Recently I made two mistakes while loading primers using the Lee Auto Prime, hand tool. First mistake- I loaded a primer upside down in a 338 Winchester case. Second mistake, I loaded a second primer on top of the first in a 303 case. The second mistake is more serious since the shell case with the two primers will not exit the auto prime shell holder. I seek advice on how to safely ignite these primers so at least the shell holder can be saved. On the 338 case, I can always discard the case if there is no safe way to ignite the primer. Obviously one way would be to put the shells in a large vice and ignite with a nail but I am unsure about how loud, how safe, this would be be. A second suggestion was again to place the shells in a large vise and ignite the primers with a propane torch. One person though that the primers would "fizzle" rather than explode if heat was used. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Primer Mistakes- Advice Needed
- Thread starter hiredgun
- Start date
I am having trouble understanding your second problem.
There is really only room for one primer in a case so I cannot see that you got a second one in on top of the first. More likely is that it is in the shell holder & jammed against the case & first primer.
Oil will kill a primer as martinbns suggested. If you put some oil into the case it should go through the flash hole into the primer that is in the primer pocket.
However, be careful in that it may not get to the second primer so it may stay active. Just a primer alone has some power to it.
Good luck.
There is really only room for one primer in a case so I cannot see that you got a second one in on top of the first. More likely is that it is in the shell holder & jammed against the case & first primer.
Oil will kill a primer as martinbns suggested. If you put some oil into the case it should go through the flash hole into the primer that is in the primer pocket.
However, be careful in that it may not get to the second primer so it may stay active. Just a primer alone has some power to it.
Good luck.
upside down primers are easy- just use your press like you would normally for decapping- as for the second i think what's happened is that your first primer was seated deep and the second is halfway between the shell holder and the case- take your lee auto prime apart( it shows how to do this in the manual-when you change primer sizes-) so all you have left is the lee case and the shell holder- then you can use your decapping pin gently to force the primer back out - i've also gone in there from the side ( where the case goes in) with a small blade screwdriver and popped it out that way- just remember- the shiny side is the side that causes it to go bang- and it takes a BLOW to make it go bang-or HEAT- take it on good authority that primer DO go bang with heat or friction-
You cannot guarantee that a primer will be chemically neutralized. Follow t-star's advice and gently push them out. Use oil or not as you choose.
Now, with respect to the double priming. Be careful and try to avoid this. You are aware that it is possible to detonate primers under certain circumstances. If you are using a Lee tool with the primer magazine, it has happened that there has been a sympathetic detonation of other primers in the magazine.
Primers have a "feel" when being seated. If a primer feels in any way different, don't keep pushing. Find out what the problem is.
Now, with respect to the double priming. Be careful and try to avoid this. You are aware that it is possible to detonate primers under certain circumstances. If you are using a Lee tool with the primer magazine, it has happened that there has been a sympathetic detonation of other primers in the magazine.
Primers have a "feel" when being seated. If a primer feels in any way different, don't keep pushing. Find out what the problem is.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Primers are waterproofed at the factory.
This also has the effect of protecting them (maybe only slightly) from the effects of oil ect.
Be very careful "knocking" reversed primers out. Usually I can reseat them back properly.
I usually use the decapping pin to GENTLY but firmly PUSH them out.
I find it's the sideways ones that are the pain in the rear.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Never heat the back end of a brass case with a propane torch! It will anneal the brass, which may become too soft to take the pressure of a full power load subsequently fired in that case. A failed case head could wreck your gun or hurt you, or both.
that's what your needle nose pliers are for- extracting sideways primers- in case you don't get it, i've been at this a while and seen just about every kind of primer abnormality - i've got 4 lee presses- and you KNOW what that means
Paul Jacobsen
Member
Second the use of safety glasses for SURE. If you ever think that there is a possibility of a primer discharging while you correct a situation. Remember this.....always make safety number 1 and make sure the hot gases of a primer that goes off has someplace to go...in other words DO NOT contain the blast......in other words if you are going to use the decapping pin of your reloading dies, adjust them so they are WAY OUT of the die when you do the decap, this way if the primer does accidentally go off it is NOT doing so in an enclosed space like you sizing dies. Leave it space to go off without being a contained blast. Wear goggles and gloves and remember to clean the inside of your dies IF the primer does detonate....clean out all that carbon that could scratch the dies.
I deactivated a primer....or so I thought on a 50 cal browning case. I soaked it in light oil and solvent for more than a week......then decided to strike the primer and deactivate it by making it detonate as I couldn't remove the primer ( staked into the pocket and no tools ) The first one worked great, just fizzled like a bad fuse....the second one nearly took off my finger tip when it came flying up the punch....split my first three fingers like a cherry in a rain storm....talk about painful. The primers in the 50 are like a handgun round...very powerful. Bottom line.....Be careful.
I deactivated a primer....or so I thought on a 50 cal browning case. I soaked it in light oil and solvent for more than a week......then decided to strike the primer and deactivate it by making it detonate as I couldn't remove the primer ( staked into the pocket and no tools ) The first one worked great, just fizzled like a bad fuse....the second one nearly took off my finger tip when it came flying up the punch....split my first three fingers like a cherry in a rain storm....talk about painful. The primers in the 50 are like a handgun round...very powerful. Bottom line.....Be careful.
