Winchester vs Federal - safety concern

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

Over the weekend I did a Cowboy Action Shoot - would like to use a Smith 44-40 but there are none that are Massachusetts legal,
anyhow, I used a couple hundred rounds of .38's I loaded with 158 swc's and Trail Boss using Winchester Primers. not problems in the two Ruger New Vaquero's but my Cimmeron 1873 had 6 light strikes FTF out of 70 rounds. You could see a dimple on the primer.
I was told I should switch to Federal's as they are softer, but I have heard cautions about using them as I was told they sometimes will go off when seating.
I use a Dillon 550B and have never had a problem with Wincesters. Has anyone had any issues with Federals? and what precautions should be taken?

 

[Krogen]

I have used Federal primers nearly exclusively since the mid 80's. Never had a primer go off during seating.

 

[Rule3]

Did your light strike cartridges fire after a second strike?

Could be just not seated correctly.

Will they fire in another gun?, Could be a weak mainspring.

Several options to consider.

 

[M29since14]

If you are loading on your Dillon like you're "killing snakes," you might be better off with something else - otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.

I prefer them, and have used Federal primers in probably 90% of my pistol cartridges handloaded using my Dillon 550. I have never had any trouble, but I don't make any attempt to load 550-rounds per hour, either. I move along at a good clip, but nothing like 550.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I will be trying them in the rifle a second time, I talked to the guy I got it from and suggested firming up the mainspring with the mainspring screw.
I do about 200 an hour on my Dillon and once in a while will hear a primer crunch but when I check it, it seems fine and never had a miss fire in my Victory's.

 

[scott625b]

Federal Primers going off during reloads only can occur if you are using a seating piston shaped like a firing pin and jam it in position similar to the hammer-like action of your firearm. You may have a greater problem if you smoke during reloading or reload during an intense electrical storm. Several of the ICORE competitors I know will hand-flatten the Federal primers on the range just prior to a stage. If that does not set them off, I don't think you press will.

 

[Biginge]

Ben, I have shot thousands and thousands of cowboy action rounds, .45 lc and .38 spl. Never had a problem at all with Federal. HOWEVER, I have had several light strikes that have occured with Winchesters over the years. During the shortage of two years ago I was forced to buy some Winchesters. Guess what, two more light stikes. They always seem to be traceable to when I HAVE to use Winchester primers. I load a lot of Win231, not down on Winchester in general, just their primers.

I believe the old Lee handprimer unit had a warning to not load Federals in it if I am not mistaken.

I load on a Dillon 550. I know the "crunch" feel you are talking about. I have always attributed that to a "rough" primer pocket or some trash on the primer feed tube. I always tumble my brass with the old primers reamaining rather than deprime and have to worry about media in the pocket, etc.

Additionally, there is an adjustment screw on the bottom tang of a '73 that will adjust your firing pin tension strike. Just a simple turn of the screw could solve your problem.

Just my 2 cents.

Regards

Bill

 

[Rule3]

I will be trying them in the rifle a second time, I talked to the guy I got it from and suggested firming up the mainspring with the mainspring screw.
I do about 200 an hour on my Dillon and once in a while will hear a primer crunch but when I check it, it seems fine and never had a miss fire in my Victory's.

The mainspring screw should always be as tight as possible and not used as a "trigger job" I do not use Federals, but never a problem with Winchesters small or large and that is through a lot of different revolvers and semi autos. All my revolvers have reduced mainspring Wolf spring kits. It's only a .5 (1/2) lb lighter.

I use a lot of Wolf also and they all go bang. The only ones that didn't I did not seat right. The fired on the second hit.

 

[KLNC]

I'd like to use Federals for the reasons everyone has stated. But the instructions on my RCBS and LEE hand primer tools say not to use them, so I've been using Win and CCI instead. I'm pretty sure their caution is overkill, but it still gives me some pause.

 

[Jeff423]

I have set off a Federal primer in a 650. When I called Dillon their first question was: "Was it a Federal primer?". I think it was mostly my fault (long story) but I have loaded many thousands of rounds before and after and it's the only primer that's gone off in the press.
If Federals were the only primer available I would use them. However until that time I'll use others first.

Jeff

 

[Ed45]

LOTS of Federal primers through my 550B, never a problem. I have several guns set up so they deliver pretty light hits. I only have a failure if I use a non-Federal primer.

 

[parabarbarian]

I've seen quite a few pierced primers in Federal's American Eagle brand 357 ammunition. That makes me a little leery of using them in my reloads. If I had a "race" gun I might use Federal primers but, so far, Winchester primers work in all my guns so I'll stick to them FTTB.

 

[snowman]

I'm another user of Federal primers exclusively who has never had one go off. I've used the RCBS hand-priming tool and now the Lee press-mounted tool -no issues.

Andy

 

[Pocketfisherman]

Are you sure the primers were seated all the way down in the pocket? If some were not, that can be the source of the problem as the hammer will then seat the primer fully versus setting it off.

 

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

The seating was mentioned to me, I am pretty sure they were fully seated, a few crunched when I seated them but they were mixed in.
I am going to check the seating of the remaining rounds and also load 100 of the federals and take them to the range

 

[shortrange]

What I am about to say will cause controversy, but NEVER use a tube feed for primers and stack one on top of another. I know many of you will say I have done it for years. I have done it also, but never again. I witnessed a tube of primers that detonated, and it took off the tip of the operators finger. Luckily that was all as he had glasses. Although many small pieces in his face that caused no permanent damage. It can happen

 

[TSQUARED]

I use Winchester primers in my semi auto loads and Federal primers for all my revolver loads. I use a Dillon 550 and have not experienced any problems.

 

[growr]

I use em all in my 550 and have yet see a problem with any primer regardless of maker. I send a lot of rounds downrange (about 30k) annually in IDPA/USPSA/SASS/ICORE etc.
They all go bang and I haven't had a problem. Must be the odd man out again!
Ben Cartwright..why is a S&W in 44-40 non-compliant? Probably a dumb question from a born and raised Montana boy. We don't deal well with silly gun laws.
Randy

 

[old&slow]

Ben,
I've been reloading Federal primers on a 550 since the late 80's.

Don't really know how many tens of thousands of rounds I've loaded in 9, 357, 40, 44, 45, 223, 308. In all that time I've had one primer go off. ??

Federal's are 1st & 2nd choice. 3rd choice is Winchester only if I can't find or wait, to find Federals, and Not for my target guns.

 

[OKFC05]

I'd like to use Federals for the reasons everyone has stated. But the instructions on my RCBS and LEE hand primer tools say not to use them, so I've been using Win and CCI instead. I'm pretty sure their caution is overkill, but it still gives me some pause.

Their caution is because some people apparently can't feel the primer hit bottom and will just keep mashing as hard as they can.
Some people are mechanically inept and are marginally safe to do any reloading. I've met some.

Sorta like the written caution on cars now that you need to check the air in the tires........well, DUH!