Two Questions

[Craigwood]

Powder:
When reloading and I am done with a session. But I want to come back the next day and some more, should empty the hopper back into the original container. And if I do keep in the reloading hopper, how long can I keep in in there. Of course within reason. No long periods of time.

Primers:
What is the difference between CCI Primers and Federal Primers. I once had a Lee 1000. And specificaly said do not use Federal. Use CCI or Winchester. I bought some Federal to use in my Hornady L n L AP because of a lack of CCI at the store. Should I be apprehesive to use Federal?

[J-cat]

If you don't dump the powder, it will eat the plastic in your hopper.

FC primers are softer than CCI. They are more sensitive. They may go off if molested by a progressive devil machine.

[joelogic]

2 Q's and 2 Answers.

+1 for J-cat.

It will discolor your hopper (Could retain moisture, but I leave mine in for up to a week sometimes, I have heard of people leaving it always full, could be a fire hazard) and the Lee manual says you should never use a magazine fed press (ie a Dillon). Well you cant believe everything you read.

[Craigwood]

If you don't dump the powder, it will eat the plastic in your hopper.

FC primers are softer than CCI. They are more sensitive. They may go off if molested by a progressive devil machine.

The hopper dumpping makes sence. Thanks. I'll empty it now and refill tomorrow. Just good practice.

[Chief-7700]

If you don't dump the powder, it will eat the plastic in your hopper.

FC primers are softer than CCI. They are more sensitive. They may go off if molested by a progressive devil machine.

I have left powder in the measure for extended periods of time the only thing that happened was the plastic got discolored.

[J-cat]

Yes, that's what I said. The chemicals in the powder will attack the plastic. If you don't care, leave it in there.

[joelogic]

I am using Uniquetek's 2x hopper and they say their plastic wont discolor. We will see about that. I think I did read that some powders affect the plastic more than others.

[Fyathyrio]

I empty my hopper just to prevent the possibility of moisture adsorption. It's not difficult with the Hornady LnL bushings, they allow removal without losing the setting.

[anyracoon]

Some powders can really do damage to the inside of a RCBS Uni-Flow powder measure tube. Ask me how I know!

[Cowboy T]

I once went through 10,000 Federal primers in a Pro 1000, yes, against Lee's recommendations, and no KaBooms. This was during the Great Primer Shortage of 2009. Yes, you can do it, it works fine, and I was very careful with my Pro 1000 when I did this. No issues. Just the same, I won't ever do that again!

The differences between Federal and CCI primers are as follows.

1.) Federal primers use what's called a "basic" compound. Most other manufacturers (e. g. CCI, Winchester, Remington) use the "normal" compound. With the normal compound, if a primer goes off in the tray, it typically won't light off all the rest. The basic compound is much more sensitive to that, and all the primers will get lit. Bad news. Big kaboom.

2.) Federal primers use a thinner (softer) primer cup than most other manufacturers. Thus, they're a bit easier to dent.

Sounds dangerous, doesn't it?

But there's a very good reason Federal makes them that way. Say you've got a S&W Model 10 or similar with a slick trigger job and reduced trigger pull. With CCI primers, occasionally the spring might not be strong enough to make the firing pin dent the primer enough to make it go bang. Federal primers, with their softer cup, are more easily dented, and the basic compound is a bit more volatile, so it goes bang more reliably under these circumstances. This is why a lot of competition shooters like Federal primers in their race guns. If you haven't reduced your trigger pull weight, anybody's primer is about as good as anyone else's.

[Revoman]

No experience with Fed primers, but I do not leave powder in the resevior.

If you are reloading the next day, probably not an issue, but if there is any length of time between loading, then I foresee a problem. It's too easy to forget what the powder canister is set for and start reloading thinking that it's good to go.

Although the powder discolors the canister, it's not good to leave powder in from one loading session to the next for the reason stated above....forgetfulness.

[Dreaded Claymore]

Some powders can really do damage to the inside of a RCBS Uni-Flow powder measure tube. Ask me how I know!

How do you know?

[J-cat]

I can't believe you asked.