Primers

Since I am beginning my reloading career, my question is are Federal primers any good ? CCI primers are hard to find at the moment and I have found a few Federals. Also, on the reloading data will I have to make any adjustments to the grains if I use these.
Thanks for any info
Rick

Yeah Federal primers are good.. now as for the adjustment in powder.. well that is a different ballgame.. first of all..what are you loading for ?

38 special, 357 and maybe 9mm.

I have some reloading books on order, but I thought I would post the question so I would have a heads up.

Thanks
Rick

Unless you are pushing your loads close to maximum, There's not much to worry about. You may notice some changes in accuracy, but I seriously doubt it. I use whatever primers happen to be cheapest most of the time, never have a problem. Fact of the matter, I started using Wolf primers for my .308 target loads, and actually saw my groups tighten a bit, go figure.

As far as pistols are concerned, I've changed primers many times, I can't tell any difference. Only exception would be going from a standard primer to a magnum primer, could raise chamber pressure; but even with that, I've loaded very light .38's with magnum primers before, I can't tell any difference.

Summary: Be safe, but don't worry about it too much.

Ok.. here we go! First.. take the data from the reloading books or company websites. There are two thoughts of how to start to find a working load. One is to just start at the lowest and work up.. till you find a load that works. The other is to take the max that is listed and reduce it 10% and start there.. I like the later, now.. don't worry about the primer and trying to adjust from what is in the book because you are starting from 10% below the "lawyer driven" max listed. Now every firearm has a node. One where the best accuracy will occur. Now.. Since your loading for the 38, 357 and 9mm, the best thing to do is start at that 10% reduced load and load five, increase one tenth of a grain at a time and load five for each subsequint load. Depending on your ability to shoot well off a bench.. you should find a load that groups better than the others. Half the fun of it is trying to find that combo that works best in that particular firearm.

With your wheel gun. I would mark (temp of course) One those cylenders will or may throw the round out of the group.. if you discover this.. then you will want this cylender marked so that when your testing for accuracy, you can advoid using that particular cylender.

Originally Posted by Astra900

Only exception would be going from a standard primer to a magnum primer, could raise chamber pressure; but even with that, I've loaded very light .38's with magnum primers before, I can't tell any difference.

Summary: Be safe, but don't worry about it too much.

There is a difference in primer compound in most brands.. except in the Wolf brand.. magnum primers have the same amount as the standard.. but do have a thicker harder cup.

This is unreal, I ask, I guess a simple question, and get two GREAT answers in a few minutes. You guys have saved me hours or days of research. As I said "I'm starting my reloading career" and the info I find in the reloading manuals I have either list cci or winchester primers. I didn't think there would be that much difference in primers or maybe even in brass. I have an old speer book and a new hodgdon manual to read while my new books are on the way. I will read and study for a while before I start reloading and may post a question or two now and then.
Thanks for helping a beginner get started on the right foot.
Rick

***Warning nothing I say may be correct***

Lee recomends only CCI and Winchester primers on their presses. They state that "Other brands, especially Federal, can explode with sufficient force to seriously injure the user or persons nearby."

I spoke with one of my co-workers about this, he stated to me that he has never had a failure with Federal because they were a little hotter and softer than CCI.

Is there any validy to this? I wonder if Lee had a lawsuit where someone blew their eye out or thumb off?

I cannot begin to tell you how many Federal small and large rifle primers I have loaded with two different Lee hand primers. I wouldn't worry about it, but...always wear safety glasses when working with primers, they are the real volatile item in the reloading process.

I have been using Winchester small pistol primers in loading 9mm. Reloaders Bench in Mt. Juliet, TN didn't have any Win. So I bought Federal SP primers. I am using a 115 grain FMJ, with 6.0 grains of Power Pistol, and col at 1.120. Thisa the load with the Win. SP primers. The Hornady 6th Edition has the max load at 6.7 grains of PP. I have used CCI and Win. primeres with no problem. I also, picked up 1000 CCI LR primeres while I was there. Thanks, gearyr