ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN!!!!

[Seedy Character]

Incident 1. Back in my college days, 4 of us had made a trip to my grandparents for a weekend of running the creeks, blowing off steam and burning mass quantities of powders.

Saturday afternoon, we are hearing some talking and laughing. We find 5 boys, appeared to be 11-12 yo, with a Coleman pump up pellet rifle and a Daisy Red Ryder, shooting at the primer of a .50 BMG round stuck bullet down in a mud bank.

They were not happy when I took the round.

Incident 2.

I had been cleaning the shop and reloading bench. Had a box with ~15 shotshells that has bad crimps, wrinkled hulls, or whatever I deemed them as culls.

I carry them in the house and sit down. I have a can to dump shot in. Pull and save the was. Dump the powder into an ashtray and sit the hulls to the side, to pull the primers.

I finished and took the hulls to the shop and pushed the primers out.

I had finished the primers and was headed in, when a flash, hear 2 screams and Wife is calling me everything except my name.

I walk in and begin laughing hysterically.
My daughter has come over. I had been on her case about smoking, especially in my house.
She heard the shop door and dropped her cigarette into the ashtray full of powders.

She doesn't smoke in my house.

 

[Cliff6]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

 

[Seedy Character]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

I pretty sure you aren't the only one.

That's all I'm going to say about that

 

[AK Hunter]

Yes ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN!!!

But negligence happens much more often.

Sorry I had to add that.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

Many times. I've discovered the Lee APP is a finger tip goblin, too. Get moving too fast and forget to no-stroke on the down-stroke when clearing a mis-fed case.

 

[Engineer1911]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

I was loading 44 mag on my Dillon 450. My left thumb was on the shell plated after inserting a bullet in the case with powder. Pulled the handle down and saw stars. That was the moment I realized I needed to see my doctor about carpal tunnel problems. Had both wrists done and left hand had most severe condition. A true, real wake-up moment.

 

[Saluki91]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

I have never smashed my finger in a single stage press... but I'll take the 5th when progressive presses are part of the conversation.

 

[GravelRider]

A couple of years ago I was cranking through ammo at a blistering pace on my Dillon XL650. The primer indexer got a bit off-kilter, and it set a primer off. It scared the hell out of me, but there was no damage to me or the machine. I did slow down a bit after that though.

 

[GravelRider]

Nope, but then I do not consider messing with primers reloading so self inflicted "accidents" is not something I worry about.

Why would you not consider reloading primers reloading? Why are you casting such shade? Serious question. Why would you denigrate another's reloading endeavors? It's bad enough that we have so many anti-gunners to worry about. Do we also have to worry about reloaders who take a holier-than-thou stance? Give me a break.

 

[Swampman]

I experimented with recharging primers a few years ago.

I found that it was a lot easier working with Berdans rather than Boxers.

My homemade primers worked great with black powder and OK with Red Dot, but they were abysmal with full power rifle loads.

If supplies keep going the way they have been, recharging primers might become the first step in reloading. Personally, I'm glad to see people experimenting with homemade primers.

More reloading knowledge to share is always a good thing.

 

[Walkalong]

I have never smashed my finger in a single stage press...

I have, and I smashed my left thumb with a D Cell Maglight yesterday morning, had to hand drill a 1/16 hole in the nail to let the pressure out. Feels yummy this morning, and I have a lot of physical work I have to do today.

 

[MEHavey]

drill a 1/16 hole in the nail to let the pressure out

Ditto here back when (used a Dremel)
Ditto ditto years before Dremel with straightened paper clip heated red hot -- simply "melts through
nail material until blood literally spurts up around it from the pool under the nail and quenches it. Never feel a thing
.... except relief.

 

[ballman6711]

Ditto here back when (used a Dremel)
Diito ditto years before Dremel with straightened paper clip heated red hot -- simply "melts through
nail material until blood literally spurts up around it from the pool under the nail. Never feel a thing
.... except relief.

Paper clip works great unless you go to deep!

chris

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have, and I smashed my left thumb with a D Cell Maglight yesterday morning, had to hand drill a 1/16 hole in the nail to let the pressure out. Feels yummy this morning, and I have a lot of physical work I have to do today.

Yup. Been there, didn’t get the t-shirt. Take care of that. You don’t need or want a blood borne infection. Hope it gets to feeling better before Christmas.

 

[Rule3]

Why would you not consider reloading primers reloading? Why are you casting such shade? Serious question. Why would you denigrate another's reloading endeavors? It's bad enough that we have so many anti-gunners to worry about. Do we also have to worry about reloaders who take a holier-than-thou stance? Give me a break.

Give you a break? Who are you??

Why?
For the very reason the OP posted his thread. He was lucky and just wanted justification and hope others did a similar thing
I think it is a dangerous thing to do. I have yet to see any reliable data or manuals on how to reload primers. I would say what I really think, but shall leave it alone.
As I kid I played with really dangerous fireworks doing stupid things and am lucky to have my eyes and fingers. But if you call it reloading then it's all OK?

There is a warning thread here for loading above max loads, maybe it should also include reloading primers

I prefer to play with blasting caps

On 10/1/2021 the OP posted this. Now who could be better qualified to reload primers? Give me a break!

"Newbie here. Just started reloading, go figure, with all the products not on the market. I have a lot of questions which are probably silly but I have a need to know, especially from the experienced. Hope to pick all your brains about reloading and I promise you I will take your advice, which I have already done. You will see me on most all the sites. Seems like a great place for information which I am lacking on the Reloading side of the house. Thanks for the info".

 

[GravelRider]

Give you a break? Who are you??

Why?
For the very reason the OP posted his thread. He was lucky and just wanted justification and hope others did a similar thing
I think it is a dangerous thing to do. I have yet to see any reliable data or manuals on how to reload primers. I would say what I really think, but shall leave it alone.
As I kid I played with really dangerous fireworks doing stupid things and am lucky to have my eyes and fingers. But if you call it reloading then it's all OK?

There is a warning thread here for loading above max loads, maybe it should also include reloading primers

I prefer to play with blasting caps

On 10/1/2021 the OP posted this. Now who could be better qualified to reload primers? Give me a break!

"Newbie here. Just started reloading, go figure, with all the products not on the market. I have a lot of questions which are probably silly but I have a need to know, especially from the experienced. Hope to pick all your brains about reloading and I promise you I will take your advice, which I have already done. You will see me on most all the sites. Seems like a great place for information which I am lacking on the Reloading side of the house. Thanks for the info".

Whether it's safe or not is a different question entirely, as is his experience level. It's still reloading though.

And progress requires pushing boundaries. If everyone played it safe and stuck with what was known and reliable, we'd still be using sharpened sticks. Innovation requires some risk. Not everyone is comfortable taking risk, and that's okay. But, I find it quite boorish to feel the need to put down those that do.

 

[wild03]

Google AardvarkReloading.com and it is very interesting what you can use and how to make your own primers if they just disappear as a reloading component!!

Thanks, I found two videos on youtube using matches.

1- would use regular matches take the entire head and powder it, then shave the red striker powder 2:1 mix and use,

2-using strike anywhere matches. taking only the white tip of the match and using just that,


any thoughts on which of the two would be better?

 

[wild03]

Whether it's safe or not is a different question entirely, as is his experience level. It's still reloading though.

And progress requires pushing boundaries. If everyone played it safe and stuck with what was known and reliable, we'd still be using sharpened sticks. Innovation requires some risk. Not everyone is comfortable taking risk, and that's okay. But, I find it quite boorish to feel the need to put down those that do.

I agree with you, I just ignore those people

 

[TheClasonater]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

Took my rockchucker off the bench the other day and was carrying it with my knuckles over the hole. Like a suitcase. I turned a corner in the garage, tiptoed around some junk, turned my hand a little, handle dropped and the ram shot up and hit my middle knuckle. Friggin hurt, and I had the same thought. I really hope I'm not the only one that's done this.

 

[74man]

I have my RCBS press under the bench and I used to grab it by the handle and the same thing happened to me so I used a bungee and tied the handle to the press, doesn't happen anymore!! I was depriming one day when a friend pulled up in his new truck and my attention was diverted to the truck and sure enough, I caught the side of my finger between the shell and the top of the press and cut the s--t out of my finger, OUCH!!! It healed and I pay better attention to everything in the reloading areana. I just stop what I am doing and when I can put my attention back to the task at hand, I start over again. You are not the only one that has been caught by his press when moving it, JOIN THE CLUB!!

 

[Highland Lofts]

Presses can and will do damage to your fingers. I seen pictures on a thread on one of the forums of finger damaged hands from presses.
Some of them were not for the timid.

 

[Rule3]

Future Darwin Award candidates

Something about keeping Primers (compound) in a Baby Food Jar comes to mind!

RCModel RIP

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Future Darwin Award candidates

Something about keeping Primers (compound) in a Baby Food Jar comes to mind!

RCModel RIP

I keep mine in a pickle jar next to the microwave and toaster oven. Safer that way.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Freakiest and worse primer accident I read about: a curious cat decided to disassemble a live primer. It went off and the primer's anvil went through the guy's eye, followed the optic nerve into his brain and caused a fatal hemorrhage.

 

[Burstfire]

Well, maybe a bit off topic since this doesn't involve pyrotechnics, but am I the only one who has smashed his finger in a single stage press? I don't know how I got my finger on top of the case.....but it hurt like hell!!

I've added gloves to my safety gear many many years ago because of this. Happened only once each. From brass punching a deep circular cut from seating a bullet (not enough bell so tried to hold it, bullet tipped over, and there goes my finger), to depriming pin punching a hole through my nails (how did I let it go that far? carelessness and stupidity from a beginner). Both on a lee challenger single stage.

Another incident I had was when handing priming. 9mm with standard spp. no safety glasses (i know. stupid). I believe it was a faulty primer but who knows. had seated over 1k cases leading up to the incident, I applied minimal pressure, about 1/3 of of the way in, no resistance, and it just went off. The angle in which I was holding the hand primer was slight leaning left. I felt the concussion on the left side of my face, ears were ringing, wife ran out the room and was bitching. Couldn't open my left eye. Went to the rest room to check. Entire left cheek is red, little bit of blood with the anvil stuck inside my cheek, and other small bloody spots on the left side of my face. I pulled the anvil out, washed my face, rinsed off my left eye, but struggled to keep the eye open as it felt like there's something in there the entire time. Went to the hospital the next morning, said I have metallic particles in my eye. Made me sign some papers to begin the procedure, put something in my eye (anesthetic I believe), use a tool that looks like a dremel with a very fine brush on it and polished my eyeball. Was a pirate for 3 days.

Freakiest and worse primer accident I read about: a curious cat decided to disassemble a live primer. It went off and the primer's anvil went through the guy's eye, followed the optic nerve into his brain and caused a fatal hemorrhage.

That's exactly what happened to my friend's brother! Pierced his eye. Didn't die. Just lost his eye.

Now days, I wear safety glasses, gloves, foam ear plugs, check and double check every step when reloading. If anything feels off (seating pressure etc), I dont risk it. back off and inspect, or just toss to the side.