Primer Blast - The Firearms Forum

Gene Seward · 02-09-2011, 09:17 PM

Well today I had a first. While priming for the .223 I had just pushed the primer in when it went off. It made a nice light show out the top of the brass and about made my wife have a heart attack. LOL I didn't have too much pressure on it and then when the primer was removed the side was loose unlike I have ever seen. Sure am glad I wear glasses when loading. Has this happened to anyone else?

woolleyworm · 02-09-2011, 10:04 PM

Got any pictures? Pics of the primer pocket especially. Possibly seated sideways or seated onto the crimp which somehow crushed the anvil with enough force to ignite?

What brand of primer and what headstamp case?

Gene Seward · 02-09-2011, 10:16 PM

CCI primer and Remington case. Primer was in no way sideways or appeared to be bent or damaged in anyway. It got my attention real quick. LOL

upsguy · 02-09-2011, 10:23 PM

Did that do any damage to you besides scare the crap outta you?

I'm new to reloading, haven't tried it yet and this is what I'm kinda worried about...

How powerful are those little things anyway?

LDBennett · 02-10-2011, 07:29 AM

I have been reloading for over 25 years and have made thousands and thousands of rounds in my Dillon RL550B using mostly Winchester primers. I have never had a primer go off in my press. I have on occasion had a primer get flipped sideways in its RL550B primer cup and pressed into the primer pocket of the case all crunched sideways and pressed flat, but never has one gone off.

If the primer went off as it was being seated there is problem with that batch of primers, I would guess. What brand? You may want to call the manufacturer and report the problem. A primer should NEVER go off during seating! If it does it may be oversensitive and that is a batch or lot problem the manufacturer wants to know about.

There is also the possibility that your press is adjusted for primer seating wrong. My Dillon has a factory setup punch that can not over seat the primer. I suppose it is possible that the primer punch over seated the primer and crushed the priming pellet making it go off. That is something to check for.

LDBennett

redwing carson · 02-10-2011, 09:05 AM

This happens when residue builds up on the face of the primer seater. This can be hard carbon or metal shavings. Cases that have crimped primer seats that are loaded with out the crimp being removed. These cases leave metal shavings on the primer seat. Cases that are loaded without removing carbon from the flash holes will leave a hard buid up. This build up acts like a firing pin when the seater is forced against the primer. Always wear glasses while reloading.

RC

Alpo · 02-10-2011, 09:14 AM

Like LD, I've been loading over 30 years. Put 'em in frontways, backwards and sideways. Never - that's not one single time - have I had one go off. I've heard people warning about how it "might" happen, and recommending wearing safety glasses, but this is maybe the third time I've heard of it "actually" happening.

carver · 02-10-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upsguy

Did that do any damage to you besides scare the crap outta you?

I'm new to reloading, haven't tried it yet and this is what I'm kinda worried about...

How powerful are those little things anyway?

I've been reloading for over 35 years, and have never had this happen to me. I can't imagine a primer going off while being seated! Like LDBennett said, I have had them go in sideways, but never fire. As to how powerfull a primer is, well the large pistol primers will blow a hole thru both sides of a lunch size paper bag. I do believe that if you primed a shell for a hand gun with a large pistol/mag primer, put the hand gun to your head, and pulled the trigger, well let's just say that you problaby wouldn't be around any more!

jim brady · 02-10-2011, 11:09 AM

I guess I'm one of the old geezer guys - been loading since the early 1970s - and have never had a primer detonate while seating. I popped one once while decapping some primed cases (not really a good or recommended idea). With the many thousands of primers that I have seated, I guess I have loaded them in every way imaginable at one time or another.

As far as 'how powerful' is a detonated primer? Well, it is loud and will scare the dog stuff out of you when your'e not expecting it. Wearing safety glasses is a great idea. I'm not silly enough to try it, but I imagine that if you loaded a pistol case with only the primer and detonated it pointed at un-protected skin that you might be able to burn yourself, but I certainly doubt that it would kill you.

It's always a good idea to keep your loading bench clear, your equipment clean and wear safety glasses while reloading.

Gene Seward · 02-10-2011, 02:51 PM

I didn't even have time to mess my pants when it went off. LOL It wasn't like it blew anything up, but it did wake me up. Thank goodness it was a small rifle primer. I just checked to see if any damage was done, and tried to see any reason for it happening. Then I went back to loading. As far as being scared about loading, I have been for years and really wanted to reload. Now that I have been doing it for about three or four years I don't get scared or nervous about it even after this. If don't right and pay attention to what you are doing it is less likely to get hurt that mowing your lawn and being hit with debris.

accident · 02-10-2011, 03:29 PM

Maybe a stuopid question but you were using your press when installing your primer and not a hand held primer tool right? Joe

armedandsafe · 02-10-2011, 07:12 PM

The only time I have had a primer go off iin the press was when one berdan case got mixed in with the boxer cases. That's in 50+ years of reloading.

Pops

johnlives4christ · 02-10-2011, 07:27 PM

i've hit primers with a hammer before. just like those cap gun things in a plastic ring. i just blinked when i did it. i seriously doubt a primer could kill. i can see it blinding you. but not killin

todd51 · 02-10-2011, 07:46 PM

I too have never had one go off and like the others I have loaded them every which way by accident. As to how powerful, I don't know but I used to shoot plastic cases loaded with a plastic wad cutter powered only by a primer. At 20-25 feet they will go right through a cardboard box. I had to hang a piece of carpet to control them. Also shot many .45 acp cases powered by only a primer and loaded with wax/paraffin bullets. They too would penetrate cardboard. Bet they would raise a good welt if they hit you. Good winter time in the basement fun.

JLA · 02-10-2011, 07:49 PM

Like LD and ALPO, never had one go pop. I too have squished em in sideways, upsidedown and rightside up, even deprimed one I pushed in upside down with a punch and hammer... no pop...

jdon72 · 02-10-2011, 07:50 PM

Ahh heck guys...it happens to the best of us. If anything, it is a learning experience. Do not force the machine...if it does not feel smoothe or normal, stop and look.

J

JLA · 02-10-2011, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd51

I too have never had one go off and like the others I have loaded them every which way by accident. As to how powerful, I don't know but I used to shoot plastic cases loaded with a plastic wad cutter powered only by a primer. At 20-25 feet they will go right through a cardboard box. I had to hang a piece of carpet to control them. Also shot many .45 acp cases powered by only a primer and loaded with wax/paraffin bullets. They too would penetrate cardboard. Bet they would raise a good welt if they hit you. Good winter time in the basement fun.

I shot my wife in the buttcheek with one of those primer powered plastic bullets from a .44 mag. Those little suckers will leave a blood blister. She was mad at me for a week and made me let her shoot me back... They do hurt!

todd51 · 02-10-2011, 08:30 PM

Josh

Dang man you were asking for a whole bunch of trouble. That was funny.

CampingJosh · 02-10-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upsguy

How powerful are those little things anyway?

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

i've hit primers with a hammer before. just like those cap gun things in a plastic ring. i just blinked when i did it. i seriously doubt a primer could kill. i can see it blinding you. but not killin

It's my understanding that Aguila Super Colibri shorts don't use any powder; the 20-grain bullet is propelled to over 500 fps by just the primer. Would it kill? I won't check.

However, that is in a contained discharge. The vast majority of the pressure in cartridge propels the bullet. When a primer discharges in the open (such as in a case that does not have a bullet in it), the pressure can disperse much more rapidly. It's unlikely to cause injury to anything but the softest of tissue, like your eyes.

merrill · 02-10-2011, 08:56 PM

I have had a few primers go off, but I should say that I was using the classic Lee Loader. You know- the one you use a hammer with rather than a press. I was never injured. I learned to tap lightly with a small hammer and keep everything away from my face.

JLA · 02-11-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by todd51

Josh

Dang man you were asking for a whole bunch of trouble. That was funny.

guess you could say I am a glutton for punishment. Once I went full auto on her hind quarters with my oldest sons M4 airsoft replica. I fired a rope of white BBs and every one of them hit the same spot, boy was she hot! Again, she was mad for a week and made me let her empty the mag on me, I had little purple dots for 3 days

gdmoody · 02-11-2011, 11:47 PM

I have to go along with just about everyone else. I have been reloading for about 35 years and have never had one go off. I have had metal shavings get between the primer and the ram and left little impressions in the primer, still without them going off. Probably just a fluke, but if it happened again with the same batch of primers, I would notify CCI as already suggested.

Along the lines of Josh's post, I shot myself with one of those Air Soft pistols once. Told my son something along the lines of - it says AIR SOFT, it can't hurt you.

I'm here to tell you, IT AIN'T SOFT!!

dammitman · 02-12-2011, 05:53 AM

i can tell you that those rubber bullets they sell on midway only use a large pistol primer for propellent in 44 mag and they will go thru the drywall in my garage!

carver · 02-12-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carver

I've been reloading for over 35 years, and have never had this happen to me. I can't imagine a primer going off while being seated! Like LDBennett said, I have had them go in sideways, but never fire. As to how powerfull a primer is, well the large pistol primers will blow a hole thru both sides of a lunch size paper bag. I do believe that if you primed a shell for a hand gun with a large pistol/mag primer, put the hand gun to your head, and pulled the trigger, well let's just say that you problaby wouldn't be around any more!

My comment was considered in a closed enviornment. The presure could only go in one confined direction. Around 15, or 20 years ago a star on a TV show placed the barrel of a gun to his head, and fired it. He was shooting blanks, and thought that they would not hurt him. He died.

Gene Seward · 02-12-2011, 01:51 PM

Guys we are a bunch of not too tightly wrapped people. LOLOLOL Shooting each other and walls to see if something works or will hurt. Let me tell you if I shot my wife with even a rubber band gun she would most likely get one of my ARs for payback. LOL Anyway thanks for all the help and the stories and it hasn't happened again in the last couple of days and may never happen again.

02-09-2011, 09:17 PM	#1
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Primer Blast Well today I had a first. While priming for the .223 I had just pushed the primer in when it went off. It made a nice light show out the top of the brass and about made my wife have a heart attack. LOL I didn't have too much pressure on it and then when the primer was removed the side was loose unlike I have ever seen. Sure am glad I wear glasses when loading. Has this happened to anyone else? -->

02-09-2011, 10:04 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: Primer Blast Got any pictures? Pics of the primer pocket especially. Possibly seated sideways or seated onto the crimp which somehow crushed the anvil with enough force to ignite? What brand of primer and what headstamp case? __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

02-09-2011, 10:16 PM	#3
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Re: Primer Blast CCI primer and Remington case. Primer was in no way sideways or appeared to be bent or damaged in anyway. It got my attention real quick. LOL

02-09-2011, 10:23 PM	#4
upsguy V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CROOK Co. Illinois Posts: 77	Re: Primer Blast Did that do any damage to you besides scare the crap outta you? I'm new to reloading, haven't tried it yet and this is what I'm kinda worried about... How powerful are those little things anyway? __________________ Your best weapon is your brain, don't leave home without it.

02-10-2011, 07:29 AM	#5
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,711	Re: Primer Blast I have been reloading for over 25 years and have made thousands and thousands of rounds in my Dillon RL550B using mostly Winchester primers. I have never had a primer go off in my press. I have on occasion had a primer get flipped sideways in its RL550B primer cup and pressed into the primer pocket of the case all crunched sideways and pressed flat, but never has one gone off. If the primer went off as it was being seated there is problem with that batch of primers, I would guess. What brand? You may want to call the manufacturer and report the problem. A primer should NEVER go off during seating! If it does it may be oversensitive and that is a batch or lot problem the manufacturer wants to know about. There is also the possibility that your press is adjusted for primer seating wrong. My Dillon has a factory setup punch that can not over seat the primer. I suppose it is possible that the primer punch over seated the primer and crushed the priming pellet making it go off. That is something to check for. LDBennett

02-10-2011, 09:05 AM	#6
redwing carson Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: western wyoming Posts: 734	Re: Primer Blast This happens when residue builds up on the face of the primer seater. This can be hard carbon or metal shavings. Cases that have crimped primer seats that are loaded with out the crimp being removed. These cases leave metal shavings on the primer seat. Cases that are loaded without removing carbon from the flash holes will leave a hard buid up. This build up acts like a firing pin when the seater is forced against the primer. Always wear glasses while reloading. RC

02-10-2011, 09:14 AM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Primer Blast Like LD, I've been loading over 30 years. Put 'em in frontways, backwards and sideways. Never - that's not one single time - have I had one go off. I've heard people warning about how it "might" happen, and recommending wearing safety glasses, but this is maybe the third time I've heard of it "actually" happening. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

02-10-2011, 11:09 AM	#9
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,072	Re: Primer Blast I guess I'm one of the old geezer guys - been loading since the early 1970s - and have never had a primer detonate while seating. I popped one once while decapping some primed cases (not really a good or recommended idea). With the many thousands of primers that I have seated, I guess I have loaded them in every way imaginable at one time or another. As far as 'how powerful' is a detonated primer? Well, it is loud and will scare the dog stuff out of you when your'e not expecting it. Wearing safety glasses is a great idea. I'm not silly enough to try it, but I imagine that if you loaded a pistol case with only the primer and detonated it pointed at un-protected skin that you might be able to burn yourself, but I certainly doubt that it would kill you. It's always a good idea to keep your loading bench clear, your equipment clean and wear safety glasses while reloading.

02-10-2011, 02:51 PM	#10
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Re: Primer Blast I didn't even have time to mess my pants when it went off. LOL It wasn't like it blew anything up, but it did wake me up. Thank goodness it was a small rifle primer. I just checked to see if any damage was done, and tried to see any reason for it happening. Then I went back to loading. As far as being scared about loading, I have been for years and really wanted to reload. Now that I have been doing it for about three or four years I don't get scared or nervous about it even after this. If don't right and pay attention to what you are doing it is less likely to get hurt that mowing your lawn and being hit with debris.

02-10-2011, 03:29 PM	#11
accident V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: middle GA Posts: 364	Re: Primer Blast Maybe a stuopid question but you were using your press when installing your primer and not a hand held primer tool right? Joe __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the Right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." Thomas Jefferson

02-10-2011, 07:12 PM	#12
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	Re: Primer Blast The only time I have had a primer go off iin the press was when one berdan case got mixed in with the boxer cases. That's in 50+ years of reloading. Pops

02-10-2011, 07:27 PM	#13
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Primer Blast i've hit primers with a hammer before. just like those cap gun things in a plastic ring. i just blinked when i did it. i seriously doubt a primer could kill. i can see it blinding you. but not killin

02-10-2011, 07:46 PM	#14
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,571	Re: Primer Blast I too have never had one go off and like the others I have loaded them every which way by accident. As to how powerful, I don't know but I used to shoot plastic cases loaded with a plastic wad cutter powered only by a primer. At 20-25 feet they will go right through a cardboard box. I had to hang a piece of carpet to control them. Also shot many .45 acp cases powered by only a primer and loaded with wax/paraffin bullets. They too would penetrate cardboard. Bet they would raise a good welt if they hit you. Good winter time in the basement fun. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

02-10-2011, 07:49 PM	#15
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,309	Re: Primer Blast Like LD and ALPO, never had one go pop. I too have squished em in sideways, upsidedown and rightside up, even deprimed one I pushed in upside down with a punch and hammer... no pop... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-10-2011, 07:50 PM	#16
jdon72 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 340	Re: Primer Blast Ahh heck guys...it happens to the best of us. If anything, it is a learning experience. Do not force the machine...if it does not feel smoothe or normal, stop and look. J

02-10-2011, 08:30 PM	#18
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,571	Re: Primer Blast Josh Dang man you were asking for a whole bunch of trouble. That was funny. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

02-10-2011, 08:56 PM	#20
merrill V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 96	Re: Primer Blast I have had a few primers go off, but I should say that I was using the classic Lee Loader. You know- the one you use a hammer with rather than a press. I was never injured. I learned to tap lightly with a small hammer and keep everything away from my face.

02-11-2011, 11:47 PM	#22
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,311	Re: Primer Blast I have to go along with just about everyone else. I have been reloading for about 35 years and have never had one go off. I have had metal shavings get between the primer and the ram and left little impressions in the primer, still without them going off. Probably just a fluke, but if it happened again with the same batch of primers, I would notify CCI as already suggested. Along the lines of Josh's post, I shot myself with one of those Air Soft pistols once. Told my son something along the lines of - it says AIR SOFT, it can't hurt you. I'm here to tell you, IT AIN'T SOFT!! __________________ 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)

02-12-2011, 05:53 AM	#23
dammitman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 241	Re: Primer Blast i can tell you that those rubber bullets they sell on midway only use a large pistol primer for propellent in 44 mag and they will go thru the drywall in my garage!

02-12-2011, 01:51 PM	#25
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Re: Primer Blast Guys we are a bunch of not too tightly wrapped people. LOLOLOL Shooting each other and walls to see if something works or will hurt. Let me tell you if I shot my wife with even a rubber band gun she would most likely get one of my ARs for payback. LOL Anyway thanks for all the help and the stories and it hasn't happened again in the last couple of days and may never happen again.