What Could Go Wrong? Primer Detonation

[walker2713]

I was driving through the Memphis area on the way home to Louisiana last week when I received a rather frantic call from my hunting and shooting buddy in Monroe. He said he'd had an accident while reloading, and would I take him to the hospital....of course I couldn't but he found another friend to take him. When I asked him a few days ago why he hadn't call 911, he said that all things considered, he didn't think his condition warranted it. When I spoke with him later that day I learned that while priming cases a primer had detonated, and in turn exploded 44 more primers which were in the plastic dish. He was using a Hornady unit:



The explosion blew his right thumb off, and he could see the bone sticking out. His hands were burnt, but otherwise he was OK. The docs at the ER re-attached his thumb but said he probably would not have any kind of thumbnail when all was said an done. Heres a photo:


He knows he was very fortunate....it could have been a whole lot worse! He was not wearing safety glasses.

I've been a serious reloader for over 30 years, and while generally aware of some potential risks, have been very fortunate...so far. I've used a lot of different priming tools over the years, but for the last several I've been using one of these "one at a time" tools from 21st Century Shooting. It's slow, but it works well for me.



I'm posting just as a reminder of what can go wrong when we least expect it.

George

 

[JaoeyP]

Any idea what brand of primer he was using? Lee Precision in their instructions for their progressive presses recommend CCI or Remington, unless you have a blast shield, and specifically call out Federal primers as being especially explosive.

 

[Webster]

I was driving through the Memphis area on the way home to Louisiana last week when I received a rather frantic call from my hunting and shooting buddy in Monroe. He said he'd had an accident while reloading, and would I take him to the hospital....of course I couldn't but he found another friend to take him. When I asked him a few days ago why he hadn't call 911, he said that all things considered, he didn't think his condition warranted it. When I spoke with him later that day I learned that while priming cases a primer had detonated, and in turn exploded 44 more primers which were in the plastic dish. He was using a Hornady unit:



The explosion blew his right thumb off, and he could see the bone sticking out. His hands were burnt, but otherwise he was OK. The docs at the ER re-attached his thumb but said he probably would not have any kind of thumbnail when all was said an done. Heres a photo:


He knows he was very fortunate....it could have been a whole lot worse! He was not wearing safety glasses.

I've been a serious reloader for over 30 years, and while generally aware of some potential risks, have been very fortunate...so far. I've used a lot of different priming tools over the years, but for the last several I've been using one of these "one at a time" tools from 21st Century Shooting. It's slow, but it works well for me.



I'm posting just as a reminder of what can go wrong when we least expect it.

George

That's the reason I pick them up one at a time from a flipper tray. No speedup short cuts. I have a primer attachment for my press that stacks the primers in a metal tube near eye level.. Looks like a pipe bomb. I think it's made by RCBS? Refuse to even try it.

 

[loneranger04]

I was told years ago when I started reloading that you should never touch primers because the oil from your skin would cause a misfire. Nowadays I see lots of people touching them apparently without consequences.
I’ve used the Lee hand priming tool however switched to using my Dillion press. It works well and does a good job of seating the primer. I’ve heard of primers detonation but, as any has mentioned, was with Federal primers. Probably should rethink my procedures. I do wear safety glasses though.
Sorry for your friend. Glad he’s not seriously injured.

 

[Rsadams]

Ouch , sorry to hear about your friend... People think the powder is what you have to worry about when they start loading , later you learn it's the primers... Those little things have some power especially when your talking about a chain explosion..

I friend who reloads learned a lesson the other day when he dropped a cigarette in a bowl of about 500 primers... I have told him time and time again but he leaves plastic bowls of loose powder on his bench etc.. luckily it didn't burn the house down...
He really shouldn't be reloading , I have told him that also , he has had alot of problems with his reloads...Plus he won't listen to anything you tell him...

 

[John Russell]

I was told years ago when I started reloading that you should never touch primers because the oil from your skin would cause a misfire. Nowadays I see lots of people touching them apparently without consequences.

That is an old wive's tale, and total nonsense.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml

 

[jlow]

Those hand priming tools as you can see in the above photo prime right next to all the primers sitting in the tray, so that would significantly increase you chance of a chain explosion.

 

[mr45man]

That is an old wive's tale, and total nonsense.

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/killprimers.shtml

I use tweezers, cause these fingers could never get them where they need to be next

 

[Webster]

I was told years ago when I started reloading that you should never touch primers because the oil from your skin would cause a misfire. Nowadays I see lots of people touching them apparently without consequences.
I’ve used the Lee hand priming tool however switched to using my Dillion press. It works well and does a good job of seating the primer. I’ve heard of primers detonation but, as any has mentioned, was with Federal primers. Probably should rethink my procedures. I do wear safety glasses though.
Sorry for your friend. Glad he’s not seriously injured.

Your finger prints only touch the outside of the primer. Common sense.

 

[mousegunner]

I use the RCBS bench mounted tool and no problems so far except I load 10 primers into the tube at a time. I have seen where someone used a small diameter steel pipe around the primer tube to have some protection in case the primers blew they would be directed up.

Does anyone know of a vertical primer tube RCBS or otherwise that has had a primer detonation and what caused it?

 

[rijndael]

Does anyone know of a vertical primer tube RCBS or otherwise that has had a primer detonation and what caused it?

Yes. I lit a tube of primers in my 1050. I had a primer that ignited on seating and I suspect there was some primer residue along the slide that lead to the tube. I'd been having priming problems that resulted in a lot of crushed primers and residue.

The double walled design contained the explosion. It ruptured the internal aluminum sleeve, but didn't even bulge the exterior sleeve, which is steel.

It was quite loud.

 

[mikecr]

Are you crushing primers so much as to set them off?
Takes a lot to do that

 

[rijndael]

No, the only one that lit was the one I described above. All of the ones that left residue were just crushed.

 

[slm9s]

I was reloading 50bmg, seating a primer on the press when one went off. DAMN that was loud!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Anything's possible but I consider the RCBS tubes a pretty safe method, as the actual seating of the primer happens inside of the press ram and with space from the rest of the primers. I think RCBS did get away from that system, didn't they? That said, I use an RCBS hand primer. I have see the above example happen to someone else with a Lee hand primer. Luckily, it wasn't nearly as bad. I think it cracked the primer tray and set off 3-5 primers in it. ...Luckily.

I think this is a good thread that emphasizes the importance of cleaning the press and priming tool regularly, as well as not having powder out and nearby during priming. I'm guilty.

 

[NWnewguy]

Not fully related, but has anyone used the Primal Rights priming tool?

I know it's more than a little on the pricey side, but it sure looks like a great execution. I'd like to buy one, but I put it in a similar category as a Prometheus powder dispenser. Just have to wait until I can justify it.

 

[mikecr]

Stop over/under primer seating

 

[243winxb]

Clean regularly to get rid of primer dust.
Never force or crush a primer.
Federal primers may contain Nitroglycerin . See MSDS.

Most times its a progressive press involved.

 

[jlow]

Clean regularly to get rid of primer dust.
Never force or crush a primer.
Federal primers may contain Nitroglycerin . See MSDS.

Most times its a progressive press involved.

As an SOP, I always used compress air (after a through vacuuming ) to clean out the whole XL650 after each heavy use. This includes the shell plate, primer disc, powder, and dies. It is an excellent way to avoid having stuff build up and accumulate.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Any handheld priming tool that holds more than one primer should be outlawed and destroyed.