Scared myself tonight.... primer story

156821

156821

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So i just got finished loading up some 30-06 shells when I noticed some how one of the primers was not seated properly and was sticking out about an 1/8. I dont know how I didnt catch it sooner but I missed it. I am really careful with all my reloading, and this is the first time I have had a screw up like this since i started 10 years ago. I didnt want to just seat the primer deeper as i thought a little powder might slip down the flash whole and cause other problems. So what do I do? Grab my handy RCBS bullet puller (the inertia one). I figured that once the bullet and powder was out I would just pop the primer out and put a new one in. So far so good right? Well after three wraps of the puller getting hit on the table the primer blows right out the back of the case and hits the ceiling.... well I was not expecting that. It scared the hell outta me knowing there was a full charge of powder sitting right in front of it. It didnt ignite... thank god. So my question to you is how would you have handled this situation differently? Maybe its time to get a bullet puller that doesn't have to get beat on the table. What are your thoughts?
 
The press-mounted bullet pullers use standard shell holders so if the primer was sticking out 1/8" it wouldn't fit in the shell holder.
The primer going off really surprises me. Wasn't a Federal primer by chance was it? They're much more sensitive than others. I've hammered hundreds of cartridges apart and never had anything like that.

I would have done the same as you.
 
Federal primers are known for being more sensitive, going off with less of a shock (weaker firing pins), and having much softer (or thinner?) cups that flatten at much lower pressures than other brands of primers. It can be good, bad, or of no consequence depending on the circumstances. Obviously in this case it was bad and I would also avoid using Federal primers in semi-autos with floating firing pins (many milsurps) due to the chance of a slam-fire. In a firearm with a weaker firing pin they can be really handy though.

I've always avoided seating primers deeper with a powder charge in the case but that's just from commonly accepted reloading safety. I know that many commonly accepted practices are fabrications (SEE's with light charges of fast powder, tumbling loaded ammo causing explosions, oil from your skin deactivating primers, etc.) but I've never looked into this one in particular. I may try it one day by seating primers into cases that intentionally have some substantial grit or something in the primer pocket (but no powder). Obviously doing it somewhere safe with safety glasses and hearing protection.

As I said before though; in the same situation I'd do exactly what you did.
 
Yikes. I've always been afraid of that very thing happening, though it has never happened to me nor have I heard of it happening. Now you'll have me sweating every time I have to pull a bullet!

I'm surprised you didn't have a powder ignition. I wonder if the primer had moved out even further on your first couple of whacks.

I'm glad there were no injuries. Stay safe!
 
Did you guys not read the original post?
Here is what he said. "It didnt ignite... thank god."
 
H4831 said:
Did you guys not read the original post?
Here is what he said. "It didnt ignite... thank god."
Click to expand...

His post is actually a little unclear. He mentions the lack of ignition after speaking of the powder charge, but mentions the primer "blowing" out the back of the case which leads me to believe the primer went off just didn't ignite the powder.

OP, to answer your question, I would have done the same. I have a press mounted RCBS puller, but wouldn't have bothered getting it out to pull one round.
 
I think I would of just used the hand primer with the bullet facing down and after a few
shakes and gentle squeeze on the primer handle things should be okay.
But, wear hearing and eye protection.
 
156821 said:
So my question to you is how would you have handled this situation differently? Maybe its time to get a bullet puller that doesn't have to get beat on the table. What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

I uniform all my primer pockets and inspect each case to ensure each primer is a few thousandths below flush after seating "before" adding any powder or bullet.

Below all US military 7.62 ammo is to have the primer .008 below flush and a good reason to uniform your primer pockets.

m14chamber_zps93174da1.jpg


And I'm still using my old RCBS primer seater I bought in 1974, seat each primer and then flip the case and rub your finger over each seated primer.

RCBSPrimer-b_zps7e084f16.jpg
 
kamlooky said:
I think I would of just used the hand primer with the bullet facing down and after a few
shakes and gentle squeeze on the primer handle things should be okay.
But, wear hearing and eye protection.
Click to expand...

this. i have had primers goes off using a lee loader, most annoying.
 
Just my 2 cents.
Did you use a brass polisher before reloading?
Was the polishing medium "Stainless steel"??
I was reloading one day and after taking my brass from the polisher and was cleaning the primer pocket.
I noticed that a piece of stainless cleaning media was stuck in the primer hole.
It was in there pretty good.
Had to use a small screwdriver to push it out.
Could this possibly be a reason for the primer going off and not flashing the powder off as the primer hole may have been plugged.?

This problem I had was just 2 weeks ago.
I am glad I decided to check the primer pocket.
P.s The primer reamer did not remove the blockage as it only just pushed it in a bit.

Now I brush the interior of all my brass and check the primer pocket.
 
Glad it worked out OK. I can just imagine the scare. I know sometimes I drop the odd primer on the floor and have rolled over them with the chair and they go off
I crap my pants every time but don't learn to look right away when one drops
Cheers
 
Why not just use a set of pliers? Just wiggle the projectile out , throw it away , dump powder and remove primer. You only reck a projectile.
 
william1 said:
Just my 2 cents.
Did you use a brass polisher before reloading?
Was the polishing medium "Stainless steel"??
I was reloading one day and after taking my brass from the polisher and was cleaning the primer pocket.
I noticed that a piece of stainless cleaning media was stuck in the primer hole.
It was in there pretty good.
Had to use a small screwdriver to push it out.
Could this possibly be a reason for the primer going off and not flashing the powder off as the primer hole may have been plugged.?

This problem I had was just 2 weeks ago.
I am glad I decided to check the primer pocket.
P.s The primer reamer did not remove the blockage as it only just pushed it in a bit.

Now I brush the interior of all my brass and check the primer pocket.
Click to expand...

The cases were tumbled but with corn cob media. I guess its a possibility that the reamer didnt get everything out. This just goes to show how fast things can go wrong. I will be using a lot more care and attention with my primer pockets, and also a pair of safety glasses.
 
W
william1 said:
Just my 2 cents.
Did you use a brass polisher before reloading?
Was the polishing medium "Stainless steel"??
I was reloading one day and after taking my brass from the polisher and was cleaning the primer pocket.
I noticed that a piece of stainless cleaning media was stuck in the primer hole.
It was in there pretty good.
Had to use a small screwdriver to push it out.
Could this possibly be a reason for the primer going off and not flashing the powder off as the primer hole may have been plugged.?

This problem I had was just 2 weeks ago.
I am glad I decided to check the primer pocket.
P.s The primer reamer did not remove the blockage as it only just pushed it in a bit.

Now I brush the interior of all my brass and check the primer pocket.
Click to expand...
This is what I was thinking may have happened!
 
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