. It's that the box is bigger than the Lee safety loader tray so it's hard to put 50 on the tray with out spilling some. Also, the fact that they are in the box sideways makes it easy for them to roll out during transfer to the tray. With the smaller Winchester tray I can uncover 50 and just lay the loader tray over the box and flip them. That darned Federal tray is so large that it overhangs the tray and it's too easy for primers to escape if I go for 40 or 50 at a time, especially since the are on edge and can actually roll away.

I too have been reloading for 50 years and I do appreciate the range of primer types and brands that we have available.

 

[T Bran]

Maybe you could use a funnel. Since they are going to land sideways anyhow just funnel them into your flipper and flip them all then transfer. .99 cents at the auto parts store just dont use an old one that has been in contact with oil.
Or just cut off a gallon water jug.
Just a theory havent had to deal with them yet myself.
LUCK
T

 

[Certaindeaf]

Slide it open upside down over a paper plate, then bend the plate a bit and slide them onto your LEE hopper deal for your usual jiggling pleasure.

 

[FROGO207]

I do as Certaindeaf does almost. I use a plastic disposable plate with a small notch cut out of the rim in about 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch wide. I put the notch over the tray and tip the plate after bending it slightly and all the primers end up on the tray under the slot. I have only done 50 at a time as that is what my loading blocks were made to hold and I do not like dealing with more than that at a time in the tray anyways. Just shake away and they will right themselves easily after they are in the tray.

 

[1SOW]

With the Safety Prime, I 'tip' them in 50 at a time straight from the package. Works. No big deal.

You could try opening the cover 1/2way and puting the primer tray on top 'snugly, then flip it over---should work 50 at a time.

 

[Striker Fired]

The package fits over my RCBS tray(just barely) so I can unload the whole box at once,but I always have to mess with the shaking and flipping problem that I didn't usually have with CCI, I avoid Federal mostly.

 

[ArtP]

Slide 30 primers out at a time, using the carton to hold the remaining primers and flip the exposed primers into your primer tool/tray. Repeat.

 

[dagger dog]

Y'all in way to big a hurry, ya need to slow down abit!

 

[rcmodel]

Or, in your spare time at work, you could dump the Federal primers out and repack them in empty CCI, Rem, or Win primer trays.

Then you will be good to go when you get back to loading with them!

rc

 

[greyling22]

just move the row being dropped to the widest part of the safety prime dish. I've never really had an issue. (unless something has changed?)

 

[fguffey]

I have the Dillon large flip tray, I flip and transfer...or....I mark the big Federal sliding lid with a big 'X" that goes from corner to corner, then I cut (like a square pie) a 1/4 piece of the lid off to expose the primers, then I install the lid, dump 25 primers, rotate the lid and dump 25 more, I continue rotating the lid until the tray is empty, and, I have the lid.

Legend has it Federal did not donate primers to Lee for his load development, so, when he wrote his book on Modern Reloading he said nothing nice about Federal primers, he claimed Federal primers were more dangerous and more powerful (Me,, that is what I want, I know primers can be dangerous and give me those ‘more powerful’ primers) and he says Federal is the only primer company that did not donate, Then, to give Lee something else to complain about Federal put their primers in the large safety tray, my part in all of this, this stuff does not lock me up.

F. Guffey

 

[Certaindeaf]

I heard that there was pending legislation regarding transport/packaging of all primers and Federal jumped the gun on that bandwagon. The bill failed and Federal stuck with that sunk cost. That's what I heard anyway.

 

[kingmt]

just move the row being dropped to the widest part of the safety prime dish. I've never really had an issue. (unless something has changed?)

That is how I do it with any of the trays.

 

[kelbro]

Doesn't Lee recommend AGAINST using Federal primers in their tool?

 

[mdemetz]

Get the new Lee Autoprime with the square tray?

 

[gwalchmai]

Anyone know of any cases of sympathetic detonation with Win and similar packaging?

 

[Cornerpost]

I take the box of primers out of the sheath. Then cut the bottom out of the sheath, fold it up on the back side, then tape the corners. Now you can take the modified cover, place it over the primer tray, tip over and remove the plastic box, while keeping the box tipped back at a slight angle. Now you will have a universal primer filler for your safety prime. Just tip at an angle and you can fill your Lee Safety Prime easy!

 

[RE-15]

Is it really that hard? Do what RC said.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Would it be dangerous to dump the primers into one's palm (thoroughly washed and dried) and funnel them into the flipper tray?

Or, a variation on the paper plate/plastic plate suggestions already made:

Put a sheet of copy paper (or thin cardboard) on the table. Prepare it with a light crease down the middle. Put the primer box face down on the paper, then slide the box cover/sleeve off, releasing the primers onto the paper. Pick up the paper with the primers on it, let the crease collect them in the middle and transfer them to the primer flipper device.

Are we over-thinking this process?

Lost Sheep

 

[chaplain 31]

I dump a full hundred primers into an empty 1 pound plastic margerine container, then use it to pour them on to the safty prime tray. Works great.

 

[gwalchmai]

Would it be dangerous to dump the primers into one's palm (thoroughly washed and dried) and funnel them into the flipper tray?

No

Or, a variation on the paper plate/plastic plate suggestions already made:

Put a sheet of copy paper (or thin cardboard) on the table. Prepare it with a light crease down the middle. Put the primer box face down on the paper, then slide the box cover/sleeve off, releasing the primers onto the paper. Pick up the paper with the primers on it, let the crease collect them in the middle and transfer them to the primer flipper device.

That would be fine

Are we over-thinking this process?

Yes

 

[DanTheFarmer]

97th Signalman,

I feel your pain! I think you've gotten some good tips and I hope you find a method that works for you.

I've noticed the exact same problem. I now avoid Federal and stick to Win, CCI, or Remington. They are so much easier to deal with. I do have some Federal large pistol primers for my 45 ACP and probably will try the paper plate idea above but the next batch of large pistol primers will come in a more convenient package!

Good Luck and thanks for asking the question and thanks also to those who offered help.

Dan

 

[Certaindeaf]

I like to cast them asunder and read the lay. Chicken bones are expensive.