Dang, this static electricity talk is giving me severe heebie jeebies. Especially since I live in bone dry Arizona. I've always had the problem with my RCBS powder measure when I'm through, and dump the leftover powder back in the bottle, a whole mess of kernals stick to the sides of the hopper. I usually shake the hell out if it to get as much as possible to come out, then use a paper towel to wipe out the rest. And of course I just bought a Lee Classic Turret press and the Safety Prime add on. I've only used it once, and now my sphincter is puckering up thinking about using it. And my setup is a wooden bench on a carpeted surface.
Reloading safety reminder
- Thread starter Beluebow
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Creedmoorcarl
Active Member
Did he have both of his hands on the primer tube when it went off?
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
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- Feb 25, 2008
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I feel sorry for the person involved and wish him a speedy recovery.
I had my own incident with priming going bad twice now. The first time was with my RCBS Turret Press priming with the priming assembly as supplied but WITHOUT the safety tube installed. I was changing from large primers to small primers and the tube wouldn't seat properly, so I removed it but couldn't see anything. I then took an EMPTY tube and tried to seat that and POW a huge bang and a face full of soot.
There were two small rifle primers in there that were jammed up and they both detonated. Would have been very bad if I had of used the full tube.
Second incident was with a RCBS hand priming tool that used shell holders.
I was priming 264WM brass using Fed 215 primers and one case felt funny as I squeezed, so looking at it, the shell holder was off a little, so pushed it home and proceeded to get the entire thing jammed up, couldn't remove the case or shell holder from the tool and the primer was not sliding back out into the tray.
So I removed the tray, which had about 40 primers in it still, and started manipulating the shell holder and handle at the same time to try to free up what was happening and next thing I know is a deafening bang and ringing ears.
I was not hit by shrapnel or anything, but there was a partially seated primer in the case, and 2 others under it. I do not remember putting ANY force on the handle at all, yet the primers detonated.
Both times I was lucky, I never load tubes now unless I have a safety shield of STEEL between me and the primers.
I understand that some primers have a new compound that is even more touchy than Lead Styphanate….be careful people.
Cheers.
I had my own incident with priming going bad twice now. The first time was with my RCBS Turret Press priming with the priming assembly as supplied but WITHOUT the safety tube installed. I was changing from large primers to small primers and the tube wouldn't seat properly, so I removed it but couldn't see anything. I then took an EMPTY tube and tried to seat that and POW a huge bang and a face full of soot.
There were two small rifle primers in there that were jammed up and they both detonated. Would have been very bad if I had of used the full tube.
Second incident was with a RCBS hand priming tool that used shell holders.
I was priming 264WM brass using Fed 215 primers and one case felt funny as I squeezed, so looking at it, the shell holder was off a little, so pushed it home and proceeded to get the entire thing jammed up, couldn't remove the case or shell holder from the tool and the primer was not sliding back out into the tray.
So I removed the tray, which had about 40 primers in it still, and started manipulating the shell holder and handle at the same time to try to free up what was happening and next thing I know is a deafening bang and ringing ears.
I was not hit by shrapnel or anything, but there was a partially seated primer in the case, and 2 others under it. I do not remember putting ANY force on the handle at all, yet the primers detonated.
Both times I was lucky, I never load tubes now unless I have a safety shield of STEEL between me and the primers.
I understand that some primers have a new compound that is even more touchy than Lead Styphanate….be careful people.
Cheers.
As all others here, I too pray his recovery is complete.
I would like to know the whole story. Specifically when in the priming or setup sequence the accident happened.
I would also like to know what RCBS has to say about this accident involving their product.
coyotemaster
Well-Known Member
The priming tool I use and I'm sure many others employs a tray and a hand activated seating ram. At any time there is only one primer above the ram.
I did use this type of primer early on but saw the possibility of a chain reaction if a primer detonated. I use the hand held for all priming chores preferring the feel not afforded by a machine mounted primer.
Parkerized
Well-Known Member
D-pain, d-pain.
jmaars
Well-Known Member
Well, Thats just horrible for him, IE Both Hands. There is more to this story. I use this set up. I have never had both hands on tube at the same time during seating process. Must have been trying to get tube off ASAP. Ouch, Hope he can still use his hands . Wishing him the best
WoodPecker Hunter
Well-Known Member
Yikes ! That a bad one I sure Hope he heals fast and all Ok 
Mikecr
Well-Known Member
The tube is well clear of a normal primer seating action. And normally there is no reasonable possibility of this event -during seating.
But this did not happen with a normal seating action, as you could not have both hands on the tube AND operate the seating lever at the same time.
So it comes down to how someone could set off a primer in that tube -while holding the tube with both hands.
So what was he actually doing?
Was he loading the tube, in a way needing 2 hands to do it, and then stuck it on the priming assembly after the event, so that it appears to have gone off with normal operation?
Let's consider that he was trying to load/jam one more primer into the tube than it could hold. It's taking a lot of force, so he uses both hands, and maybe even slams the tube down against the tray to force the primer in. The other end of the tube is cotter pinned during loading operation, which would have stopped the primer stack from just blowing out that end (so blowing up the tube instead).
But this did not happen with a normal seating action, as you could not have both hands on the tube AND operate the seating lever at the same time.
So it comes down to how someone could set off a primer in that tube -while holding the tube with both hands.
So what was he actually doing?
Was he loading the tube, in a way needing 2 hands to do it, and then stuck it on the priming assembly after the event, so that it appears to have gone off with normal operation?
Let's consider that he was trying to load/jam one more primer into the tube than it could hold. It's taking a lot of force, so he uses both hands, and maybe even slams the tube down against the tray to force the primer in. The other end of the tube is cotter pinned during loading operation, which would have stopped the primer stack from just blowing out that end (so blowing up the tube instead).
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There are a great many instances of hand primers of the style you describe detonating in people's hands.
nikeandros
Well-Known Member
I WISH FOR HIM A FAST RECOVERY THANKS GOD FINGERS STILL THERE
.HLecea
Well-Known Member
Back in the 80s, I had just picked up my Dad's Ruger 357 Magnum from a gunshop that he bought on lay a way. About two weeks later, the owners Son was reloading or firing a firearm in the basement and it set off a fire that quickly spread. He was able to handoff his young daughter but sadly he perished in the fire which completely destroyed the building. Needless to say, there many firearms that were in the process of being repaired or awaiting pick up that were destroyed also. This occurred in Pasadena, CA in the 1980s.
cornshank
Well-Known Member
I never could get used to the tube type set up , so long ago I started priming brass one at a time , with a lachmiller .
It's slow but I like it .
I would like to know for sure what caused the accident , and hope he heals ok , and a speedy recovery.
It's slow but I like it .
I would like to know for sure what caused the accident , and hope he heals ok , and a speedy recovery.
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