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Posted: 5/12/2015 11:17:11 AM EDT
My friend was using my Dillon 650. He was priming 308 brass with insufficient or missing pocket swaging. It took extra force to seat the primers and get them started. It set off the entire tube;
The rod was launched up into the ceiling and buzzer lever was broken. Big hats off to Dillon who insisted in replacing all of the parts under warranty. "It is not your fault" I said, ready to cover our mistake. All of the new parts are on the way. That is why we like Dillon. |
Here is a pic of the ceiling;
The primer rod was curled up like a pretzel when it hit. The dots are primers shot out the tube. The outer tube contained the blast as designed. It did get hot though. The shim that retains the primer disc was bent but the disc was OK. I could see no severe damage to the primer housing. Eye and ear protection was being used. A very good thing. No one was injured in any way. The design did it's job well. This is also why I like to separate the priming and final assembly process. |
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That is precisely why I do not prime my 5.56 brass using the primer tube. I manually insert each primer into the priming cup that way only one primer can go off if it happens. When I come across a piece of brass that offers slightly more effort to seat the primer it goes to the Dillon Super Swage.
Glad no one was hurt. Vince |
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That's what I don't understand about a 650, it doesn't seem like a it would light the whole tube up, just that one that was being seated. I know it happens though. Had you ever cleaned the primer tube? Some primers have a little bit of "dust" on them that's actually excess priming compound. Over time, it collects, and if there's a big enough source of ignition, like a primer going off as it was being seated, that could be enough to set off the dust - and that could set off the primers in the tube. I run an alcohol-soaked patch through my primer tubes after I finish a priming run, just to ensure I don't build up enough primer residue to be a problem. As others have said, I'm glad nobody was hurt. Did your buddy need fresh clothes after this incident? 
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My theory about why the whole tube goes off is: Once the shock of one going off at the priming station it causes all the primes in the tube to jump against each other. I used to think that it may be static electricity setting them off but it always seems to be preceded by one going off at the priming station. Wadday ya'll think?
Vince |
| Heres a real bad one. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=776339 ( WARNING : GRAPHIC, VERY ) There have been a few Dillon kabooms posted online. Have not seen a Hornady, have you? |
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Heres a real bad one. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=776339 ( WARNING : GRAPHIC, VERY ) There have been a few Dillon kabooms posted online. Have not seen a Hornady, have you? Lots of photos examined, questions were asked . . . no one could do more than speculate as to the cause. There's quite a distance between the primer tube and the primer being set. My own belief was the small primer tilted in the primer punch area, and when the press was cycled and the primer slide was pulled back it jammed and went off. The fact that everything was now in motion toward the primer tube seemed to me to increase the likelihood the flash could reach the tube. Or a tilted primer in the primer tube fell into the path of the primer slide and got crushed/setoff by the back of the slide. But it still seems unlikely. The more unfortunate part of that incident was the primer tube explosion penetrated the powder measure, and set it off as well. :( Ceiling was scorched, no one was hurt, underwear was changed, and Hornady replaced all parts free. I think these folks try to take care of liability (regardless of whether there is any or not) by saying we'll take of our damage, you take care of yours. Smart companies. ETA: LNL AP Explosion/Fire |
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It can and does happen, so does geting hit by a bus.
To keep the probability low I do a few things. I Never force the machine. I keep the cover on the powder hopper at all times and prepare myself of the possibility. I also keep my primer tubes cleaned out of all primer dust with alcohol patches. Glad no one was injured. |
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Heres a real bad one. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=776339 ( WARNING : GRAPHIC, VERY ) There have been a few Dillon kabooms posted online. Have not seen a Hornady, have you? I'm a Lnl AP owner ( multiple 1050s beat almost anything, but no reason to ever buy a 550. LnL AP or 650 = flip a coin..), but I have seen one LnL primer tube detonation. Tried to find the link and don't seem to be able to now, but it's not impossible. I certainly prefer LnL primer handling over the 650, either way, but it can happen on most presses. @OP - glad no one was hurt! |
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Can't see those pics either without logging in. |
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To fast on the handle and forcing it. if you keep a clean press you won't have a chain reaction. The nitro is very fine and you can't hardly see it. Wipe down the press and run Q tips threw the primer tube and you won't have a chain reaction detonation. Load primers on at a time and you wont have any problem. I am never in that much of a hurry loading rifle cases that I want to use the primer tube. I continually check and re-check my powder throw. For 223/5.56 loads I use an empty 50 round 9mm bullet tray. After sizing and trimming I prime 50 cases at a time one by one. After that 50 round tray is full I then drop powder into 50 primed cases. When that 50 round tray is full of powdered cases I check each case for proper powder measure with my Dillon beam scale. Once all 50 cases have been checked I then press the bullet and crimp. My AR is far too valuable to me to hurry this process. Pistol loads are a different animal because I hardly ever run across a crimped primer pocket and the cases hold such a small powder charge it is obvious when it is high. Vince |
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Quoted: Had you ever cleaned the primer tube? Some primers have a little bit of "dust" on them that's actually excess priming compound. Over time, it collects, and if there's a big enough source of ignition, like a primer going off as it was being seated, that could be enough to set off the dust - and that could set off the primers in the tube. I run an alcohol-soaked patch through my primer tubes after I finish a priming run, just to ensure I don't build up enough primer residue to be a problem. As others have said, I'm glad nobody was hurt. Did your buddy need fresh clothes after this incident? Quoted: Quoted: That's what I don't understand about a 650, it doesn't seem like a it would light the whole tube up, just that one that was being seated. I know it happens though. Had you ever cleaned the primer tube? Some primers have a little bit of "dust" on them that's actually excess priming compound. Over time, it collects, and if there's a big enough source of ignition, like a primer going off as it was being seated, that could be enough to set off the dust - and that could set off the primers in the tube. I run an alcohol-soaked patch through my primer tubes after I finish a priming run, just to ensure I don't build up enough primer residue to be a problem. As others have said, I'm glad nobody was hurt. Did your buddy need fresh clothes after this incident? When I first started using my 650 I had never heard of the primer tube going off so I never even thought about it happening. Now after seeing too many of these threads I run a patch with my favorite bore cleaner (Bore-Tech, it's not ammonia based) through the primer tube whenever I switch to the other size. After that a couple dry patches to dry it out. I switch after 1k-2k rounds, since I typically make a run of 9mm, then .45ACP, and back and forth with a little bit of 10mm thrown in. I am extremely paranoid about this happening to me, hence the reason I am glad people post these threads. |
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I hate the 650 primer system... Horrible. I am not saying it can't happen on other systems.. I will say I have had primers go off on my 1050 (stupid 45 cases with small primers).. After I was done ducking for cover, I wiped off the residue and kept going. No damage whatsoever...
The 650 spinning primer system is stupid and dangerous. I can't believe Dillon hasn't updated it especially after all the returned busted tubes. Keep it clean and it won't happen they say.. Well, I too many of these threads either mean too many people not cleaning or perhaps it needs to be re-engineered because we are not clean animals by nature. Never had a primer go off in my Hornady Progressive.. not saying it can't happen, but haven't seen it. |
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I pinched a small rifle primer once a long time ago. It ignited what was left in the drop tube and launched the rod into the ceiling in 2 pieces.
That little incident left me a little shaken. A call to Dillon and everything was replaced. I don't rush, and certainly don't force the seating of primers. |
| I have had 2 booms with large primer feeds on dillon 1050's, They will wake you right up. Still the loudest and most startling is when the spent primers light up when processing brass. I think it was a live primer that set it off, all the unburnt residual exploded into flames. Think I lost some of my eye brows. |
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The replacement parts arrived from Dillon. I had the new primer parts installed in minutes. Thank you again Dillon.
I took the man's brass and re-swaged the .308 cases on my hand swaging tool. I re-processed the brass and the primers went in smooth and snug. Just the way they should. Cannot stress the importance of this step in the brass preparation process. |
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Quoted: The replacement parts arrived from Dillon. I had the new primer parts installed in minutes. Thank you again Dillon. I took the man's brass and re-swaged the .308 cases on my hand swaging tool. I re-processed the brass and the primers went in smooth and snug. Just the way they should. Cannot stress the importance of this step in the brass preparation process. Amen to the part in blue. Thanks for the update and glad you are running smooth again.  |
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I sort brass by crimped/not crimped at the beginning. If it's crimped, it gets de-crimped before I do much beyond cleaning it.
Some brands of brass just have smaller pocket diameters than others, and some primer brands are measurably larger than others. While there's supposed to be a interference fit between primer and pocket, trying to shove a slightly oversized primer into a slightly undersized pocket WILL be an issue. I try to test out a combination of brass and primer using a hand priming tool to make sure I'm not going to run into that sort of issue on the progressive. I have had to go back after properly swaging some brass and use my Hornady reamer on it to make primers seat easily. Be aware that just because you've swaged correctly doesn't mean that the combination of primer pocket diameter and chosen primer will actually be a piece of cake. |
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This is why I chose an RCBS Pro2000 with the APS primer strips. Never really felt good about making primer pipe bombs ... Same here. I've been Murphyed plenty of times in my life.....but primers explosions in the house would totally undo my wife.....especially a whole tube full. I was more than pleased with the safey & speed allowed using preloaded APS strips.....no tubes to clean, load, or worry over. I especially don't like the idea of a bunch of loaded tubes laying around! In a year or so Pro 2000's will dry up and be totally replaced by the new RCBS presses, and the world's only really safe primer system will disappear. IMO a shame. It will be interesting to see how fast RCBS primer accidents start joining the Dillon ones. No person who reloads is perfect....accidents will happen....if they can. 1 or 2 primers or up to 100 primers at a time is the choice. Amazing to me is that the majority picked the 100 possibility! Amazing! ....and also amazing is that Dillon gets accolades and pats on the back. Not because they designed a safe tool, but because they take responsibility (yes, rare these days) and quickly replace the mangled parts free, before they get sued! 
....and yes, I'm sure RCBS will do the same, now that they are now following the same model hoping to get some more of the progressive market, since safe didn't sell as well as they hoped. Well....of course...we reloaders are by definition braver, cheaper (dumber by some accounts) souls than the general factory fodder buying gun owners, aren't we!
Over on thehighroad.org Blarby posted his 550 primer accident in March. Yup Dillon replaced the mangled parts........they did not pay for the surgery, or the down time or the pain and suffering.....but they got plenty of accolades on how wonderful their customer service is. The following pictures are of his hand, post surgery two months ago. I'm thinking the wounds were left open to drain any possible infection for a few days. rleonard! We are all really glad you didn't have your hands wrapped around your tube. |
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wow i had this happen with a lee pro loader. Was tapping the plastic feed to make the primers feed and BAM like 8 or 9 primers went off and blew the little tray to shit. felt like someone had smashed my fingers with a hammer. Heh heh. In my misspent youth, I used to fearfully hammer primers into all kinds of cases with that damned Lee Loader. To my mistrustful eyes, that primer tube looks like a cluster bomblet trying to go off! |
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