LEE Load Master Series, What's this about?

[Boomholzer]

WARNING: Only CCI or Remington brand primers are safe use with this press. If you plan on using any brand besides CCI and Remington, you must install the included explosion shield.

?? Why would Fed primers (or any other brand) be excluded? I thought the cups were generally the same.

https://leeprecision.com/load-master-45-colt.html (or any caliber)

 

[bullseye308]

Federal primers are considered “softer” and easier to set off, therefore not recommended by Lee on their press mounted primer systems.

 

[Blue68f100]

That and they did not provide Lee with primers to test with..... is what I had heard.

 

[Boomholzer]

Thank you. I guess after all these years I had heard CCI cups were a bit "harder" but never anything where Federal was at a detriment (not like the brass life).
I've loaded Fed primers 100:1 vs CCI. Seems like more of a Lee issue then a Fed issue unless its just lawyer statements due to testing like Blue posted.

 

[Blue68f100]

More sensitive primers on AP can become a big problem. You should NEVER force things or bad things happen. With Federal being more sensitive in general all it takes is a little binding and pop. If your lucky you only set 1 off and not messed any hardware up. In most cases it can be chain reaction setting the primer feed tube off, launching parts.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Seems like more of a Lee issue then a Fed issue unless its just lawyer statements due to testing like Blue posted.

Lee actually admitted to being petty, a few years ago, that the only reason that he recommended against the use of Federal primers was because they didn't supply free primers for him to use

 

[Bcwitt]

Let's not forget the blast shield Lee would sell you for 12.95 so you could use them anyway.

 

[jmorris]

They are more sensitive than others.

The Loadmaster priming system is also unlike most other presses. The Loadmaster primer seating depth is set with a wrench most others are seated by feel.

This is because most presses seat the primer opposite all of the other operations, where the Loadmaster is sizing, seating bullets, throwing a powder charge and seating the primer at the same time.

The only other presses that seat the primer on the downstroke with everything else going on, also have a Swage station before the priming station to make sure they can enter the pocket.

A warning costs less.