Bonehead move

[Muddyboots]

Always have glasses on and would never intentionally have live primers, just missed this one. This post is just to let everyone know how fast things can happen.

Good man to share so we can sit back and make sure our steps are safe. Thank you for doing that knowing full well how much crap you are going to take.

 

[Byrdman13]

Yea primers are definitely more powerful than we realize. I had a a round fail to fire once and after pulling the bullet and charge I misplaced the piece of brass. I found it later when annealing. It popped in the pan after being annealed. The primer flew out and dented another piece of brass and the marking from the primer imprinted into the piece of brass as well. I always inspect the brass and spent primer before annealing but a spent primer looks the same even if it was a ftf and can still go off under heat. Believe me I know.

 

[Hugnot]

The amount of lead styphnate, a low velocity explosive, in a primer is tiny. A screw up with a moderate amount of hi vel explosive is more than horrible.

I cringe at using primer tube feed ops, like 1 primer on top of another for a magnified chain reaction.

 

[Greatgrandad]

A wise man learns from other people's mistakes.

I am not going to start on a few mistakes I've made in over 60 years of reloading. Hmm, maybe another thread?;)

 

[Randy Tidwell]

Not telling you what to do at all, but you may want to get a cheap decapper and make that your first step, even before cleaning. Glad everything went as good as it did.

I've had a Jones decapping tool since the 70s, still use it on a regular basis.

I rarely decap before cleaning, don't like cleaning media out of the primer pockets.

This one was just a brain fart.

 

[Jester896]

a 209 primer in a hull with no powder and a wad with shot will expel the shot from the end of the barrel a good ways, but may not expel the wad completely

glad your OK

 

[8x68s]

Been there done that... luckily no harm done except a good self-talking to with multiple expletives included.

 

[wasskeet]

Just glad to hear you are OK. Mistakes at the reloading bench can get far more serious than a bad group or missed animal.

 

[Ol' Red]

Always have glasses on and would never intentionally have live primers, just missed this one. This post is just to let everyone know how fast things can happen.

Randy, you should have had another pair of safety glasses strapped to your chest. Thanks for sharing. We can all use a reminder at times. Primers have a lot of power in a small package. Suck one up in a vacuum cleaner. It gets everyone's attention, sets off the family dog, makes your ears hurt and causes general discontent.

 

[FullCurl8]

I clean first, anneal, then size. This apparently was a case I pulled and didn't knock the primer out.

Don't think the pocket was loose. Primers have a lot more power than we realize.

I certainly learned a good lesson.

My goal here is not to acknowledge my stupid move, but to help others to not make the same mistake.

Well Sir I appreciate sharing it, I often forget to wear safety glasses in the shop when reloading, this may or may not change that for me but I hope so. Some people on here and most internet platforms, need to point out the obvious and run their lips. The quiet ones, the Majority, read and learn from open knowledge on here. If you've been a reloader for 55 years and aren't missing an appendage or vision in 1 eye it should be a celebration. Thanks for posting.

 

[memtb]

Randy……Very glad that it was no worse than that!

Over on a different thread (Why Did You Start Reloading) there's some conversation about starting out with the old Lee Loader. I "torched-off" several (way too many) primers while seating them. You're holding the "primer seating rod" between your thumb and index finger at the case mouth when the primer fires…..it definitely startles you a bit! memtb

 

[memtb]

Don't think the pocket was loose. Primers have a lot more power than we realize.

Yes they do! Many years ago I practiced a lot, shooting "wax bullets" out of my service revolver using primers. Great rapid, draw/fire practice for at close range (inside of 10 feet) on paper human silhouette targets. The "wax bullets" never failed to penetrate…..they shook the canvas that I had hanging behind my target pretty good on impact! memtb

 

[lyle2231]

I've been reloading for 55+ years, every once in awhile you do something that makes you think "idiot, why did you do that?"

Yesterday I was annealing some 6BR brass with my AMP. I have accidentally annealed cases with live primers in the past without an issue. I make an effort not to that, but it has happened. I cringe every time one slips thru.

Well so this time, when I dropped the case in the tray with previously annealed cases it must have laid against a hot neck, BOOM!

Felt a sting in my chest, ouch. Had to use twisters to remove the blown primer.

So I get to wear the idiot cap for awhile, at least til it heals up.

I hope you're doing good!

 

[skipglo]

Curious, why did you sell it?

Probably because someone....put brass in it with live primers!