[BSA70]

Mainly loading .38 and .40. I have been buying CCI primers and have been happy with them. However, my source is sold out and only Federal are available. Will Federals be ok? I heard something about them being too soft.
They are $40 for 1000. I know that's high compared to bulk ordering but this is a store.

I was looking at the cabela's site, one review said you could not use federals in the Lee auto primers. WHat I have is the hand priming tool. Do you think I will be ok with Federals..

 

[jmbnet]

I've been using CCI since Winchester primers have been so hard to get. I really can't tell the difference. (40 S&W and 45 ACP). Try Cabela's again. They just emailed me and told me that my 5000 Winchester primers on order (since Sept. 09) might not make it, but they could substitute CCI which was in stock. Using a Dillon RL550B

 

[themighty9mm]

Federal primer are more soft than cci. some competition guns/trigger jobs say to only use federal.

 

[robin303]

I have both and use both but personally I like using the CCI just because of the packaging is easier to put in my Lee primer loader thingy.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[Jayman]

I use Federals a lot, have had no issues with them. They always go bang for me and seem consistent. I've only used their small pistol primers. I've used a good amount of CCIs as well, and while they are good, I still prefer the Feds.

 

[bulletguy]

Federal primer are more soft than cci. some competition guns/trigger jobs say to only use federal.

Years ago, I was told the same thing, (i.e., CCI primers are harder,) by an Accurate Powder Compmany technician whom I had called about a powder question regarding reloading .223 Rem. They advised CCI (harder primers) for all loads used in any firearm which has a free floating firing pin as the AR does. Other wise, they said, it matters very little and all major brands will ignite about the same.

 

[gunreviewonmyspace]

I have had several problems with CCI primers in a 9mm Sig P250, and in a S&W 686. Lots of failures to fire with light DA hammers, that then fired on SA hammer drops. Switched to Federal and never had a problem since. CCI primers are military grade, intended for heavy hammer falls only.

 

[bulletguy]

Years ago, I was told the same thing, (i.e., CCI primers are harder,) by an Accurate Powder Compmany technician whom I had called about a powder question regarding reloading .223 Rem. They advised CCI (harder primers) for all loads used in any firearm which has a free floating firing pin as the AR does. Other wise, they said, it matters very little and all major brands will ignite about the same.

:dunno:
The above being said, I would be quick to add, I have used CCI Primers by the thousands in about everything: 9 mm, 40 S&W, 38 Sp, 45ACPs,and .223Rems, as well as thousands in the 30 Cal rifle loads and have never had a failure to ignite. The Accurate Powder factory technician was simply telling me that it was safer to use a slightly harder primers (CCI) in loads to be used in firearms which had free floating fireing pins.

For an example of why, load a live round in your AR from the mag, and carry it or move it around for a bit. Then extract it by using the bolt cocking lever and inspect the round. You will almost always see s minor indentation where the fireing pin has lightly struck the primer from an inertial thrust.

But, I am not neccessarily stuck on CCI primers. I also use many others, but mostly Federal and Winchester primers with very good results..

 

[FlyfishermanMike]

I've used CCI because I can consistantly find them local, they're cheap, and they work great. I've never had an issue with primers that haven't fired. According to the Lee Hand Prime tool instructions (Hand Prime Instructions) you shouldn't use Federal primers. It says something about them exploding with sufficient force to harm you. My guess is because they are softer they may be easier to accidentally set off while priming. It's possible to get two primers in position to be set and maybe that's the problem. I'd stick with what the manual suggests because I like and need all my body parts. $40 is way too much to be paying for primers. What are they thinking? Maybe its still bad in some parts but I've been able to buy primers at any store. I just picked up 1k/CCI #300 for $29.99 a few miles from my house. I hate stores that gouge you on components and don't have a good feel for the state of the market.

^^ike

 

[DWARREN123]

I have not noticed a difference between them. Both seem very good.

 

[dudel]

I would go with either. I prefered CCI back when they were in the smaller package because they loaded easily into the Lee flipper. However, if you are using a Lee priming tool, you have other considerations.

IIRC, the Lee website has updated the list about which primers are ok to use. They now seem to single out FEDERAL specifically: http://leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

They have added Winchester (although 20 at a time for some primers), but an emphatic no on Federal. http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/PT1023.pdf

Go figure.

 

[Colorado4Wheel]

Federal are the hardest to come by for a reason. People tend to like them. THe seat easy, they always go bang even with a light mainspring in a revolver. I use CCI. If I could trade all my CCI for Federal I would do it but I wouldn't spend any extra to make it happen.

 

[byf43]

I've all but abandoned CCI primers. (I still have a couple of thousand left.)

Years ago, when I first started using my Dillon RL550B, I was having a problem seating CCI primers in .45 acp cases.
The guy that answered the phone knew exactly what was going on, before I even said what primer was being used.
(I had only said that I was having to use a lot of pressure on the handle to seat primers in commercial cases.)
The call-taker said that the machine was designed around Winchester primers, and that CCI primers (his words), "are not round".

I've used only Winchester and Federal primers in my Dillon, since then.

 

[Colorado4Wheel]

I've all but abandoned CCI primers. (I still have a couple of thousand left.)

Years ago, when I first started using my Dillon RL550B, I was having a problem seating CCI primers in .45 acp cases.
The guy that answered the phone knew exactly what was going on, before I even said what primer was being used.
(I had only said that I was having to use a lot of pressure on the handle to seat primers in commercial cases.)
The call-taker said that the machine was designed around Winchester primers, and that CCI primers (his words), "are not round".

I've used only Winchester and Federal primers in my Dillon, since then.

Those days are long gone. They even advertise the "constant improvements" or some such thing on their website/add. They are round and work fine in a 550. I have use a lot of them in my 550 with not a single issue.

 

[ron59]

I've all but abandoned CCI primers. (I still have a couple of thousand left.)

Years ago, when I first started using my Dillon RL550B, I was having a problem seating CCI primers in .45 acp cases.
The guy that answered the phone knew exactly what was going on, before I even said what primer was being used.
(I had only said that I was having to use a lot of pressure on the handle to seat primers in commercial cases.)
The call-taker said that the machine was designed around Winchester primers, and that CCI primers (his words), "are not round".

I've used only Winchester and Federal primers in my Dillon, since then.

As you said.... "Years ago."

I've loaded 18,000 rounds in the last 11 months, 17,000 of which were CCI. No problems, they slide right in. There *is* a problem if I try to put them in a WCC or S&B case, but those have the crimped primer hole, I now cull those cases from my collection before sitting down to reload.

CCIs work great. Federals might be better, only because they're softer and better for competition setups.

I just received 10,000 Federals last week, and have another 10,000 CCIs that are enroute.

 

[Colorado4Wheel]

Your going to like how easy the Federals will seat in the primer cup. Sometimes on loose pockets you will wonder if you even seated a primer. Never had a problem with a primer coming loose or leaking. They just go in like a hot knife through butter.

 

[Colorado4Wheel]

Your going to like how easy the Federals will seat in the primer cup.

 

[D. Manley]

Federal are the hardest to come by for a reason. People tend to like them. THe seat easy, they always go bang even with a light mainspring in a revolver. I use CCI. If I could trade all my CCI for Federal I would do it but I wouldn't spend any extra to make it happen.

There's Federal then, there's everything else. When I can't shoot Federal, Winchester is 2nd choice...from there, it's whatever's available.

 

[bulletguy]

Those days are long gone. They even advertise the "constant improvements" or some such thing on their website/add. They are round and work fine in a 550. I have use a lot of them in my 550 with not a single issue.

I agfree with Colorado4QWheel. I have been loading on my 550 since 1994 and that includes several thousand CCI primers. I have never had a problem with them not going in easy. I have talked with the Dillon people many times, but never about primer problems, since I never had any, so don't know if their opinion is still the same as reported above. Also, like everyone in the business, they all have there personal opinions and they kind of get inserted into thier comments.

 

[TonyT]

I juse federqal primers for all my revolver loads since my revolvers jhave lightened DA triggrs designed for use with the softer cuppped Federal rpimers. I have never experienced a single failure with either Federal, Remington, Winchester or CCI primers.