Premature detonation - The Firearms Forum

Packrat76 · 06-21-2012, 10:14 AM

While seating a CCI primer in a .44mag case, the primer detonated. The flash-bang really got my attention. I was using a 30yr old RCBS priming tool, bench mounted, and was gently applying pressure with the lever to seat the primer when it happened. I have loaded thousands of rounds of ammo and this is a first for me. My question is how much pressure to seat a primer is too much, not crushing, or is this a case of a defective primer. The primers in question are 30yrs old and have been properly stored.

gdmoody · 06-21-2012, 10:42 AM

I had my first one ever go off this week, also. I was using a kinetic bullet puller when the one I had went off. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=108857

I don't really know how to answer your question, when I load rifle cases I use an old Lee Ram Prime but I never had one go off on me until this week. When I "feel" the primer seat in the primer pocket, I release the pressure.

Hammerslagger · 06-21-2012, 11:49 AM

It happens. Fortunately, rarely.

Since such occurrences are rare, and hard to duplicate. You will likely never have a definitive answer as it destroyed itself when it exploded.

mikld · 06-21-2012, 11:51 AM

Since you have used your tool to install thousands of primers, I would say it (the POP!) was a defective primer or a once in a thousand mishap...

243winxb · 06-21-2012, 06:38 PM

Saw where a 9mm round was set off loading a magazine. www.photobucket.com/kabooom Steady pressure should not set off a primer, but strange things happen.

soundguy · 06-21-2012, 07:07 PM

after reading about anothe rmember that got an ear full seating a primer, i now wear ear plugs when priming up a batch of brass. I'm also very keen on alot of promer pocket ettention.. reaming when needed.. cleaning, uniforming and flash hole debur..e tc.. I use a new rcbs hand primer and usually get a feel for a correct primer seating in a partiular case style after a few cartridges are primed. I aim for abotu a .003-,005 past flush seating deptch.

I'm new hear of the last month.. but it seems a few are getting primer pops.. deffinately somethig to look at.

unless I misse dit.. what primer type were you seating?

76Highboy · 06-21-2012, 08:06 PM

I have never had a primer go off however but I have heard of it happening so as I was curious one time I took a moment to try and detonate a primer while in the priming stage. I always wear safety glasses and for this I did put ear muffs on. After the primer was seated I put a good amount of pressure on the primer (it was over exagerated and therefore more pressure than one would normaly put) and it would not detonate. I thought I was going break something but I did not. Also, the primer would not detonate. IMO a primer goes off accidentally because the primer pockets have an obstruction. A primer going off unexpectedly is not funny and it could be a disaster. I always recommend safety glasses when reloading.

soundguy · 06-21-2012, 08:14 PM

i wear glasses anyway and they are ansi rated.. so I add ear plugs and go. but I agree.. eye / ear protection seem a very good idea when priming..

Packrat76 · 06-22-2012, 01:58 PM

Primers in question were CCI 300 large pistol. The brass was R-P on it's 6th reload, brushed primer pocket and tight, loads for this batch have been 4.5gns of bulleye with a 240gn plated bullet. In the past I noticed while shooting magnum loads with cci, I would sometimes get a pierced primer or two out of a box of reloads, so I used them only for light target. Safety glasses and earplugs are a must in reloading.

soundguy · 06-22-2012, 04:15 PM

maybee the primer pocket needs to be uniformed? might be deformed / too tight?

06-21-2012, 10:14 AM	#1
Packrat76 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 49	Premature detonation While seating a CCI primer in a .44mag case, the primer detonated. The flash-bang really got my attention. I was using a 30yr old RCBS priming tool, bench mounted, and was gently applying pressure with the lever to seat the primer when it happened. I have loaded thousands of rounds of ammo and this is a first for me. My question is how much pressure to seat a primer is too much, not crushing, or is this a case of a defective primer. The primers in question are 30yrs old and have been properly stored. -->

06-21-2012, 10:42 AM	#2
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,324	Re: Premature detonation I had my first one ever go off this week, also. I was using a kinetic bullet puller when the one I had went off. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=108857 I don't really know how to answer your question, when I load rifle cases I use an old Lee Ram Prime but I never had one go off on me until this week. When I "feel" the primer seat in the primer pocket, I release the pressure. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

06-21-2012, 11:49 AM	#3
Hammerslagger Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,099	Re: Premature detonation It happens. Fortunately, rarely. Since such occurrences are rare, and hard to duplicate. You will likely never have a definitive answer as it destroyed itself when it exploded.

06-21-2012, 11:51 AM	#4
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: Premature detonation Since you have used your tool to install thousands of primers, I would say it (the POP!) was a defective primer or a once in a thousand mishap... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.

06-21-2012, 06:38 PM	#5
243winxb V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA Posts: 106	Re: Premature detonation Saw where a 9mm round was set off loading a magazine. www.photobucket.com/kabooom Steady pressure should not set off a primer, but strange things happen.

06-21-2012, 07:07 PM	#6
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,436	Re: Premature detonation after reading about anothe rmember that got an ear full seating a primer, i now wear ear plugs when priming up a batch of brass. I'm also very keen on alot of promer pocket ettention.. reaming when needed.. cleaning, uniforming and flash hole debur..e tc.. I use a new rcbs hand primer and usually get a feel for a correct primer seating in a partiular case style after a few cartridges are primed. I aim for abotu a .003-,005 past flush seating deptch. I'm new hear of the last month.. but it seems a few are getting primer pops.. deffinately somethig to look at. unless I misse dit.. what primer type were you seating?

06-21-2012, 08:06 PM	#7
76Highboy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Meridian, Idaho Contributor Posts: 6,955	Re: Premature detonation I have never had a primer go off however but I have heard of it happening so as I was curious one time I took a moment to try and detonate a primer while in the priming stage. I always wear safety glasses and for this I did put ear muffs on. After the primer was seated I put a good amount of pressure on the primer (it was over exagerated and therefore more pressure than one would normaly put) and it would not detonate. I thought I was going break something but I did not. Also, the primer would not detonate. IMO a primer goes off accidentally because the primer pockets have an obstruction. A primer going off unexpectedly is not funny and it could be a disaster. I always recommend safety glasses when reloading.

06-21-2012, 08:14 PM	#8
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,436	Re: Premature detonation i wear glasses anyway and they are ansi rated.. so I add ear plugs and go. but I agree.. eye / ear protection seem a very good idea when priming..

06-22-2012, 01:58 PM	#9
Packrat76 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 49	Re: Premature detonation Primers in question were CCI 300 large pistol. The brass was R-P on it's 6th reload, brushed primer pocket and tight, loads for this batch have been 4.5gns of bulleye with a 240gn plated bullet. In the past I noticed while shooting magnum loads with cci, I would sometimes get a pierced primer or two out of a box of reloads, so I used them only for light target. Safety glasses and earplugs are a must in reloading.

06-22-2012, 04:15 PM	#10
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,436	Re: Premature detonation maybee the primer pocket needs to be uniformed? might be deformed / too tight?