Lee progressive & Federal primers?

[Throwingdown]

I wanted to start reloading 45 acp again. I have a Lee Progressive press. I dug it out and was going through the manual. It says NOT to use Federal primers in it. Is this still correct? Has anyone used them without issues? As a friend has a box of Federals he will sell me.
I have had the press for a long time and was just wondering if this old info still applies - or maybe Federal changed their primers.

 

[jhallrv4]

To my knowledge, Federal hasn't changed their primers, and Lee hasn't changed there mind.

The Federals are a little softer, and Lee is concerned that they may go off while setting the primers in their machine.

I'd listen to Lee. Better safe than sorry.

If you choose to press on regardless (the name of a car rally in Michigan, by the way...the "POR" rally) be sure to take the appropriate protective measures, the least of which is serious eye protection.

 

[1SOW]

Lee recommends the 'Safety Prime' if you want to load larger batches of Federal primers.

I use Federal primers because they will fire consistently with light hammer springs. CCI and Win won't.

 

[Throwingdown]

1SOW - so have you used Federal primers with a Lee progressive?

 

[Sport45]

I wouldn't use Federal primers in any progressive press. I have used them in my AutoPrime, but only loaded 20 or so at a time on the tray. I don't buy Federals any more.

Here's a picture Otto took of the warning on Federal's packaging.

 

[Landric]

I've never set off a Federal primer while loading, and I've used them in feed tubes on both single stage presses and a Dillon SDB.

That said, they are softer than other primers, and one can tell when loading them. Being older (and hopefully wiser) now, I've stopped loading Federals in feed tubes. I have loaded a bunch of Federal SP in Lee's Safety Prime recently, and I've decided to only use the Safety Prime (or single seating) with Federals.

Lee still says no Federal primers in any of their systems other than the Safety Prime. I'd listen. You probably wouldn't have a problem, but you might.

 

[lykoris]

I only use federal primers S/L Pistol/rifle in my dillon 650.

CCI primers have a similar warning about feed tubes

has come up quite a few times if you research other threads

After loading thousands and thousands of rounds using federal primers, I call BS.

I have 7 reloading manuals and sometimes what is 'recommended' isn't necessarily 100% accurate.

 

[lykoris]

and no I never had any problems with federal primers on my 650

 

[Throwingdown]

Maybe they are just covering their behinds (lawsuit purposes). My press has a primer tray (is that considered tube feeding).

 

[Otto]

CCI primers have a similar warning about feed tubes...
After loading thousands and thousands of rounds using federal primers, I call BS.

Because you loaded a few cartridges without incident doesn't qualify you to 'call BS' on product warnings. Ignoring safety procedures is a sure sign of a remedial reloader with a know-it-all attitude. I suggest that anyone who refuses to follow safety warnings should find another hobby.

 

[Gryffydd]

My press has a primer tray (is that considered tube feeding).

No.
We all know what Mr. Lee says about Federal primers. We know Federal doesn't have an issue with their product being used in Lee's progressive equipment, so what about RCBS, Hornady, Dillon, Etc. Do they have anything against Federal primers in their documentation?

So far all we have is:
Lee: Don't use Federal primers in non Safety-Prime systems
Federal: Don't use tubes

None of Lee's equipment uses tubes, while several other manufacturers do.

Ignoring safety procedures is a sure sign of a remedial reloader with a know-it-all attitude. I suggest that anyone who refuses to follow safety warnings should find another hobby.

Safety warnings are one thing. The biased nattering of a windbag are another. If you took everything Lee says in his book as fact you'd actually believe that all his products are the best on the planet and nothing from any other company could ever compare.

Edit:
I should add that I own several pieces of Lee equipment, including a Loadmaster, and I found a lot of good advice in Modern Reloading. It was the first book I got when I started reloading. However, anyone with half a brain can see that he includes an awful lot of personal agenda and bias in the book.

 

[lykoris]

Otto,

No I certainly don´t know it all.

I have the Lee manual and know that if Lee made primers there would be another overbearing sales pitch in the LEE manual about LEE primers being better than anything else Of the 7 manuals I read cover to cover it was the most painful to read - the constant Lee sales pitch about Lee products drove me insane.

there is a difference between reloading 6,500 rounds with federal primers with feed tubes on a 650 and the few you say I did. I didn´t have one problem in 6,500 rounds.

As I said, CCI have a similar warning on their boxes, small rifle/pistol primers and what I should have said is that in MY OPINION is it them(federal & cci) being prudent from a legal perspective.

 

[Walkalong]

the constant Lee sales pitch about Lee products drove me insane.

That and the blatant exaggerations are what turned me off Lee stuff early on. I do appreciate Lee products these days, for what they are, good stuff at a good price.

BOT:

I would not hesitate to use Federal primers in any press priming system.

 

[Landric]

Walkalong said:

That and the blatant exaggerations are what turned me off Lee stuff early on. I do appreciate Lee products these days, for what they are, good stuff at a good price.

The Lee manual does have a lot of sales pitch going on. I can live with that, it was by far the cheapest manual I have and at the same time has the most data. Yes, its just reprinted from other sources. However, the $11 I spent on the manual kept me from having to buy the other sources or find them on the internet and keep track of a bunch of print outs.

Some of the Lee stuff I have used has not impressed me. Other stuff (especially the newer designs like the LCT) are quite impressive. I like their die sets for use in the LCT. For single stage presses, I'm not a big Lee die fan. I hate their lock rings for that application, and the powder through expander die is unpleasant to use without an attached powder measure.

I use of combination of different manufactures' products, many of which are Lee (though by no means all or most). Many of Lee's products represent a very good value, with others sometimes its better to spend more on another brand.

 

[Doug b]

It was rumored awhile back Federal refused Lee's request for a supply of free components for his testing so he trashed there primers in return.Given his aggressive marketing style I find this possible.

 

[jfh]

This Lee-Federal discussion is an old one--and my recollection is similar to Doug b's comment above. At some point these two parties got into a pissing contest, and Richard Lee established a company policy about it. I have NO idea about the validity of it--but I have a hard time believing Federal primers are just too delicate, etc., etc., for feeding use.

I suspect that what we see these days in this subject is merely the internet continuation of that orginal contest, and the typical CYA legalese in the industry these days.

Jim H.

 

[Gryffydd]

As a side note, I've crushed a number of Federal primers in my Lee progressive. I'm talking about the priming ram smashing them flat, cutting them in half etc. No booms. I quit bothering with the primer feed system on my Loadmaster because of that...too much a pain unjamming the thing all the time, but no kabooms.

 

[Griz44]

I installed the 4 dollar blast deflector on my Loadmaster and use any kind of primer I can get. 100K rounds and no booms. The tray handles them very differently than the tube. In a tube, if one goes, they all go. In a tray, it is much less likely to cause a chain reaction. I have mashed primers flat, torn them in half, and have never has a primer pop.

ALWAYS wear your safety glasses

 

[Black Dime]

I have two Pro Lee 1000s that I used for a number of years with Federals. I have three 650s and a square Deal B that I have used with Federals for about seven years. About 10,000 match rounds per year. I can still hear and see you.
There are two kind of reloaders. One is the reloader who has set off a primer and the other one who will set off a primer. I work on a concrete floor with a roller chair. Scares the H out of you and it is hard to get the cat off the ceiling.
1SOW must be a cowboy.
My pistols will not set off a Winchester nor a CCI.

 

[Walkalong]

I was priming 200 .223 cases the other day. The primer pockets had been "fixed" by the seller. I was hand priming on my RCBS. Once the primer gets out of whack you pretty much have to mash it home to get the case out of the shell holder. Shown is one Win and four Fed 200 primers. Nothing went boom. Primers are hard to set off without hitting them.

 

[Throwingdown]

Okay guys. My anxiety level is gone. Safety glasses will be worn at all times while reloading just in case. Thanks for all the input. I can read through BS. I was thinking along the lines of, the primer seater is flat, not pointed, so how will this cause the primer to go off. I have crushed primers before with no ill results.

 

[JimmyN]

Federal is not the only one with a warning on the package.

Winchester:
"Handle one at a time; NOT in bulk or primer feed devices"

CCI:
"Do not use primer feed tubes unless the reloading equipment is shielded or designed to prevent shearing or crushing of primers"

Remington doesn't have any warnings regarding primer feeding devices, I don't know about Wolf or Magtech I haven't used any of theirs.

 

[Throwingdown]

Update. Federals used and no issues in my Lee.

 

[GaryL]

FWIW, Federal has no problem using Federal primers in their automated feeding equipment. Out of respect for the company, I won't divulge anything about how it's done, but Dillon and Lee both would recognize some of the mechanics involved. Having been involved in installing some equipment on their presses (that primes the brass), I've seen a few crushed primers, and probably 1/2 million cases primed without incident. That doesn't include the other nearby machines happily chugging away at their tasks during the time I spent in the plant.

If Lee has a problem with Federal primers, then perhaps the Lee design needs improvement.

I also wonder how often primer issues were caused by smoking while reloading.
I know it seems stupid, but .....

 

[sniper5]

I use Federal primers in a Lee hand primer and have not had an incident. However, I only put a few at a time in the tray (never more than I am willing to have detonate simultaneously,usually about 5) , always point it away from me and wear eye protection. If the hand pressure doesn't feel just right, I stop and check to make sure the primer is seating correctly and not cocked or turned. Would I be brave enough to load a tube or tray full in a progressive and merrily start tugging away on the handle? Uhhh......NO.