Reloading Kaboom Yesterday - Please Learn From This

[grant22]

That's a valid point, but the only way I'll have any written correspondence is if I hire a 'pro,' and I don't think I'll be going that route.

The only thing I can suggest if any of you want to hear what they say directly is:

1) Contact them and speak to Eric. It's as easy as dialing 800-762-3845 and asking for him. Refer to 'Grant's primer incident' and he should recall.

OR

2) Contact Eric at Dillon and invite them to respond on this thread.

I invite it, because at least you guys will be able to hear it straight from the horse's mouth. At this point, though, I'm not calling them any more.

[Anchors]

As someone who is about to just get into reloading, I would be very curious to see Dillon respond to this thread.
This has me kind of spooked about the whole thing now though lol.

[Lead Waster]

I once forgot to put the primer magazine into the magazine holder of my 550b, then pulled the pin on the pickup tube and jammed the magazine holder full of primers. Nothing detonated, I got lucky. Getting them out of that holder was a PITA. But lesson learned, I gotta be more careful! End of CSB.

[Justintoxicated]

maybe you could stand one of these while you reload.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11675/pad-200/ModRight_Super_Large_Anti-Static_Mod-Mat_Work_and_Assembly_Surface_-_Version_2_Over_47_x_23_in_Size.html#blank

[HighLander51]

As someone who is about to just get into reloading, I would be very curious to see Dillon respond to this thread.
This has me kind of spooked about the whole thing now though lol.

Except you would need to consider the tens of thousands of shooters running Dillon progressives, and other progressives using tube fed primers,for decades that have never had an issue.


From post # 99

What is Lead Styphnate? (what's in the primer cup)

Lead Styphnate is classified as an extremely sensitive initiating explosive. According the MSDS it is not flammable or combustible. It will explode at high temperatures (626 Deg. F) and becomes unstable with mechanical shock, impact or electrical (static) discharge.
from the MSDS http://www.design.caltech.edu/microp...n/msds_w79.pdf

Also the OP believes the ambient humidity was around %15 RH on the day of the incident. That increases potential static voltage by 20 times over %60 RH.

[Lancear15]

Thanks for sharing, never would have thought it possible.

[Lancear15]

Except you would need to consider the tens of thousands of shooters running Dillon progressives, and other progressives using tube fed primers,for decades that have never had an issue.


From post # 99

What is Lead Styphnate? (what's in the primer cup)

Lead Styphnate is classified as an extremely sensitive initiating explosive. According the MSDS it is not flammable or combustible. It will explode at high temperatures (626 Deg. F) and becomes unstable with mechanical shock, impact or electrical (static) discharge.
from the MSDS http://www.design.caltech.edu/microp...n/msds_w79.pdf

Also the OP believes the ambient humidity was around %15 RH on the day of the incident. That increases potential static voltage by 20 times over %60 RH.

If static did have something to do with it, grounding the press alone wont solve your problem, you would have to ground yourself also.

[OHOD]

I've read this entire thread and it seems the focus has been on electrical discharge.

I would like to offer a possible alternative cause.

The column of primers effectively made a "fire piston".
When the primer pickup tube was turned over, the primers acted as a piston and created a tiny spark. Probably a very tiny spark.

If you've never seen a fire piston in action, here is a video of one.

[Lancear15]

I've read this entire thread and it seems the focus has been on electrical discharge.

I would like to offer a possible alternative cause.

The column of primers effectively made a "fire piston".
When the primer pickup tube was turned over, the primers acted as a piston and created a tiny spark. Probably a very tiny spark.

If you've never seen a fire piston in action, here is a video of one.

No way, that requires way more pressure than could have been built in this scenario.

[HighLander51]

If static did have something to do with it, grounding the press alone wont solve your problem, you would have to ground yourself also.

Yes, I posted earlier on how to build a static ground bench from a company that installs that. Lead Styphnate is very sensitive to static discharge, and very low humidity increases your chances of developing a very high potential charge.


Fire piston, yea, well, take a primer, put it cup down in the driveway, and start hammering on it. The static discharge from the OP's post occured when the primers made electrical contact with the drop tube, not from impact.

[Cokebottle]

Today was not a good day for reloading.

I got back to my shop and took my safety vest off.
I was wearing a 100% cotton shirt.

The vest stuck to me when I removed it!

[sfbfriend]

Static

You could take the Static thing a little further and instead of cloves they have grounding bracelets that go from your wrist to ground so you stay ground as long as you are hooked up. I work with Static sensitive equipment and this is what we use, as well as a grounding mat and of course our chairs are grounded too. I think However the grounding strap would suffice. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are healing well.

[EL_NinO619]

This Thread is not dead yet..

[Synergy]

Grant- If you would have bought a Hornady, you wouldn't have had this problem. LOL

[Deadon]

Just a thought. I bought some fabric spray for static. I own some sweat pants that cant seem to kick the static no matter what I do. So I spay this stuff and its gone. Maybe it could be used on self and around the loader before reloading?