I purchased a brick of Federal small pistol primers yesterday and the box was so large it looked like I was toting a loaf of bread. What's up with all that packaging that they take up more than twice as much volume as practically any other brand of primers?

DOT rules.

Fed primers are considered more sensitive to chain fire ignition so they are require to have more space between them

Been that way forever.

I like primers in the RCBS strips, a case is about the size of a 1000 pack (will almost) it's pretty darn small.

They are held in individual plastic primer pocket so much safer to bang around.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I'm not so sure it's a DOT rule. Packaging is so small on Remington primers you can fit 6000 primers in the same space as 1000 Federal primers. The Federal primers are not so sensitive as to warrant that much space. I think you can fit 4000 CCI primers in one box of Federal primers too.

I have limited space and can not store Federal primers without sacrificing other components while I can keep what I need with CCI primers.

This is just my opinion.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Well that's the Internet explanation I have been reading since it was invented so I am sticking with it!

Now Buffalo Bore I can understand. One giant box for 20 rounds regardless of the caliber. Keeps them all neat and uniform!

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Still Running Against the Wind

The packaging of Federal primers screams to me that it's a result of lawyers and lawsuits. I'm sure somewhere or sometime in the past they got sued and this packaging is the result.

Wish I could find some Federal 100s.

Or they take up more room on the shelf so you can't stock many of the other brand primers. :-)

Yup they take way more room but are still my favorite primer.

It is probably just a business money saving decision so that all primers can use the same large size packaging that Federal had used for their rifle primers for years. I only use their 210M variety but they have come in larger boxes ever since I started using them back in the 80's.

For fans of RCBS strips, one thing they don't advertise is that their lead free primers have a limited shelf life unlike the primers with a lead styphenate base which are an unlimited shelf life.

I had one dealer complain to me about shipping costs for Federal being higher due to extra packaging size. With his volume at that time, I suppose it might add up.

I miss the day when primers were packaged in something about 1 1/2" square with the primers in contact with each other.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

If I had as many federal primers as I do CCI I would have to live in my garage.

Just kidding. I only have a few hundred.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Once upon a time Federal packaged their primers in 100 ct boxes about the same size that everyone else uses today. That was up until some time in the 1980's.

Don't know why they're packaged as they are, but they're the only kind I use. Easy to seat; easy to light. I can always find more places to put them if need be.

Regards,
Andy

If I had a 100 M 215Ms I could sell them all in an hour. Could care less about the size of the packaging. Finding a place to store a 1/4 million would be no problem. I just wish they had a bit better availablity. I use a fair amount of small pistol Feds...mainly because I have some light trigger revolvers. Primers in our area are becoming much easier to find...except Federals of course

Harder to shoplift?

My Academy is having serious problems with items gone missing in ammo and reloading. They suspect people shoplifting and selling at gun shows or online.