newb reloading question/ reloaded 20 and did the math

Rick65Cat

Rick65Cat

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Ok, I just bought a bunch of equipment today to get started reloading.
One of the items was a hand held "Lee Autoprime". After getting home, the instructions included say basicly to only use Winchester and CCI primers for safety reasons.
The case I want to reload is a Hornady .204 and in Hornadys 7th edition handbook it says to use Remington 7 1/2 primers.
-Are there different manufacturers of small rifle primers?
-Do I *have* to use Remingtons primers in a Hornady .204 case?
-Should I just return the Autoprime tool and get a Lee "Ram Prime" die that mounts in the press? (says it fits all presses, supposed to be safer I guess)

I'm using a Lee single stage "C" press
 
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Lee has tested their handheld autoprime tool with different primers & have found that some primers are too explosive to use safely in their tool. The problem is that if a primer goes off in the tool, it will probably ignite the other primers in the tray also. If you read the docs it mentions not to use more than 10 primers at a time in the tool. IMO you can use whatever primers you like in the Hornaday brass, but I would be careful about the primers I used in the Lee handheld tool. Also never forget to always wear safety glasses too!

George
 
There are several factors in play, including cup hardness and compound sensitivity. Lee is the ONLY manufacturer that I know to make a statement about differences in primers being dangerous. I think that they likely tested their tool extensively with the "approved" primers and hesitate to condone the use of any others for potential liability reasons. Back when I used the Lee tool, I put literally thousands of primers of all brands through several of them with absolutely no problem. I can't guarantee that it is safe for you to do so, however!

They still sell the auto primer feed tubes for several brands of presses, and these are a true danger; if you drap a full tube, the contents can go off in a chain reaction.

As a newcomer to reloading, you should be warned to take especial care when working with primers, they are the only inherently dangerous component of a cartridge. Even used primers have some nasty chemical compounds remaining after firing!

The biggest safety rules about primers bear repeating: keep them in the factory package until ready to use, do not leave them lying around loose, do not drop them, store in a cool dry place....read the standard cautions from the makers and follow them.
 
I agree with oldbadger. Here's a cut and paste from another message I wrote. Just a bit of friendly advice :)
Get yourself a full face shield, and not just safety glasses. I know, they're a bit of a pain in the behind, especially on a hot day... but....I've been an industrial millwright for a long time. I'm usually the LAST one to beat on the safety drum. From personal experience, I know all too well just how easy it is for "wee flying things" to smack you just above or below the safety glasses, and wind up bouncing around between your eye and the lens. This gets VERY exciting if the "wee object" is a piece of hot grinding slag or something of that nature. If I was looking for the absolute perfect hot object to do a cheek bounce and get past the glasses, it would be a primer.
Click to expand...
 
Its is your decision. There is also a trick you can use when priming with one of these tools - rotate the tool as you start to seat the primer, so that the primers in the magazine are not close to the primer being seated.
Also, make sure you never try to seat a primer if there has been a double feed of primers. You don't want to use a primer to seat a primer. If the feel is in any way different, find out why.
I have never detonated a primer of any make in a Lee tool, although I have done it a few times while using the primer post on a press. Certainly gets your attention. If priming on a press, have a die lightly in place, so the flash would be contained, and if using a hand held tool, don't point the mouth of the case at anything that could be harmed should a primer detonate.
 
RePete said:
I use Federal primers in the Lee AutoPrime and have NEVER had a problem.
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X2 :).

This topic has been dealt with in the past. As I recall the Lee "no Federal primers" position is based more on some ancient corporate pi$$ing match than on bona fide safety issues. I only use Federal primers. I only have a Lee tool. I have yet to make one go off after 000's of rounds primed.
 
Thanks for the posts guys.
So if I can't find any Remington 7 1/2 primers...would just any old small rifle primer work? The Rem. 7 1/2 is listed as a magnum primer
I did find a site that cross referenced primers and the only other primer compatible with a Rem 7 1/2 was a CCI 450
 
HKMark23 said:
X2 :).

This topic has been dealt with in the past. As I recall the Lee "no Federal primers" position is based more on some ancient corporate pi$$ing match than on bona fide safety issues. I only use Federal primers. I only have a Lee tool. I have yet to make one go off after 000's of rounds primed.
Click to expand...

Nailed it.
 
Rick65Cat said:
Thanks for the posts guys.
So if I can't find any Remington 7 1/2 primers...would just any old small rifle primer work? The Rem. 7 1/2 is listed as a magnum primer
I did find a site that cross referenced primers and the only other primer compatible with a Rem 7 1/2 was a CCI 450
Click to expand...

There is no need for a magnum primer in a .204 Go grab whatever small rifle primers you can find, start at the minimum recommended load and work up. And enjoy your new addiction.....er....I mean, hobby!
 
This is sooo cool. bought all this reloading stuff and materials needed. Using my own brass, I just reloaded 20 rnds of .204 for an approximate cost of $7.20
I pay $17.99 for 20 at my favorite gun store
Yippppeeee:dancingbanana::dancingbanana:
 
Heck, I just bought 100 brass, 300 bullets, a funnel, and a set of dies - and I don't even own a .204 yet :boggle: Guess I'ma gonna real soon now :D Reloadin's cool, huh Rick? I myself just started this fall.

Hopefully the weather's nice enough for a trip to Genessee on the 12th/13th, I have that weekend off.
 
12th and 13th eh? If the weathers half ways decent, I might pop out on the Saturday. Run a couple iof hundred rounds through my 10/22 in an effort to (supposedly) wear in the action. I'll bring out the .204 as well and get it sighted in with the factory ammo, then see where the reloads hit the target.
 
The 7.5 primer is not a mag primer--it has a heavier/stronger cup so there are no pierced primers--was specifically developed for the bench rest crowd as a pierced primer would put the shot out of the group. 204 runs high pressure so the 7.5 is recommended as a safety measure--cci br primers are similar and either should work. regular primers will work and likly will give no problems unless you are rnning top loads in hot weather.

FWIW, 44Bore
 
Try CCI BR4's, CCI 400's or Winchester SR primers for your .204. You can use CCI 450's but start at the lowest recommended load as with any component change in your loading routine. I have used the 450's in my .223 and 6BR with no problems.
 
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44Bore said:
The 7.5 primer is not a mag primer--it has a heavier/stronger cup so there are no pierced primers--was specifically developed for the bench rest crowd as a pierced primer would put the shot out of the group. 204 runs high pressure so the 7.5 is recommended as a safety measure--cci br primers are similar and either should work. regular primers will work and likly will give no problems unless you are rnning top loads in hot weather.

FWIW, 44Bore
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The Rem 7 1/2 is considered a magnum primer from the reading I have done. The regular SR primer is a Rem 6 1/2, but the package of 7 1/2's that I do have has Benchrest written on them. I have not looked for the word "Magnum" specifically.
 
You can use any small rifle primer instead of the Remington, just be sure not to switch after working up to a maximum load. The Remington 7-1/2 has a bit harder cup than their 6-1/2 but my understanding is that the priming mix is identical. It was designed with a harder cup to to help contain higher pressure. However you will find lots of folks who believe that the 7-1/2 is "Hotter"
 
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