Reloading Kaboom Yesterday - Please Learn From This

[Brian1979]

Ok, I think I can spend $300 on the primer machine now! Thanks.

I dont know how it could happen but I know its very unlikely to be an issue when watching how the auto Dillon primer machine works.

[NoJoke]

Grant, maybe you posted, but I'm hoping you're getting that looked at professionally. Yikes.

EDIT: and for product ideas, I was simply thinking of a heavier pick up tube - not aluminum - that is less likely to rupture.

Here's a vid that includes showing the primer tube being transfered from the unit to the press:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ds_ZpW2L_c

[NoJoke]

I was told the primers are a chemical reaction that occurs once the anvil is pressed into the material in the cup.

Sometimes what people cant describe is what they dont understand.

I dunno, the simplest explantion is usually the right one in my experience.

If it is a chemical reaction - then stuff happens in chemistry all the time. So we have reactive chemical components seperated, by what? This barrior that seperates the components would then be dependent on how it's placed/formed to function?

What if the barrior was bad? ...leaking.

I agree tho, we'll probably never figure it out on the innerweb - but we can certainly learn - and I think that was the OP's original desire. Just be careful...be MORE careful then you think you need to be. Not less.

[Brian1979]

Pics look to be in a hospital and I am sure he didnt put those stitches in himself so I am sure its taken care of.

2 years ago I heard about this and strongly considered the auto primer filler but didnt do it. I am just sitting here with it in my shopping cart doing the same.

I am really wanting to hear a bit more info from the OP before making my decision.

[roadglide2003]

Thanks for posting this here. I too always ask my wife to wear eye protection while priming cases but when I do it I don't wear anything(stupid of me). I am new to reloading as well. I will be going home today rethinking all of my processes and indeed will always wear safety glasses while doing reloading fulltime as well as she does while assisting me with my projects. Hope you get well soon and glad you weren't hurt too bad.

[NoJoke]

.....I am sure he didnt put those stitches in himself so I am sure its taken care of.

2 years ago I heard about this and strongly considered the auto primer filler but didnt do it. I am just sitting here with it in my shopping cart doing the same.

.

That little detail eluded me. Just didn't want any further damage from infections etc. Good on him.

BUY IT - I'm sure you will never regret it. It's a cool looking thing-a-ma-bob.
I'm gonna, but my wallet is telling me I need to be patient right now.

BTW, will it work with a LnL? It's essentially an automatice drop tube filler, right? You still just pull a pin to drop the primers into the primer tube?

[kmca]

Ok, I think I can spend $300 on the primer machine now! Thanks.

I dont know how it could happen but I know its very unlikely to be an issue when watching how the auto Dillon primer machine works.

Don't see how the primer filler would have prevented this accident? Don't you still have to dump the primers into the magazine from the loading tubes?

[VCMike]

Wow those are some ugly wounds, I hope you are doing ok. I agree about purchasing the primer tube filler, it seems like a heavier tube and a lot easier. Also I am wandering about wrapping the pick up tubes in a Kevlar and using a plastic pin. that would isolate the tube and protect the hand.

Glad to hear you will recover from the incident.

[grant22]

Here are some legitimate questions I thought I'd answer. I totally see where this poster is coming from since the whole thing is so weird, but only I truly know that nothing was done out of line. I have a very healthy respect and fear of stuff like this. I don't ever cut corners that can result in a injury. Especially career enders.

-I've already been very open about what I could have done differently and will do differently in the future (even though there was no harm with those fouls).

-Also, even though we may have found a weak link in the reloading system, I have not once accused Dillon of any negligence in design.

I called and spoke with someone and I wont get into saying who or where about this. I did also. I spoke to Gary.

I was told the primers are a chemical reaction that occurs once the anvil is pressed into the material in the cup. This only happens when seated in brass and the anvil becoming flush to the primer cup by being pressed against the cup in the brass. It was explained to me that the chemical makeup doesn't change when the anvil is depressed, just the amount of space between the anvil and the outer shiny side of the primer.

I asked in detail about static electricity and was told there is no way no how that let a primer off. Gary at Dillon told me it wasn't likely, but possible. He also stated he couldn't think of any other reasonable explanation

All I know is I am concerned and thinking about this but I still dont know how it could happen. I have reloaded for about 10 years now and never have I ignited a primer. I have even folded them in half pressing them in the brass on accident. Still no issues and I have poked a fair amount which have become stuck in the primer tubes. I dont poke a stack of them and just the one stuck but still no issues. Agreed, there have been ones that I think should have gone off and was surprised they didn't

I am strongly considering buying the Dillon auto primer machine because it seems well protected and minimizes handling of the primers in the entire process. The tube is said to be thick and is a sleeve around the normal aluminum tubes we are speaking of now. It seem to me this would be the safest should anything happen. I totally agree

I still cant understand what occurred here but there is more to the story. Sometimes what people cant describe is what they dont understand. Perhaps there was unsafe practices here at work but the OP isnt aware of his actions without one of us there to watch and see exactly what he is doing. Its like new shooters talking about an issue with their gun then actually seeing them shoot in person to identify very easily what the issues are. I wish I could agree with you on this one, but can't. It was a cut and dry operation. placed primers on flip tray, swish around, flip, pick up into tube, rotate, place on the mouth of the primer magazine, and pull pin/
.

From what I have been told the theory of electricity is not possible so we need to explore other things here. It's absolutely possible. Anyone telling you otherwise is kidding themselves, and you.

Why was there only 50 primers in the tube to begin with? Why not? Where have you read that you have to load all 100 into a tube? Furthermore, if rotating the p/u tube with 50 in there is 'unsafe,' wouldn't dropping 100 primers into the magazine be reasonably considered 'more unsafe?'

Were the proper pick up tubes and plastic tips used when converting from one primer to another? Yes, the proper size tubes and tips were used (refer to pic showing the shattered pieces. Yellow and blue, right?) Converting between .223 and .38 spl requires NO change in p/u tubes....they are both "small" primers.

[rmblaster]

After reading this I think Im ready to spend the money on the primer filler I did talk to Dillon today and the tube stays inside the protective shield and has been tested to contain the blast just like on the press

[grant22]

I agree tho, we'll probably never figure it out on the innerweb - but we can certainly learn - and I think that was the OP's original desire. Just be careful...be MORE careful then you think you need to be. Not less.

DING DING DING!!! Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Sometimes, you pull a bonehead move and cringe while turning your head almost waiting for it to happen.

And then sometimes, you don't have to F up for bad stuff to happen......it just happens. I wasn't cringing and turning my head this time.......there was nothing to worry about.

[grant22]

Pics look to be in a hospital and I am sure he didnt put those stitches in himself so I am sure its taken care of.

2 years ago I heard about this and strongly considered the auto primer filler but didnt do it. I am just sitting here with it in my shopping cart doing the same.

I am really wanting to hear a bit more info from the OP before making my decision.

What else would you like to hear?

[jimmykan]

After reading this I think Im ready to spend the money on the primer filler I did talk to Dillon today and the tube stays inside the protective shield and has been tested to contain the blast just like on the press

The primer filler just loads up the pick-up tubes for you. It does NOT load the primers from the pick-up tubes into the primer feeding tube that is attached to the loading press, and this is the step during which the kaboom occured.

While the filler would eliminate one step of primer handling, it does not completely eliminate the handling of primers by hand, and one would still have to perform by hand the task that caused the kaboom in Grant's incident.

[Brian1979]

DING DING DING!!! Winner winner, chicken dinner!

Sometimes, you pull a bonehead move and cringe while turning your head almost waiting for it to happen.

And then sometimes, you don't have to F up for bad stuff to happen......it just happens. I wasn't cringing and turning my head this time.......there was nothing to worry about.

Well I have to fold on this one because I to am puzzled. Its such a simple task that I cant see where even the newest reloader can go wrong on it. Its not like you had a kabbom round fired in a gun where there are several things to consider which could be wrong.

I am ordering the auto filler now. My only concern will be that I use Wolff primers because they are cheap and some of them are out of shape and stick in the tubes. This may be an issue until I switch back to Winchester and I have 10K left to burn up. One way or another I will do what it takes to switch to a safer system.

Highlander will be along soon to post his findings but from what I heard he did find data from the material inside the primers being sensitive to static charges. I guess the person I spoke with at Dillon made the comment with out knowing 100%. Not that I hold them responsible for knowing what a chemist should but perhaps the perfect scenario results in something like this happening. Just the slightest chance is going to motivate me to make some changes. After all I carry a gun daily for that small chance I may actually need it so whats one more precaution in my life.

Thanks for sharing this and not sure how you are typing but good job keeping us up to speed.

[Brian1979]

The primer filler just loads up the pick-up tubes for you. It does NOT load the primers from the pick-up tubes into the primer feeding tube that is attached to the loading press, and this is the step during which the kaboom occured.

While the filler would eliminate one step of primer handling, it does not completely eliminate the handling of primers by hand, and one would still have to perform by hand the task that caused the kaboom in Grant's incident.

We all agree on this but the pick up tube is insulated in a much stronger tube. Any explosions would be contained and forced top and bottom instead of blowing open the walls of the tube which is what took out his fingers.