Dillon 1050 Primer Magazine Explosion

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I experienced a primer magazine explosion in my Dillon 1050 one day while loading .45 ACP. The armour shield prevented any serious injury, but a piece of ? narrowly missed my eye (wasn't wearing safety glasses at the time, ALWAYS did after), the explosion was very loud as the tube was full, and a few minutes after I went into shock which lasted about ten minutes according to my wife. The primer slide jammed slightly, easy to fix, just reach around and jiggle it. As soon as I moved the slide came the explosion. Studying the machine later I found greenish-yellow powder (what colour is primer compound?) on the slide and the machind ways it rides in. Several years of loading without cleaning are what caused it. The solution? After every loading session use compressed air to blow any residue out of the machine. Other than the aluminum primer tube there was no damage to the Dillon, the best reloader so far as I am concerned. Anyone else have anything to add?
Iceman
 
So you figure that primer residue on the slide built up to the point where there was enough of it to detonate?
 
So far I've been luck, and it hasn't happened to me. However, I know exactly the problem you had.

In my case, I was taking the pocket swager off the machine for cases that I knew were already swaged, or that didn't come with crimped primers. On occation, the pocket edge would clip the primer and partially crush it, or crunch it entirely.

My solution was to leave the swager on the machine, but set it to just kiss the pocket. I found that all cases seem to benefit from a slight "uniforming" of the edge and it made priming more reliable. Also, as suggested, any time the shell plate comes off, the primer slide is wiped out. Since Ialso use the RT1200 trimmer, I just vacuum off the press every once and a while.
 
I'm a little fuzzy on this one, as I'm not really familiar with the Dillon priming system. How can primer residue build up on anything? Aren't the primers sliding along with the cup facing up?
 
HPL said:
I'm a little fuzzy on this one, as I'm not really familiar with the Dillon priming system. How can primer residue build up on anything? Aren't the primers sliding along with the cup facing up?
Click to expand...

When they make contact with the primer pocket, if there is any misalignment the edge hits and it can damage the primer. Also, haven't you ever seen slight deposits of a lime green material in the pockets or cardboard liner the primers come in??
 
The primer residue comes from damaged primers from jams, the powder sifting while knocking the loaded primer tubes, etc. It builds up. While using a primer-flip tray, as well. Keep it clean and safe.
 
Hmmm. Can't say I've ever seen primer powder on any surfaces. I use CCI primers, so it's all yellow and orange for me. Maybe it's just harder to see. Personally, I prime my brass with an Auto-Prime II because I don't really trust progressive press priming systems and they can be a bit of a pain when they're not working just so. The times I've damaged a primer, sometimes the primer flake and anvil fell out but that's about it.
 
primer detonation

My first loader for IPSC was a Ponsness Warren P200, looks like a turret press but has a swinging shell holder arm, put a case in the holder and swing it to each die, four or five strokes per round, no primer feed, place each primer in the cup. A LOT faster than a turret or one lunger. I got pretty fast with it and set off several primers, only one at a time, no big deal. When the 1050 went the tube was almost full and was VERY loud as my ugly mug was just inches away to clear jam. Large pistol primers have a lot of compound in them, so be careful.

That was 16 or 17 years ago and I still use the press, the accident was MY fault for not cleaning it. I clean it now. ;)
 
Did the same thing many years ago with federal primers in my Dillion 650, I was wearing safety glasses and still have a hole in my reloading room ceiling from where the black platic primer feed rod was embedded.

When I called Dillion to get replacement parts they insisted I replace the entire primer system, even the parts that seemed ok. At that time they only charged me shipping. Always been impressed with that company!
 
Had a 20-30 primer explosion in my 1050 about 4 months ago. culprit was a large primer being pressed into a small primer holed 45 ACP case that snuck into the other 4000 or so large-primered ones done just prior. The inner aluminum tube split over a 2 inch length. The Dillon guy told me that when they were designing the 1050 primer feed system they test detonated as many as the tube would hold. parts were replaced for free of course. so I cant say enough good things about their presses.
 
I have never seen any primer residue in my priming systems, whether Lee or Dillon. Since the primers are sealed, a great deal of residue implies lots of damaged primers inside the system, which would indicate that something is poorly adjusted (there should be no damage to the primers).
Regular cleaning is a good idea, but it shouldn't be primer residue! I would take a hard look at adjustments and then at the loading techniques.
 
It makes you wonder if it was just a bad primer, an impact, compression, static discharge, a build up of fillings or powder that could have cause the detonation.
Certain clothing like polyester will build up static charges as will carpet and a variety of other materials. We all tend to let our guard down once in a while and get complacent doing mundane repetitive chores. I think I’ll better check a few ground wires and buy another new pair of safety glasses for the toy room.
Thanks for sharing the story and keeping us vigilant.

Driller
 
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