Hammer style bullet puller - Accidental discharge.

[Dusty Stevens]

I started with a Lee hand loader back in the 60's and had more than a few detonate loading .30-30 with that priming rod and a hammer.

My first loading was done in my bedroom with a lee loader on a 2x4 laying on the carpet. Id go shoot so i could load more. My mom stayed scared to death i was loading ammo with a rusted claw hammer in her house.

 

[shoot4fun]

i hate to say this but i do not buy it.
a primer is an IMPACT EXPLOSIVE.
impact drives the parts down not up
what detonated the primer, it should have just fallen out of the hammer setup
what was the impact ??

I cannot nor will not speak to what caused the OP's issue.
I also will not begin to try to pinpoint a cause for what happened in my case.
I will tell you, without hesitation, there were several indications that the primer was in a tight primer pocket and was not moving at all. I hit the head of the inertia puller on my concrete floor. It was the first strike and the primer detonated on impact. The puller itself shattered and broke into two pieces. There was also the faint smell of smoke in the air and that primer traveled almost 8" straight up to strike and shatter the flourescent shop light bulbs overhead. Now here is the part that baffled, surprised and even blessed me.
The powder inside didn't ignite so the brass didn't rupture and send shrapnel my way.
PS
I was using the puller as it was meant to be used and the live round had been fully inserted into the collet. The collet was hand tight and the collet, collet holder and cartridge intact. The puller cracked under the screw on collet holder and the handle broke off cleanly (plastic handle).

 

[acloco]

More than likely, powder migrated between the primer pocket and the primer.

 

[Gary in MD]

This episode is a real eye opener. I've used a RCBS impact puller for many, many years and always figured that there was no way that the round (or primer) could detonate. It sounds like it IS possible, however rare it may be.
I'm glad that I ALWAYS use eye protection when using the puller and will continue to exercise the utmost caution. Thanks to the OP for sharing his experience.
Gary

 

[LHSmith]

I cannot nor will not speak to what caused the OP's issue.
I also will not begin to try to pinpoint a cause for what happened in my case.
I will tell you, without hesitation, there were several indications that the primer was in a tight primer pocket and was not moving at all. I hit the head of the inertia puller on my concrete floor. It was the first strike and the primer detonated on impact. The puller itself shattered and broke into two pieces. There was also the faint smell of smoke in the air and that primer traveled almost 8" straight up to strike and shatter the flourescent shop light bulbs overhead. Now here is the part that baffled, surprised and even blessed me.
The powder inside didn't ignite so the brass didn't rupture and send shrapnel my way.
PS
I was using the puller as it was meant to be used and the live round had been fully inserted into the collet. The collet was hand tight and the collet, collet holder and cartridge intact. The puller cracked under the screw on collet holder and the handle broke off cleanly (plastic handle).

My instructions specifically state to hit on a hardwood block- preferably on the end grain and not on concrete as that would cause the plastic head to shatter.

 

[shoot4fun]

My instructions specifically state to hit on a hardwood block- preferably on the end grain and not on concrete as that would cause the plastic head to shatter.

Used them on wood, concrete and even the anvil part of a vise. Never had an issue with head shattering.
Even in the incident I describe you will see nothing saying the head shattered. The head came off the handle, snapping when the primer went off.
I am NOT here to argue anything with you, as you seem to have it all figured out. Just saying a certain amount of safety need be exercised in the use of the inertia pullers.

 

[markm87]

Would have been better off just shooting the load and pitching the brass into the recycle bucket.

A loose primer will fire form to the pocket and stay in there.

I've never pulled a round due to loose pocket. But I'll mark it so that I don't load it again.

 

[762plinker]

I cannot nor will not speak to what caused the OP's issue.
I also will not begin to try to pinpoint a cause for what happened in my case.
I will tell you, without hesitation, there were several indications that the primer was in a tight primer pocket and was not moving at all. I hit the head of the inertia puller on my concrete floor. It was the first strike and the primer detonated on impact. The puller itself shattered and broke into two pieces. There was also the faint smell of smoke in the air and that primer traveled almost 8" straight up to strike and shatter the flourescent shop light bulbs overhead. Now here is the part that baffled, surprised and even blessed me.
The powder inside didn't ignite so the brass didn't rupture and send shrapnel my way.
PS
I was using the puller as it was meant to be used and the live round had been fully inserted into the collet. The collet was hand tight and the collet, collet holder and cartridge intact. The puller cracked under the screw on collet holder and the handle broke off cleanly (plastic handle).

here is the issue. the primer is an IMPACT EXPLOSIVE. BASICALLY IT HAS TO BE HIT TO GO OFF, distance from top of cup to the anvil . the primer pocket PREVENTS movement.
so we still do not know what cause the primer to detonate. and b there is no PRECISION chamber in the bullet puller...to will not EXPLODE. the case will not rupture, the bullet would pop out and powder burn, no sealed chamber no significant pressure.
my guess is you deforemed the primer in seating it which led to its detonation

 

[shoot4fun]

here is the issue. the primer is an IMPACT EXPLOSIVE. BASICALLY IT HAS TO BE HIT TO GO OFF, distance from top of cup to the anvil . the primer pocket PREVENTS movement.
so we still do not know what cause the primer to detonate. and b there is no PRECISION chamber in the bullet puller...to will not EXPLODE. the case will not rupture, the bullet would pop out and powder burn, no sealed chamber no significant pressure.
my guess is you deforemed the primer in seating it which led to its detonation

Thank you for your "guess" but we still don't have, nor do I actually seek, any definitive answer to why it happened.
My point here was merely to give some support to the OP because the event he describes CAN actually happen and there have been more incidents.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES and keep the puller pointed away from your head.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I have seen my kinetic puller dislodge the priming compound from the primer cup.

This is what I believe caused the primer to go off, it may be possible that the priming compound was dislodged from the cup striking the primer pocket or the dislodged
primed compound got caught between the proud primer and the primer pocket and when the primer was forced into the compound it did what it was designed to do.

 

[Tempest]

So what other puller do you guys have or use

My press, a washer, spark plug wire boot and a vise grips.

Have done it this way for years.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Glad you're ok!

Somehow, the word "impact" never seemed to go well in my mind with the idea of a tool for pulling loaded rounds.

 

[762plinker]

More than likely, powder migrated between the primer pocket and the primer.

so
there is sealant on top of the priming compound,
and so now we have both come apart, but only the priming compound gets under a primer cup that gone
proud(above flat with the case) and some how this very uncommon situation then detonates, and it is the tools fault...
i'll pass

 

[jelenko]

so
there is sealant on top of the priming compound,
and so now we have both come apart, but only the priming compound gets under a primer cup that gone
proud(above flat with the case) and some how this very uncommon situation then detonates, and it is the tools fault...
i'll pass

Except that it wouldn't happen with a collet puller.

 

[David Milisock]

Absolutely why we should ALL wear safety glasses when working with hand loading stuff. You never know when something will go bang out of place.

SAFETY! What's that? All jokes aside working with propellants requires diligence.

 

[762plinker]

SAFETY! What's that? All jokes aside working with propellants requires diligence.

a primer is NOT a PROPELLANT.
it is an EXPLOSIVE....THE ONLY EXPLOSIVE WE USE(out side of black powder

 

[Dgd6mm]

I use a kinetic puller. Should I change to a press collet puller?
I'm glad you're all right.

 

[6BRA]

Pull a wadcutter with a collet. Alot of pistol rounds can't be pulled with a collet.

 

[LHSmith]

If you think you need an alternative Creedmoor Sports carries the Davidson pliers type which has long been used in Benchrest.

 

[acloco]

so
there is sealant on top of the priming compound,
and so now we have both come apart, but only the priming compound gets under a primer cup that gone
proud(above flat with the case) and some how this very uncommon situation then detonates, and it is the tools fault...
i'll pass

Could be powder migrated into the cavity revealed by the primer movement. Powder and the cup of the primer are combined with the next WHACK of the inertial bullet puller.