Primer chain explosion in the tube

[Charly]

I read the other day in a French firearms magasine ("Cible n° 476") about this guy, 30 years of reloading experience, who had a chain explosion in the priming tube of his press. The probable cause would be static electricity ingniciating a primer and the explosion of the first one starting a chain reaction in the tube.

I remember reading about that possible danger.

Anyone experienced something similar first hand or heard about such an occurance ?

What can be done to prevent this occurance ?

That story pretty much scares me, if this guy with 30 years experience, can have it exploding !

Charly

[FlyBoy]

Grounding the press, safety glasses (always when priming for me) rabbits foot.

Golf?

[Trooperdan]

And a shield around the primer tube, if the design allows it.

[cohutt]

Safety glasses and the heavy steel primer magazine shield on your 650. The design will blow it out the top

[BigSlick]

Yep.

Primer magazine tube will prevent any user injury. Priovided you aren't looking down the tube at the time ;)

I've seen remnants of one primer tube explosion. All the primers went stright up the tube and splattered the ceiling above the press.

I've seen one or two pics on the net over the past few years of a primer mag explosion on a Dillon, and none I can recall involved injury to the user. The one I saw the remnants of was from using a Fed primer and not paying attention when 'feeling' a primer into place. The user was running too fast and not paying 100% attention.

I've seen Lee explosions too, their trays are completely open except for the plastic cover, which is angled toward the user. They now have a blast shield available.

Be careful and you'll be just fine ;)

[VN350X10]

Lee tells you NOT to use Federal's....

One of the guys in our IPSC club has blown the primer tube on his Super 1050 TWICE ! Haven't figured it out yet, as there is well over an inch from seating location to feed tube. But then, Ken is "special"....could break a crowbar in an empty sandbox !

uncle albert

[Charly]

I had one primer tube explosion (about 10 to 15 primers) when I first started reloading. I just had the 650 setted up and I believe it was the first or second week, the press still temporary installed in the basement. The handle got 'stuck' and I used the good all solution : brutal force !

Except for a very scary split moment nothing happened.
And the only part that broke from the explosion was the copper end tip of the primer mag inside the black primer tube shield.

Anyway, I like the idea of 'grounding' the press !
Any more details/experience about that ?

[Bush Pilot]

Years ago I was at a friend's house when he decided to clear a jam on his Star press with a cold chisel and hammer. The next thing I knew there was an explosion followed by blood streaming from my forehead. That is the only time I've seen primers detonate on the press and it was because of stupidity, no other reason.

[FlyBoy]

I had one primer tube explosion (about 10 to 15 primers) when I first started reloading. I just had the 650 setted up and I believe it was the first or second week, the press still temporary installed in the basement. The handle got 'stuck' and I used the good all solution : brutal force !

Except for a very scary split moment nothing happened.
And the only part that broke from the explosion was the copper end tip of the primer mag inside the black primer tube shield.

Anyway, I like the idea of 'grounding' the press !
Any more details/experience about that ?



How about a one wire line to a plug then to a ring terminal attached to a press hold down bolt.

The one wire (green) is attached to the ground prong of a plug, insert to a grounded (check with a tester) outlet and you should be GTG.


Not a electrician but stayed at a Holiday Inn. :stylin:

[BigDog[RE]]

Why do you need to ground the press?

[jawjaboy]

How about a one wire line to a plug then to a ring terminal attached to a press hold down bolt.

The one wire (green) is attached to the ground prong of a plug, insert to a grounded (check with a tester) outlet and you should be GTG.


Not a electrician but stayed at a Holiday Inn. :stylin:

I won't go in to my theory on static electricity and gunpowder, or reasons for premature/accidental primer detonations. But I will/would recommend that one should not use the grounding prong on any receptacle in any given house as a dependable grounded source. Too many variables for me to even consider it.

Been doing electrical work for 40+ years. I approve this message. YMMV. :)
.

[FlyBoy]

;195621']Why do you need to ground the press?



I don't, OP mentioned static electricity as a probable cause in the first post.


JJB I agree there are a bunch of issues with that type of ground, however that is the one you see used on electronics work/test benches, IIRC.

Where I live static is NOT a problem, primers might rust in the tube but I don't worry about static, can you say humidity. :ack2:

[jawjaboy]

I don't, OP mentioned static electricity as a probable cause in the first post.


JJB I agree there are a bunch of issues with that type of ground, however that is the one you see used on electronics work/test benches, IIRC.

Where I live static is NOT a problem, primers might rust in the tube but I don't worry about static, can you say humidity. :ack2:

Gotcha. I understand. :thumbsup:
.

[BigSlick]

One more time on the static issue ;)

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/sparks/sparks.html

Check it out, it'll suprise you

For real.

[4eyes]

Charly, I hope French gunzines are more factual than those in the USA.

30 years experience reloading may not be any qualification in progressive press set up and use.

I saw one guy ( herky jerky type guy who could break an anvil with a pickle) set off one primer in a near full tube in a Dillon. Blew some holes in the celotex ceiling tiles with un fired primers when the tube unloaded. No body hurt, embarrassed laugh, picked up the primers we could find and put 'em back in the tube. Slowed down his primer pick up stroke and continued. My caution: don't slam the handle.

[FlyBoy]

One more time on the static issue ;)

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/ctml_experiments/sparks/sparks.html

Check it out, it'll suprise you

For real.

Seen this but....

I wonder what it would do to primers?




I know powder is not a problem, but you really don't want a spark in a lofted grain silo.

[GLShooter]

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol loaded their own 38 Special wad cutters years ago for the troopers to practice with. They used an AmmoLoad automated press. The primer tube went of at least five times that I knew of. They put a target on the ceiling after the first two launches - Nice Group!!

The primer shield contained it all and no damage was done other than the primer following rod getting bent real bad.

I know of three cases of the LEE hand primer set up exploding but I have never done one myself. I use an RCBS hand primer if I am doing it the slow way.

Greg

[bfox]

Where I get some guns transfered the Guy had a 650 primer tube explosion .
He said it shattered the fluorescent light above him .
Other than scaring the Hell out of him and his Daughter that was out at the front counter there was no damage to the press .

He took me in the back room and showed me his setup once .
He had a Gaspari bullet feed on it .
I thought it was a Great press .
Only time I saw one in action .

Bill

[snuffy]

:icon_bs::icon_bs:I claim BS on the static being the cause of primers spontaneously exploding. If a spark could ignite a primer, then so would a flame played briefly on a primer! Notice I said briefly, not held on it until it cooked off! The"pellet" that actually is the explosive compound is under the anvil, and the whole thing is covered by a sealant. I suppose that one out of some very large number MIGHT get skipped by the sealant step, or only be partially sealed. But, would a spark then set it off?

I found one bad WW SR primer not too long ago while filling primer tubes for my 650. In the process of flipping the primers, I placed the plastic tray on the flipper, turned it over, glanced at it before flipping it again to pick them up with the primer tube. One primer looked "different" or out of place. Closer examination showed it had the anvil put in SIDEWAYS! I hand primed it into a .223 shell, tried to fire in in my AR, nuthin, nada, no pop!

Hey, call me crazy, but I apply logic and common sense to things like this.

[bfox]

Blew the primer tray in a Loadmaster once .
Take full responsibility for that though .
Put some oil on the primer arm thinking it would help .
I was wrong it gummed it up and I had a primer tray explosion .

Scared the Crap outta me !
Had the Primer explosion shield on .
Only thing that broke is the primer tray cover .
The Little plastic primer slider was singed but still worked .

Bill