A series of unfortunate events ( WARNING : GRAPHIC, VERY )

[blarby]

first note :
im going to be posting and editing this one in bursts, as my internet sucks right now, my hand hurts (still attached, albeit unbelievably perforated), and i dont want to lose all of the typing in one go due to a tech failure.


So, I had a catastrophic failure involving a "converted to 550 Dillon" ( from a nice 450 that just needed removable heads) primer tube assembly on Sunday, using Federal Large Pistol Match primers.

From a mechanical standpoint, its a 550 thanks to the guys at dillon, but I did retain the original manual primer feed as I've observed that the "auto" primer feed can be fussy at times, and in actuality I prefer to manually shuttle the primers as a notable part of my "cadence".

No one could possibly go over this sequence of events more than I have in the last 4 days, and I think i've separated belief from truth enough to relay the story in a fashion that might be of some use to the community at large.

second note :
Believe me, if you've ever had one of those "episodes" that wasn't your brightest moment, and after complete reflection on it realize that it was your action ( or inaction in equal parts this case ) that caused the series of events to unfold; you know exactly where i'm sitting right now. Hindsight in this case is 20/1000. I'm just trying to lay the events out so that someone might not walk down the same road.

More to follow.

 

[blarby]

but I did retain the original manual primer feed

Hindsight being as profoundly clear as it is, this proved to be the pivotal error in the series of unfortunate events.

The reason is pretty simple, actually.

The original primer "magazine" assembly has an almost imperceptible to the outside tweak in it about halfway down the shaft. When inserting and removing the primer tube "cassettes" you could feel the tweak, as there isn't a lot of clearance in there.

About one in twenty times when removing the cassette ( by guestimate and primer count, i've changed it about 100 times now going in and out of small/large primers, and to replace those irritating "fingers" that hold the primers), and can remember this instance 5 times clearly, confirmed in my reloading logs of this machine 4 times, I think i forgot to note it once ) that tweak would catch the primer keeper and stick it sufficiently that in removing the cassette tube completely the little head would stay in the tube
.

Irritating, but until sunday an easy fix. The orientation of the primer keeper, and the remainder of the three primers ( it was 4 , once ) are shown in the attached pic.

One primer cocked sideways in the fingers, two above it. Made trying to stick the cassette tube back into the primer keeper impossible as a means of extracting the primer keeper. I was "wise" enough not to try and force the issue, them being primers and all, but found an easy solution; with the blunt end of a cleaning rod, I could rotate/manipulate the primers out. they'd basically roll out through the fingers. it doesn't require much if any force, just circular movement.

Third note :

Why yes, indeed I have tried removing the assembly from the press to perform this operation. No, I can not tell you why they would not shake out with certainty. I wish I could. My belief in playing with them after the fact is that the anvils interlock like a jigsaw puzzle when this happens. Maybe that combined with the slightly distorted shape of the primer keeper in the tube when stuck in the tweak ? Devilish. But, it helps explain why the "rotating" bit worked so well, and so easily.

 

[blarby]

Well, on Sunday my latest primer keeper fingers had finally given up the ghost, again.

What I should have noticed was different about the failure at the time, but instead realized later upon reflection, was that it was allowing primers to cascade right down through it instead of just not presenting them correctly to the shuttle. They were just falling out in twos and threes onto the floor.

fourth note :

I do use a plastic rod on top of the primer stack, the "counting rod", so as to not perform a cassette removal with a stack of primers in the tube. Couldn't be helped this time, as the mechanical nature of the failure necessitated immediate removal.

So, off came the cap, out came the cassette, and the cascade of primers out the bottom of the assembly was like a waterfall when the primer keeper hit the "snag". I was really hoping they had finally all just fallen out, not leaving the cantankerous trio stuck in the keeper ! A quick flashlight check revealed that my luck was not in that day ( foreshadowing.... wait for it...) as the primers presented in the keeper just as before. Dangit, wheres that rod ?!?!

 

[blarby]

So, I begin the manipulation as "usual" when this happens.

BOOM

 

[blarby]

I now know exactly what a gunshot in my house would sound like, and it took about 5 minutes for my hearing to return.

I'm really glad my prescription glasses are polycarbonate, as there is a long scratch going upward on my right lens, and a similar one going upward on the left lens, with a primer anvil embedded between the lens and the frame where they meet. It came off when I dropped my glasses trying to unpack my trauma kit.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Hey you could be minus one digit or have hurt your eyes! Your hand looks alright in the grand scheme of things. Be safe and learn from your mistakes! At least you've got some cool new scars from the "bear attack"

 

[blarby]

So, once the bleeding stopped, and I had extracted what I thought were the only 7 pieces of metal from my hand ( some very deep, mind you ! - 5 anvils and 2 cups ) I immediately knew this was not the cantankerous trio. Too many anvils, and in hindsight of that split second boom, way too large of a boom.

As it was approximately 530 am, it was far too early for urgent care to be open, so I removed the primer assembly to assess what had actually happened.

This came out.

 

[fallout mike]

Dang it man!

 

[blarby]

And i realized - too late- that when the primers were falling out in twos and threes, they stopped because they were stacking on that little return/keeper bar in the base of the assembly.

So, what I envision happened is that the majority of the cassette emptied on the floor, but somewhere midflow about....as many as are in that picture, minus the total final count of 12 total pieces from my hand... stacked like plates between the bottom of the assembly and the stuck primer keeper.


Ya for me. I made, as far as my google fu can show me, the first dillon smoothbore.

Sweet. Not.


So, some days later (tuesday, actually ) my wife convinces me that gauging by the swelling, I have certainly not removed all of the pieces from my hand.

She was right. I missed three anvils and two cups. Im trying to get the stupid xray pics to convert to an uploadable format from the disc they gave me- but no dice yet.

I'll give you the outside pics instead.

 

[blarby]

Post surgery followup yesterday.

Pictures from my cellie provide a poor detail of the depth of those extraction wounds.

 

[blarby]

So.... Let the roasting begin.



With that in mind, I've already learned the most valuable lessons- which I hope having paved this road for you, I implore that you take to heart :


#1- If a piece of shooting or reloading kit is out of spec, replace it immediately. That $90 primer assembly does not so costly sound now. As Don says ; "Never underestimate the amount of toil and angst a cheap SOB will put himself through to save 5 cents" This could apply to any piece of kit however- a choke tube, a hinge pin, any mechanism piece, really. The workaround you come up with may work many times before the time it doesn't. Conditions may be vastly different from the times it worked before, in ways you don't fully grasp in your ignorance.

#2 Federal primers are indeed much more sensitive than CCI. In fact, according to the MSDS sheets provided by the hospital the only common ones still to contain nitroglycerin.

That explains a few things.

#3 Primers are plenty powerful. As RC says, "never put all your primers in a glass jar."

#4 ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

and last but not least,

#5 When your wife says go to the hospital, GO. yes , HE-MAN, I'm talking to you.



Lambast away.........


Of note, I credit dillon, not fault them. If it wasn't for the strength of that tube, much of that shrapnel and the extra from the tube would be between my head, and the top of my belly. Very bad.

If they could make those primer keepers work a little longer though, that'd be sweet.


We're all human, we all make mistakes, but as framed up waterbaloons, the really big ones can be painful. Try and avoid them and your own human failings by learning carefully the wisdom of those who have came before you. ?It sneaks in the strangest places.

 

[fallout mike]

Wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[243winxb]

Blarby, best wishes for a speedy recovery. Is this what Dillon call a dispensing tip ? Does it go on the end of the primer tube?

My old RL450, end of the primer tube looks like this.

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[maxxhavoc]

Glad you were wearing glasses, and glad they held up. I think you need to add glasses to your lessons learned...when I was younger and had great vision, I NEVER wore glasses while reloading.

And there are other examples of the Dillon smoothbore on the 'net. Sympathetic detonation is a harsh mistress.

Glad it only hit what will grow back, and I hope it hasn't soured you on reloading.

Get better, and thanks for the reminder.

 

[gahunter12]

Dang Bro! I'm glad your some what ok, and still have all your eyes, and digits. I honestly would have never imagined a primer would inflict that my damage! I know they are powerful little devils, but dang! Keep us posted! No reason to flame here. We all can learn from this.

 

[blarby]

yes, it does go on the end of the primer tube.

Mine are not beveled in that fashion.

 

[243winxb]

Good to know, thank you

 

[Sol]

"It's just a flesh wound."

Ouch, I feel the pain through your pics.

 

[GW Staar]

We've all had bad days, but that one came straight from hell. Sometimes we are our own worse enemies, huh? I wish you a speedy recovery.....you are young.....thank goodness....the older you are the slower the recovery.

It's just that we aren't perfect intelligences with computer-like minds that don't always think of every detail at every moment. There isn't one person who can say they are different. Some are anal about detail most of the time but there isn't anyone perfect and all it takes is one slip in your analness.

So what does one take from that? Depends....deny all you want, but Murphy Law says something is going to go wrong if it can. ANYTIME you have up to 100 primers stacked together in a tube......it can.

I know my limitations, lots more these days at age 65,....so I limit my possibilities to screw up in reloading every chance I get. My wife appreciates that, not being ready to take on the world by herself just yet.

I've never exploded a primer tube in the 15 years or so that I used them, and I quit primer tubes more than 25 years ago, after seeing the damage they could do way back then. I felt I was pushing my luck. IMO they need a safer way, than pipe bombs. I don't blame the companys, I blame users of the products who don't demand better. RCBS & CCI tried to make it safer, and you see where they are today.....back to pipe bombs as they introduce this year their brand new presses. The majority spoke.

Blarby.......good for you to come forward and share, and maybe wake up the robots, open eyes and minds, and remind us that the pretty safe hobby of reloading sometimes isn't. Dillon of course will fix your equipment for free.......the doctor bills and the pain and suffering....not so much.

 

[MEHavey]

So.... Let the roasting begin....

BUT..... thanks for posting what happened... and why.
There but for the Grace of God go many of us as time progresses.
If not for that particular reason (which we will now avoid), then another.

 

[roval]

hope you heal quickly. keep an eye out for redness and swelling or drainage and if there is let your doctor know about.

 

[IMtheNRA]

So, how many primers activated? Three, or where there more than you thought?

 

[WonderDavid!]

That certainly does convince me to wear safety glasses from now on. At least by posting this, you can take solace in the fact that because of your mistake at least one person (and surely more) will be more careful and take more precautions which could save them injuries and even their life. Thank you for that.

 

[joem1945]

I don't use the auto primer on my 650. Hand prime all cases first then into the case feeder.

 

[1KPerDay]

Sorry to hear, Blarb! Heal up quick!