Primer-Explosion
Quote from Reloader on August 22, 2012, 2:38 amThe Lee Modern Reloading guide states that Federal primers are more sensitive and explosive than others. I also think I will be wearing ear protection when reloading. I already have a mild case of tinnitus. I don't want to make it worse.
The Lee Modern Reloading guide states that Federal primers are more sensitive and explosive than others. I also think I will be wearing ear protection when reloading. I already have a mild case of tinnitus. I don't want to make it worse.
Quote from Reloader on May 10, 2016, 9:14 pmSuffice to say that I read a long time back that Federal primers were softer and more sensitive than other brands. Back when I loaded with Lee Progressive 1000s, the instructions specifically stated not to use Federal. Since then, I have used only Winchester and CCI primers.
Suffice to say that I read a long time back that Federal primers were softer and more sensitive than other brands. Back when I loaded with Lee Progressive 1000s, the instructions specifically stated not to use Federal. Since then, I have used only Winchester and CCI primers.
Quote from Reloader on May 24, 2016, 1:53 pmI am more careful when using Federal primers but then I'm never in a hurry. If something doesn't feel right I don't push it. I just stop and take a look. Never in 40 years have I had a primer go off and I hope to never see it. I do think the 550's are a bit safer but I also love my 650. I think when my supply of primers are used up ( lots of Federal in the mix) I will probably only order Winchester or CCI. I also take the whole thing apart about every 500 rounds and clean and lube everything and adjust so it's working smooth.
I am more careful when using Federal primers but then I'm never in a hurry. If something doesn't feel right I don't push it. I just stop and take a look. Never in 40 years have I had a primer go off and I hope to never see it. I do think the 550's are a bit safer but I also love my 650. I think when my supply of primers are used up ( lots of Federal in the mix) I will probably only order Winchester or CCI. I also take the whole thing apart about every 500 rounds and clean and lube everything and adjust so it's working smooth.
Quote from Reloader on May 26, 2016, 1:39 pmOn the comment about the primer that went off not being the one under the shell -- it probably was the one under the shell. A primer can throw off a lot of flash/pressure, and it vents laterally from the base of the case. The lateral "blow" ignites the adjacent primer, which ignites the next, and the next, etc. until it reaches the column in the feed tube.
On the comment about the primer that went off not being the one under the shell -- it probably was the one under the shell. A primer can throw off a lot of flash/pressure, and it vents laterally from the base of the case. The lateral "blow" ignites the adjacent primer, which ignites the next, and the next, etc. until it reaches the column in the feed tube.
Quote from Reloader on September 14, 2016, 8:45 pmI know this is an older thread but I wanted to throw in my two cents.
This same thing happened to me about a year ago. I should have known it was going to happen because the primer pick up tubes would not pick up the federal primers as they were too large and out of spec. Dillon sent me new Primer pick up tubes but then when I went to reload and, BOOM. Same situation with an explosion all the way through the system. It did not occur because of indexing, it occurred because PMC green tip 5.56 brass has a pocket too small accept the out of spec Federal primers. I sent all 5000 primers back to Federal and they said they were fine and not out of spec... typical Federal.
Anyway, Dillon sent me the new parts for free and it has been working fine since then. I still use Federal primers (I had to use up the 5000 new small rifle primers) but only with my LC brass and it is butter smooth. Never had a problem with any pistol primers, just rifle primers. The safety of Dillon is amazing and as such I did not sustain any injury even though around 50-60 primers went off at once.
As an addendum, I went back to reloading PMC with Federal primers and saw what the problem was... the spent primer when depriming actually leaves a ring of brass in the primer pocket causing it to be significantly too small for any primer. STAY AWAY FROM PMC BRASS. I only shoot LC now due to this and have not had any problems. Dillon gets 5 stars for customer service and 5 stars for safety.
I know this is an older thread but I wanted to throw in my two cents.
This same thing happened to me about a year ago. I should have known it was going to happen because the primer pick up tubes would not pick up the federal primers as they were too large and out of spec. Dillon sent me new Primer pick up tubes but then when I went to reload and, BOOM. Same situation with an explosion all the way through the system. It did not occur because of indexing, it occurred because PMC green tip 5.56 brass has a pocket too small accept the out of spec Federal primers. I sent all 5000 primers back to Federal and they said they were fine and not out of spec... typical Federal.
Anyway, Dillon sent me the new parts for free and it has been working fine since then. I still use Federal primers (I had to use up the 5000 new small rifle primers) but only with my LC brass and it is butter smooth. Never had a problem with any pistol primers, just rifle primers. The safety of Dillon is amazing and as such I did not sustain any injury even though around 50-60 primers went off at once.
As an addendum, I went back to reloading PMC with Federal primers and saw what the problem was... the spent primer when depriming actually leaves a ring of brass in the primer pocket causing it to be significantly too small for any primer. STAY AWAY FROM PMC BRASS. I only shoot LC now due to this and have not had any problems. Dillon gets 5 stars for customer service and 5 stars for safety.
Quote from Reloader on May 14, 2018, 9:16 pmI know this is old, but just had a primer explosion on my 650 and thank you Dillon for the shield.
Basically had a piece of brass drop upside down and that probably shook the primer feed. As soon as I moved the handle down, BAM, the whole tube of primers went. I am using Federal primers and have not had a problem in over 10k of them.
Compared to my old Lee progressive it was almost a non-event. Once had a primer go off and it threw parts all around, rather nasty. Oh, and Dillon covered the parts under warranty.
I know this is old, but just had a primer explosion on my 650 and thank you Dillon for the shield.
Basically had a piece of brass drop upside down and that probably shook the primer feed. As soon as I moved the handle down, BAM, the whole tube of primers went. I am using Federal primers and have not had a problem in over 10k of them.
Compared to my old Lee progressive it was almost a non-event. Once had a primer go off and it threw parts all around, rather nasty. Oh, and Dillon covered the parts under warranty.
Quote from Reloader on July 28, 2018, 2:05 pmI had a single primer have an unplanned ignition ... damn thing went off I fell off my chair hit the floor and nearly craped my boxers .. I thought sure I had.
After a couple shots of bourbon to calm down I left the press alone till the next day.
Start going over what went so wrong.
I found a 9mm WCC piece of military brass with a military crimp in it and also I noticed I had some wobble in my bench.
So went through all my 9mm brass and pulled all the WCC brass out and went and bought angle irons and cement anchors.Now bench is more stable no more wobble and no WCC brass.....and I have clean boxers O.o
I had a single primer have an unplanned ignition ... damn thing went off I fell off my chair hit the floor and nearly craped my boxers .. I thought sure I had.
After a couple shots of bourbon to calm down I left the press alone till the next day.
Start going over what went so wrong.
I found a 9mm WCC piece of military brass with a military crimp in it and also I noticed I had some wobble in my bench.
So went through all my 9mm brass and pulled all the WCC brass out and went and bought angle irons and cement anchors.
Now bench is more stable no more wobble and no WCC brass.....and I have clean boxers O.o
Quote from Reloader on July 30, 2018, 1:32 pmI load .45 ACP but do not use Federal primers. When I am loading
if I notice any additional force is needed to fully seat the primer
based on feel,
I stop and remove the primed case from the 650. The priming
of the case is completed with a hand primer then
reinserted into the 650 priming station. I do not go balls to the
wall for speed when reloading. The same order of march is
followed whenever I detect any other out of the ordinary feel in
the operating handle.
I load .45 ACP but do not use Federal primers. When I am loading
if I notice any additional force is needed to fully seat the primer
based on feel,
I stop and remove the primed case from the 650. The priming
of the case is completed with a hand primer then
reinserted into the 650 priming station. I do not go balls to the
wall for speed when reloading. The same order of march is
followed whenever I detect any other out of the ordinary feel in
the operating handle.
Quote from Reloader on August 23, 2018, 4:18 amalso, thats weird bc the feeder-tube and the place that the primers get seated in the case are in different alignment. Its very curious that would ever happen
also, thats weird bc the feeder-tube and the place that the primers get seated in the case are in different alignment. Its very curious that would ever happen