Whats with the packaging

[Nate1778]

I am fairly new to reloading, so pardon if this has been asked in the past. My first brick of Primers was Winchester, decently sized box of primers that stacked well in the cabinet. I thought this was the norm, till I bought some Remington primers, WOW these guys can package, I could put millions of them in my locker the packaging is so small. Today I received my Federal Primers, WTH. Were talking 80% packaging, 20% primers. Why the super duper packaging. Didn't think much of it till I got home to put them away and there low and behold are my unopened CCI 209 primers in the same or bit larger packaging. I am out of space.

My question is, why the big packaging? My Winchesters and Remington's seam to be just the right size for storage, what gives.

 

[rcmodel]

I just don't know!
Another of life's little mystery's I guess.
They just keep getting bigger & bigger alright!

Years ago primers came in little wood trays with slots in it and all the primers standing on edge.

Then they went too a bigger version made of plastic.

Then they went to a still bigger version with holes for each primer to set in.

At that point, the tray was too big to dump in the old round primer flipper trays without spilling a bunch of them.

Perhaps Federal took Richard Lee's BS to heart and figured their primers were so dangerous they have to have way more packaging yet to survive a road trip in a delivery truck?

rc

 

[Nate1778]

At that point, the tray was too big to dump in the old round primer flipper trays without spilling a bunch of them.

That and storage is my concern. I mean I understand theft and what not, but this is a bit ridicules. Open the package and slide this HUGE tray out and here are all these primers spaced 1/2" apart. At least I have primers, but these are not going to be easy to get past the wife........

 

[Tequila Mockingbird]

The only reason I can think of is that if one primer ignites for some reason, maybe there's less chance of it igniting the others if they're spaced further apart.

 

[Randy1911]

Quoted by Tequila
The only reason I can think of is that if one primer ignites for some reason, maybe there's less chance of it igniting the others if they're spaced further apart.

This is the reason that I was told for the larger packaging. I don't like them either. I use CCI and Winchester for this reason.

 

[LightningMan]

Federal Primers are packaged that way for a reason, as they are more sensitive because they use a so called "Basic Compound" over what others use which is so called "Normal Compound". At least thats what Richard Lee writes in his book, "Modern Reloading" pp. 66' LM

 

[Mags]

Federal Primers are more sensitive, so sensitive some auto primes can set them off.

 

[Mags]

Damn you Lightning man you beat me to it! LoL maybe thats why they call you "Lightning Man'

 

[offroaddiver]

Then again these things are shipped UPS and FEDEX. I had to file a claim because they left my powder , primers and dies out in the rain. They dropped this off in my driveway instead of just 4 feet away under the eave of the doorway. This is not an excuse but just an observation, AKA my $.02.

 

[bobotech]

Powder is stored in plastic jugs. Dies are usually in plastic boxes. Were they okay? I can understand the primers getting wet isn't a good thing but the rest should have been okay.

And on top of that, primers quite often will work fine once they dry out.

 

[mallc]

Adult Signature?

I thought HazMat shipments require an adult signature?

Scott

 

[oneounceload]

primers are stored in their respective containers to keep them from causing a static charge and exploding......there was a story about a worker in one of the factories taking a glass jar full of primers down to QC swirling them around when they decided to go off and kill him.....whether it is true or not........primers need to be handled with care for a variety of reasons, including keeping your body oils off them

 

[hillbillydelux]

I thought HazMat shipments require an adult signature?

They leave mine at the doorstep all the time. Never needed a signature.

 

[ranger335v]

"there was a story about a worker in one of the factories taking a glass jar full of primers down to QC swirling them around when they decided to go off and kill him.....whether it is true or not"

I think we can be sure that one is NOT true. But, I don't doubt some dummy reloader has done it at home. And his sorroful widow suedt the primer maker.

Try to make something fool proof and along comes a more talented fool, every time.

 

[ants]

Thinking out of context:

How about these two possibilities.

• Packaging has a lot to do with the machine that places the product into the container. We can be certain that each primer manufacturer has custom packaging machinery for primers, since you can't buy those of machines off-the-shelf at Napa or out of an online catalog. The manufacturer hires an engineering firm to design the packaging equipment, then a fabricator to make the equipment, and another engineering firm to install it. The package size and function may very well be designed fit the machine, not the other way around.
  
• Under the old ICC shipping tariffs (which are not in use any more) the rate per hundredweight for many commodities was linked to its density in pounds per cubic foot. During the decades that the tariffs were in effect, most manufacturers adjusted packaging size and weight to take advantage of special rates for their specific commodity.

It is possible that the packaging has nothing to do with the primer as we know it.

Notice I didn't say, "Thinking outside the box."

 

[jim147]

I think the big trays are for the frosty mugs to sit on and the small ones for the mixed drinks. It all depends on what the package designer drinks as to how big the primer tray is.

jim

 

[mapwd]

I think the big trays are for the frosty mugs to sit on and the small ones for the mixed drinks. It all depends on what the package designer drinks as to how big the primer tray is.

jim

Now that is funny!!!

 

[R.W.Dale]

I asked the same thing and had a good rant about it awhile back and got many answers

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=426450&highlight=federal+primers

 

[Otto]

Federal's use of large packaging for primers is a requirement of the Department of Transportation regulations.
That was the information I received on Federal's "Ask the Expert Form" (email) when I asked them in February.
Feel free to conduct your own inquiries.

 

[fguffey]

Cut a square hole (1/4 the size of of the sleeve, down through the center, half way across and back on the side side) in the sleeve that covers the tray, the hole will would allow 25 primers to be dropped , then remove and rotate the tray 90 degrees for the next 25 primers, or cut a template, remove the tray and cover with the template, or as I said call Dillon and order a (big) flip tray.

If you cut the sleeve and want to store the primers, turn the sleeve over on the tray or save the sleeves and get creative, light a candle.



F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

Not fair?? I was given R. Lee's book on Modern Reloading, I did not pay for it, the person that gave me the book did not want to read it, he gave the book to me then called later and ask me what it said. The part that is not fair, the book that was given to me has Mr Lee saying he did not test Federal primers, my book has him saying Federal did not donate primers to Mr Lee for test, Yes I got the part that covers primers, primers can be dangerous, ALL PRIMERS.

More POWERFUL? load up a bunch of ammo, primer, case and bullet-no powder, use different primers, include FEDERAL, chamber and fire, then measure the distance the bullet travels down the barrel with a stick scribed with a pencil or depth micrometer, I want the more powerful primer, I believe a good test would be 100 primers of 4 different brands.

F. Guffey

 

[atblis]

Cut a square hole (1/4 the size of of the sleeve, down through the center, half way across and back on the side side) in the sleeve that covers the tray, the hole will would allow 25 primers to be dropped , then remove and rotate the tray 90 degrees for the next 25 primers, or cut a template, remove the tray and cover with the template, or as I said call Dillon and order a (big) flip tray.

Or you can just NOT USE Federal primers. That's what I do. CCI or Winchester simply because you can dispense entirely with the flip tray thing. Federal is too big a pain in the but.