Flash-over incident using Hornady Hand-Primer

[Scrumbag]

Hi folks,

Had a small scare the other day whilst reloading that might be a helpful reminder to people to keep safe and follow your procedures not being sloppy. Primer popped when being seated and flashed over into try causing other primers to detonate.

This happened using a Hornady Hand Primer

My set-up post incident

Close-up of hand primer – not sure where rest of pieces are.

Close-up of “flashed” primers (Note empty but dented cups)

And this is the resulting cuts to hand – fortunately they seem superficial. Blast also blew my glasses off my face and they landed ~6 feet away.

Fortunately I was wearing latex gloves so some protection.

Be careful folks and wear your eye protection.

(Just in case people are interested, didn’t notice anything different from usual. Cases were PPU factory on ~4th firing. Primers were Federal Large Pistol. Cases had been sonic cleaned and primer pockets checked prior to priming and I’d primed ~50 that session. This process has served me fine for ~3 years of loading)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

 

[Jager]

Me thinks there's probably an argument there for a one-at-a-time primer seating protocol.

Glad to hear the outcome wasn't any worse, Scrummy. Scary, for sure!

 

[boltfluter]

I think I will stick with my K&M, one primer at a time. Glad you came through the blast intact!

Paul

 

[timeout]

Me thinks there's probably an argument there for a one-at-a-time primer seating protocol.

Glad to hear the outcome wasn't any worse, Scrummy. Scary, for sure!

I agree.

 

[Texas10]

Glad you're ok, that had to be quite frightening. Was it just 8 primers that did that damage? Where they small primers? I use that tool all the time and now I'm definitely worried because when loading small primers, some will flip and come up sideways, or it'll double load. Never had a problem with large primers, just small, and I make sure I"v got the correct shell holder in place. Green tray for RCBS shell holders, black for Hornaday shell holders that have a larger hole.

I've had mine jam when a primer flips while feeding out of the try, and often have to take it apart to clear. Very annoying!

I've learned to first elevate the primer and confirm its orientation then slide the case onto the shell holder and prime it. That seems to eliminate many mis feeds or upside down primers.

Can you describe when it detonated or in what part of the cycle you suspect caused the explosion?

This is very worrisome, indeed!

 

[chop house]

I've learned to first elevate the primer and confirm its orientation then slide the case onto the shell holder and prime it.

great advice....

 

[PopCharlie]

Thanks for posting Scrummy! Glad you're OK.
It's a good reminder of the potential dangers of our sport. I haven't been wearing my safety glasses while reloading lately. I'm gonna wear them from now on.
PopCharlie

 

[Scrumbag]

Glad you're ok, that had to be quite frightening. Was it just 8 primers that did that damage? Where they small primers? I use that tool all the time and now I'm definitely worried because when loading small primers, some will flip and come up sideways, or it'll double load. Never had a problem with large primers, just small, and I make sure I"v got the correct shell holder in place. Green tray for RCBS shell holders, black for Hornaday shell holders that have a larger hole.

I've had mine jam when a primer flips while feeding out of the try, and often have to take it apart to clear. Very annoying!

I've learned to first elevate the primer and confirm its orientation then slide the case onto the shell holder and prime it. That seems to eliminate many mis feeds or upside down primers.

Can you describe when it detonated or in what part of the cycle you suspect caused the explosion?

This is very worrisome, indeed!

Large pistol primers. Even loaded primers from this brick into these cases before. Happened on seating. Wondered if the primer didn’t align or was edge on

was more than 8 primers in the tray. That’s the ones that I found. Can’t find any others flashed or whole?

 

[jelenko]

A real WTF moment!

Does the primer that's about midway in the group have a small indent? I can't tell if the view is from the top of the primer or the bottom. If from the bottom, it looks like a light firing pin strike.

 

[Mulligan]

Hi folks,

Had a small scare the other day whilst reloading that might be a helpful reminder to people to keep safe and follow your procedures not being sloppy. Primer popped when being seated and flashed over into try causing other primers to detonate.

This happened using a Hornady Hand Primer

My set-up post incident

Close-up of hand primer – not sure where rest of pieces are.

Close-up of “flashed” primers (Note empty but dented cups)

And this is the resulting cuts to hand – fortunately they seem superficial. Blast also blew my glasses off my face and they landed ~6 feet away.

Fortunately I was wearing latex gloves so some protection.

Be careful folks and wear your eye protection.

(Just in case people are interested, didn’t notice anything different from usual. Cases were PPU factory on ~4th firing. Primers were Federal Large Pistol. Cases had been sonic cleaned and primer pockets checked prior to priming and I’d primed ~50 that session. This process has served me fine for ~3 years of loading)

Best wishes,

Scrummy

Thanks for posting this.
What a great safety reminder.
CW

 

[Forum Boss]

That is one reason why I preferred the RCBS APS system for hand, bench, and progressive press. No stack of primers, no enclosed tray of primers. Primers are set in a plastic strip, individually. The primers closest to the engaged primer being pushed are covered by metal.

Details:

Priming Tools — RCBS APS Strip System Tools « Daily Bulletin

Readers often ask: What priming tool should I use? There is no simple, clear-cut answer. Different tools have different advantages and disadvantages. Many short-range benchresters like the Sinclair one-at-a-time priming tool. They believe this unit has the best feel for seating primers.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Bill Norris]

Another reminder to wear eye protection. Thanks for posting.

 

[Forum Boss]

I have turned this post into a Daily Bulletin Article if you want to link for your non-member shooting buddies:

Priming Kaboom — Primer Flash Sets Off Multiple Primers in Tray « Daily Bulletin

Here is an important safety reminder for readers who employ hand priming tools with trays of multiple primers. In this instance a primer detonated while being seating in a pistol cartridge case. This caused a flash-over which instantly ignited multiple other primers in the tray.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Minshooter]

And... hearing protection.
A friend had a tube of primers fire in his Dillon 550. His ears are still whistling -five years later.
Made an impressive hole in the ceiling, too.

Forum Boss: One Reason I chose the RCBS 2000 when shopping for a progressive press is that there is not primer stack tube. Sadly, RCBS is no longer making the RCBS 2000 with APS strip priming. It was flawless, and VERY easy to change primer sizes (unlike the Dillons).

 

[JimPag]

Me thinks there's probably an argument there for a one-at-a-time primer seating protocol.

Glad to hear the outcome wasn't any worse, Scrummy. Scary, for sure!

Me thinks you are right. I don't know why so many people are in such a hurry loading ammo.

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

Before everyone heads for the closest bomb shelter - thousands of reloaders use this tool without problems, as have hundreds of thousands of others with similar hand priming tools with attached primer trays. The OP either did something out of the ordinary or his individual tool is defective, don’t condemn all such tools out of hand based on a single incident.

The OP was smart by wearing protective equipment which prevented him from taking serious injury. That is the lesson here - not that tools with primer trays are deadly instruments trying to main or kill us…..


.

 

[cheek9075]

I have had the same thing happen but it did not set off the other primers. I use the same tool and have issues with primers double feeding and turning side ways. I have learned to the the same thing as Texas 10 and verify no double feed and primer is in correct orientation before loading the brass into the shell holder.

 

[jghoghunter]

I have had the same thing happen but it did not set off the other primers. I use the same tool and have issues with primers double feeding and turning side ways. I have learned to the the same thing as Texas 10 and verify no double feed and primer is in correct orientation before loading the brass into the shell holder.

Glad you're ok, that had to be quite frightening. Was it just 8 primers that did that damage? Where they small primers? I use that tool all the time and now I'm definitely worried because when loading small primers, some will flip and come up sideways, or it'll double load. Never had a problem with large primers, just small, and I make sure I"v got the correct shell holder in place. Green tray for RCBS shell holders, black for Hornaday shell holders that have a larger hole.

I've had mine jam when a primer flips while feeding out of the try, and often have to take it apart to clear. Very annoying!

I've learned to first elevate the primer and confirm its orientation then slide the case onto the shell holder and prime it. That seems to eliminate many mis feeds or upside down primers.

Can you describe when it detonated or in what part of the cycle you suspect caused the explosion?

This is very worrisome, indeed!

I'm not trying to be an ass but here are 3 different people including the op using the same product and have the same problem. My suggestion would be to throw it in the garbage and get one that works well/better. There are plenty of priming methods that don't have those problems. Just one less thing to worry about.

 

[Scrumbag]

A real WTF moment!

Does the primer that's about midway in the group have a small indent? I can't tell if the view is from the top of the primer or the bottom. If from the bottom, it looks like a light firing pin strike.

No, inside, dent from Anvil I think

 

[Scrumbag]

I have turned this post into a Daily Bulletin Article if you want to link for your non-member shooting buddies:

Priming Kaboom — Primer Flash Sets Off Multiple Primers in Tray « Daily Bulletin

Here is an important safety reminder for readers who employ hand priming tools with trays of multiple primers. In this instance a primer detonated while being seating in a pistol cartridge case. This caused a flash-over which instantly ignited multiple other primers in the tray.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

View attachment 1271898

Happy to help