Popped my first primer today!

[Evenflo76]

While using my Lee Classic Loader. I was seating a primer when I gave the hammer a little too much juice. Nothing serious, just a little POP!

Then I went to de-prime the case and my decapping rod got stuck in the case. :banghead: The end busted off when I tried to remove it. Now I gotta get a replacement. Another $2.50 down the drain...

Here is a pic of the case with the decapper stuck inside. The case mushroomed while I was trying to remove the decapper. You can also see the busted off tip.

 

[cdrt]

Lee will probably replace the decapper for free. I just had them replace my .30 cal decapper that I use for military cases. They're guaranteed for life.

 

[midnights]

I remember the first time I popped a primer Now when it happens I simply discard that case- not worth my time and effort as I am loading far too much. Heck just today I was doing a 1k round batch of 223 and popped 4 or 5.

 

[Mal H]

You are now a full-fledged member of the "Lee Classic Loader Users Club".

I don't know how many primers I popped when I used those loaders several decades ago.

When that happens it is sometimes best to seat a bullet and then pull it out with pliers or a bullet puller if you have one. (Save the buggered up bullet in case it happens again.) That will stretch the case mouth enough so the decapping rod isn't so tight. If you don't do something like this, the neck and flash hole have to be perfectly concentric or the decapping pin may not hit the flash hole squarely which can bend or break the pin.

If you happen to have a smaller caliber Loader, you can use that decapping rod instead. Then you don't have to worry about it being too tight.

[Edit]
midnights - You are loading 1,000 rounds with a Classic Loader?! My hat's off to you, sir!

 

[scrat]

hahahahahahahahahahahhaa

been there done that. As for the decapping pin did that too. only way to get it off is to take a file. File down the neck at an angle. to cut it. Then when its cut get some pliars and peel it back. Agreed once you pop a primer through away the case. it can be do to a number of reasons. a few months ago same thing happened to me on a 9mm casing. then i removed the primer looked at the case thought it was good. took a primer pocket and cleaned the pocket. then went to seat in a new primer same thing bannnnggggg. so i just threw away the case. a few hundred cases later same thing happens. just throw away the case not worth messing with.

 

[midnights]

You are loading 1,000 rounds with a Classic Loader?! My hat's off to you, sir!

umm - that would be impressive. No I load my 223 on a Dillon 1050. I would be tired after about 150 rounds on my Classic

 

[Mal H]

I used to get tired after 50 rounds!

But, now I've got to ask, how are you popping off primers with a Dillon? That shouldn't be happening, at least not at that relatively high a rate.

 

[jmorris]

If your poping 4 or 5 /1000 (or 1 for that matter) on a 1050 you need to adjust your swage on station #3.

 

[midnights]

If your poping 4 or 5 /1000 (or 1 for that matter) on a 1050 you need to adjust your swage on station #3.

I will have to check that this week but it was the first time I have used LC brass. I have only used federal or R-P before. I got a large quantity of the LC and ran them thru without first checking the adjustment.

 

[Evenflo76]

Thanks All. Mal that is some good advice. and a good reason to buy more reloading gear

 

[EMC45]

Popped a 209 primer with some old Lee tools. They are like new, but they were made a long time ago. I was tapping a primer in and it went off. Scared me to death!!! Blew the chrome off the capping rod and blasted it into my finger. I spent about 20 minutes digging chrome plating out of my trigger finger. It bled like crazy.

 

[FieroCDSP]

That last post sounds like Bugs Bunny tapping on bombs with a mallet to check for duds.