Missing Anvil

[edleit]

Had an interesting experience this past week. I do all of my priming off-press, using a Lee hand priming tool.

While filling the primer tray, and flipping the primers to face upwards, I noticed that one of the cups was missing its anvil. These were Remington 1 1/2 small pistol primers. Of the many thousands of cases I have primed this way, this is the first occurrence of a missing anvil that I have encountered, of ANY brand. I think that says a lot for the manufacturer's quality control processes.

It also reinforces my decision to continue priming off the press - if this was loaded in a feeding tube or other automated system, it is likely that it would have resulted in a FTF.

Has anyone ever run across this in their priming sessions?

-Ed

 

[Reloadron]

Imagine loading 100 or 200 rounds and then finding an anvil.

I have also found, over the years, a few cups less anvils. I have always hand primed except some of my very first loads.

Ron

 

[GBExpat]

... Has anyone ever run across this in their priming sessions?

-Ed

Yes, but verrrrrrry rarely.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have never missed an anvil... but I still look.
You don't have to hand prime to check, I look at my primers before I flip them to load the automatic primer feed on a progressive loader.

The first use of the primer flipper was to inspect for anvils, not as many primer feeds in those days.

 

[Lafitte]

I haven't but a reloader friend of mine found several in a tray of primers. Didn't find any more in that carton.

Laftte

 

[edleit]

I have never missed an anvil... but I still look.
You don't have to hand prime to check, I look at my primers before I flip them to load the automatic primer feed on a progressive loader.

The first use of the primer flipper was to inspect for anvils, not as many primer feeds in those days.

Interesting. Hadn't thought that to be the case, but it does make sense. Those who have seen this - Do you recall the brand/size?

 

[mdi]

Nope, not that I can remember. most of the primers I have used are CCI (all sizes) and the greater number have been stuffed with a ram prime, single loaded. I've used Rem, Wolf and Winchester to a much lesser degree, but again, no missing anvils. When I used a hand primer I shook the primer trays to get the primers in the right position, but can't remember seeing an "anvil-less" primer...

 

[Blue68f100]

I've had a few over the decades. Don't remember when the last one was, it's been that long. I just steal an anvil from the spent primer bucket and load. The few that I have done have gone bang. If I do this it only for general plinking. And the round is marked and normally shoot it first.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have never ever had a primer with a missing anvil. You but the jackpot lol. You found the one in a million.

I suggest you contact the manufacturer and give them the lot number. It might be helpful to them for improving QC.

 

[meesterdon]

I had one loose anvil in the 1st box of Federal #100 I ever opened. I found the primer it fell out of. Luckily. Nothing since.

 

[Catpop]

Meestetdon,
Question is did you put anvil back in and use it? I would have cuz I'm tight

 

[Reefinmike]

I found a loaded round of winchester factory ammo at the range with a blown out primer. Looks as if it had tied the guys revolver up for a minute. I took it home and pulled it to investigate. Ends up there were two anvils interlocked blocking the flash hole and preventing ignition.

I also found that one of the 20 rounds of 165gr 45acp hydrashoks I bought several years back had no anvil. And to think I had that round in my 1911 that I kept in the night stand for about a year.

I wont buy factory defensive stuff any more. I take extra precaution when loading up defensive ammo by carefully trickle charging and double weighing each powder charge. One headstamp brass with brass sorted by weight, weighing bullets and of course inspecting the primer for an anvil and the primer paper seal/compound.

 

[RecoilRob]

I always visually check every primer for anvil and a proper pellet of compound. Any you find out of the ordinary is a misfire you just prevented. Checking each charged case for the proper powder level another good idea...as well as making sure the flash hole is there and clear. I've seen a couple rifle cases that didn't have flash holes punched from loaded factory ammo. They all do pretty well...statistically wise for the billions of rounds loaded every year, but a mistake IS going to get through sooner or later. Everything you can do to stop it happening to you is a good thing.

 

[Dudedog]

Out of about 10000 S+B I had I think one with a missing anvil and two with loose that fell out. (found anvils) Forgot to write down the lot number.
Other lots of S+B have been fine.

 

[meesterdon]

Meestetdon,
Question is did you put anvil back in and use it? I would have cuz I'm tight

I did not. I lost it right after I took the picture.