First reloading incident ever!!!

[jeeptim]

Loading up some 458 Socom.
Primer in loaded round went off..
First mistake I bought 300 Federal large pistol magnum primers.
This was all I could find I almost always use CCI.
Working on a lee load master just tooling along and a primer goes in sideways then charge then seat then crimp then drops into catch tray this time it bounced out hit the floor and BANG!! I could clearly see the flash marks on one side thank God the entire round didn't go off right next to my feet could have been bad.
Been at this for many years always super careful till yesterday.
I feel I should have better heeded the use CCI primers only on the lee load master and a better catch tray yeah I got the card in the front so gonna work on that and a floor mat under the press.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Chalk it up as a lesson learned and thank God you weren't seriously injured. Now go change your underwear too lol.

 

[brasscollector]

Well if everyone in the house wasn't awake before they are now .
This almost sounds like a scene from a final destination movie...

 

[alfsauve]

Wow. I "liked" your post but not because I liked what happened.

How did the primer get sideways?

 

[Allen in MT]

55 years of reloading and last week I was reloading a bunch of once fired .223 LC brass that I was given. Everything loaded fine. Was out shooting them checking various loads and kablooie. Holy sit, blow back in my face, bleeding on my face from it. bolt opened fine and case came out without the primer found the primer in the receiver as it was totally flat. Everything on gun was fine except for a broken extractor. Apparently a 222 case was in with the 223's. It chambered just fine and then I pulled the trigger. One can never be to careful. I now have a Sako extractor in my bolt.

 

[jeeptim]

How did the primer get sideways?
Lee load master.
As anybody that has used one the powder measure leaks on to the priming system and just a few flakes of powder is enough for the primer to drag and flop sideways.
Lots of things had to happen for this to happen and somewhat glad it did.....
Why you ask?
I was getting complacent thinking bad things happen to other people.
I can use non recommended primers not take enough care checking the priming system. I know the priming system is problematic but last 30 or so rounds it can wait.
The priming has been troublesome as of now think I will size and prime on the rock chucker.
This morning deep cleaned my reloading area. Swept vaccumed dusted now inventory of Supplys.
In a nut shell redouble my safety efforts.

 

[Slamfire]

I now have a Sako extractor in my bolt.

I assume you have a Rem M700. You should always wear your shooting glasses if you installed a Sako extractor in the bolt head of a Rem M700. If you again experience gas release, that Sako extractor is going to blow out of the action into your eye. It has happened to a surprising number of people, you can search this if you want. Your Sako extractor is going to be directly in line with the lug raceway and there is nothing to keep it in place.

 

[MI2600]

I use a Lee hand primer tool. I have put primers in sideways and upside down. I have attributed the extra effort of the sideways primers to a tight pocket. Fortunately, I have found them before they became a bigger problem.

 

[alfsauve]

How did the primer get sideways?
.....
Why you ask?.....

I just don't want it to happen to me, so curious what causes this.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I guess I'm just special. I got my first reloading screwup on my first reloading session. Scared me into not screwing up for at least 25 years. Luckily I was shooting a weak caliber in a gun built for stronger ones. No harm done. Just a lesson learned.

 

[Dewey 68]

Glad you weren't hurt. I don't know if the outcome would have been different if you had used CCI primer. I'd bet a sideways seated CCI primer would have ignited in the same manner. This sounds like one of those "engineering disaster" shows where everything just lined up right (or wrong) for that round to go off. Like you said, if the primer wasn't sideways, if it wouldn't have bounced out of your tray, if you had a mat on the floor...

I wouldn't beat yourself up too much, this seems like incredibly bad luck.

 

[FROGO207]

I hand prime off the press and can see when the primers are wonky. Part of the reason I never went beyond a turret press for my reloading needs. I don't need ammo so bad that I cant keep up using the batch method. Plus I process my brass at a separate time so the savings in time would be less IMO.

 

[kmw1954]

I load on a Lee Pro1000 so I have experience with sideways primers though I can tell when something is wacked before the round is even finished. Must be the difference between the 2 presses priming systems. Feel is a very important thing to have no matter which way one primes.

 

[jeeptim]

Getting a feel for the press!
It is new to me a few months.
I am sure the feel will come.
And I think Dewey is correct any primer would have gone off.
I am truly blessed and lucky this was just a lil something to get my attention.
Hey chubby old guy be careful life is good with both eyes!!
Good news I hear the warning loud and clear.

 

[Ireload2]

I would not blame any particular brand of primer. I have used most brands 50 years or more and I have never set one off. Primers installed right don't go off.

 

[alfsauve]

How did the primer get sideways?
Lee load master.
.

I just read the Load Master guide. I'm not picking on anyone, just wanted to make sure this didn't happen to me, so I was trying to figure how this could happen. Here's what Lee says:

· Use only Remington or CCI primers. If you use other brands, you must have the Explosion Shield installed. Other brands like Federal can explode with sufficient force to seriously injure the user or persons nearby. Never place more than 100 primers in the tray.

Glad I don't use Lee.

 

[kmw1954]

I just read the Load Master guide. I'm not picking on anyone, just wanted to make sure this didn't happen to me, so I was trying to figure how this could happen. Here's what Lee says:

Glad I don't use Lee.

So far as I know Lee is the only manufacturer to issue this type of statement with their presses yet they do offer a solution to the issue. To me this is more a legal CYA statement than anything else. I have loaded thousands of S&B and Winchester primers with my Lee Pro1000 and not one single incident. Yet over this same time period I have read horror stories here on the internet of chain reaction ignitions with primers on other presses. Is this the reason Dillon uses 2 tubes including a steel tube in their machines? Explosion Protection?

I have crushed a few primers in my Pro1000 but I've never had one ignite. I have since learned to stop before it gets to the point of crushing.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I've loaded many tens of thousands of winchester primers bought by the case at walmart on a lee. My Walmart recently switched to cci so I may be changing that soon.

If the same firing pin strike sets off every brand of primer, I have to think that the same smashing in a press would also.

 

[alfsauve]

If the same firing pin strike sets off every brand of primer......

As die hard revolver shooters know, that isn't always the case. There is a significant difference between Federal primers and the others.

I only checked the instructions for the Load Master, not the other models. And I don't think putting up a blast shield solves the problem, just mitigates the consequences.

 

[Reloadron]

Working on a lee load master just tooling along and a primer goes in sideways then charge then seat then crimp then drops into catch tray this time it bounced out hit the floor and BANG!! I could clearly see the flash marks on one side thank God the entire round didn't go off right next to my feet could have been bad.

The classic think of the odds applies. You could likely repeat this a few hundred or maybe a thousand times and never have the round detonate, then too, you were lucky as the outcome could have been much worse.

Personally I like to hand prime, still using an old Lee hand tool with the flat base shell holders and also have a RCBS hand priming tool in reserve. The thing just feels right when I use it. I also remove and get a look at each primed case as I remove them from the shell holder.

Federal primers have always held a reputation for being sensitive. While I have loaded with thousands of them I have never had an issue even loading for rifles with a free floating firing pin. I do try to use CCI #41 for small rifle and CCI #34 for large rifle when I can for rifles with a free floating firing pin. Can't hurt I figure when I have them available.

Fortunately no real serious harm done and thanks for sharing to give us all something to think about.

Ron

 

[jeeptim]

Not blaming any primers just odd the events that took place to lead to kaboom