WTH is Wrong with Federal Primers

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Werewolf

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Long Story...

I've been reloading for about 3 years. Started reloading .45ACP about 6 months ago.

Prior to reloading .45ACP I never once experienced a flipped primer (i.e. loaded upside down) using my Lee Turret press. But then I'd always used Winchester Large Pistol primers before that.

Anyway when I started in .45ACP the recipe I used called for Federal 150's so that's what I used. 1 in 5 flipped when loading.

Now I had a lot of S&B brass on hand and I was told that was undoubtedly the problem (why do some folks have such a hard-on for S&B - it is very good ammo IMHO).

Being an ex-QC guy I decided to find out what the heck was going on. So I seperated out all the S&B stuff and started loading primers into it. Still got 1 in 5 flipped. So then I primed all the other .45ACP brass I had (Win, Fed, Rem). Still got 1 in 5 flipped so the problem wasn't the brass.

Did major maintenance on my press and started again - still got 1 in 5 primers flipped so it wasn't the press.

Then I wondered if it might not be the primers. So I switched to WLP's and lo and behold not a single primer flipped in 500 rounds.

So *** is the deal with Federal Primers?
 
dunno, but i sure do prefer federal primers to winchester. the win primers don't seem to fit near as tight in the primer pockets for me.

as for s&b brass, my only experience to date has been in 8 mauser, and i got head seperations in as few as 2 firings. federal has made 3, though it is starting to show a ring now...
 
I choose Fed primers because they are the most reliable if hammer strike is lighter. However - just used up some Win primers and those do go in much more easily. I notice a distinct ''snick'' on insertion of the Feds - so noticeably tighter.

I think in your case, it might be simply that the tighter fit would require a tad more chamfer on primer pocket - but then that's hassle if you have to go thru em all. Try it on one or two tho - just add a whisker more chamfer and see what happens.
 
I dunno, I would say that ((trust me I am ignorant)) but, I don't trust anything that has "federal" in the title. I don't care why it does, I just wouldn't trust it.

Okay, I got my 2cents worth in for the day.
 
I've loaded tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of primers, the majority being Federal and Winchester. I like them about the same, have ZERO problems with them flipping using good equipment that is properly maintained and in my case when priming mechanisms get dirty or something one brand certainly doesn't flip more than the other.

S&B brass is junk IMO, the primer pockets are too small and need chamfered. If you treat them as military crimped primer type cases and address the primer pockets it works fine and lasts a long time in 45 acp but commercial quality brass is available and cheap so I won't bother with S&B. I throw it out.

You either got a bad lot of Federal primers, which isn't likely, or something in your particular equipment or procedures doesn't agree with the Federal primers. You can dig for the cause or switch back to Winchester.
 
Try running that brass with those Federal primers through a Dillon 650 and report back. :p
 
I use lot's of Federals, both the 550B and the RockChucker.

I've never experienced a flipped primer, but Federals can give ya the heebie jeebies from the primer cup being imprinted ever so slightly by the priming punch on occasion.

I never attempt to reseat a primer on a live round. I have heard of others doing that, but I'm too paranoid to give it a try.

The 550 seats primers perfectly everytime, with the rare exception of one not dropping from the tube which I found to be the specific batch of primers (Remington 5½).

Some people have problems with CCI's, but I have used literally 10's of thousands and never a problem.

I agree with HSMITH's comments. Keep your machine maint. up and keep it clean, and any problems will be greatly reduced or eliminated.

If you don't have the same occurence with other primers, I would suspect the specific batch. One batch gets past QC now and again I'm sure, Firdays or Mondays most likely. But it could have been any day where the tech running things was hungover, or just realized someone found out he owns a Glock :neener:

Lube your press, clean it up and toss this batch of primers and carry on.

BigSlick
 
i've had fed. small rifle primers flip on me in my lee auto prime 2. the fix i found was you just have to keep the primer tray a bit fuller. once it gets down to about 20 primers, i refill it and it has really cut back on flipped primers
 
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