There's another thread recently about hand-priming tools. I have several and they all involve handling the cases with my fingers. I try to keep my fingers and hand away from the open end of the case when I squeeze, but I'm also trying to move fast -- I prime hundreds and thousands of cases. I'm concerned about the safety of priming this way. I wonder what the prevalence of detonations is.
I understand things like unswaged, crimped primer pockets can cause detonations. I don't have or use that kind of brass. So my concern is about other causes or preventative measures.
There are photos of primer-caused hand injuries available via internet search. A primer lacerating my fingers or hand is not the gravest concern among the risks that people who handle firearms are confronted with, but it's not something I want to suffer.
There are a few ways I can think of to manage the risk:
1. ) Prime on press. I use a progressive with a case feeder and I can load up the hopper and prime away. Except the Lee Safety Prime is pretty lousy. When I did this is the past, I resorted to loading the primers in the cup by hand with a nitrile glove.
2.) Isolate the shell from my hand before squeezing the primer in. This is just a matter of moving one of my hands farther away from the other before I squeeze. One of the reasons I don't do this is because I insert the shell in the shell holder, and then, before I let go of it, I begin to squeeze with the other hand to put pressure on the case to hold it in the shell holder before I take my fingers away. Then I complete the squeeze with my hand clear of the shell. When I release pressure, the primed shell falls into a container and my other hand is usually there with several shells in it. I hook one with the shell holder and start to squeeze to hold it before I move my hand away.
3.) Wear a protective glove. I would need to answer what balance of protection and dexterity give the desired result.
I understand things like unswaged, crimped primer pockets can cause detonations. I don't have or use that kind of brass. So my concern is about other causes or preventative measures.
There are photos of primer-caused hand injuries available via internet search. A primer lacerating my fingers or hand is not the gravest concern among the risks that people who handle firearms are confronted with, but it's not something I want to suffer.
There are a few ways I can think of to manage the risk:
1. ) Prime on press. I use a progressive with a case feeder and I can load up the hopper and prime away. Except the Lee Safety Prime is pretty lousy. When I did this is the past, I resorted to loading the primers in the cup by hand with a nitrile glove.
2.) Isolate the shell from my hand before squeezing the primer in. This is just a matter of moving one of my hands farther away from the other before I squeeze. One of the reasons I don't do this is because I insert the shell in the shell holder, and then, before I let go of it, I begin to squeeze with the other hand to put pressure on the case to hold it in the shell holder before I take my fingers away. Then I complete the squeeze with my hand clear of the shell. When I release pressure, the primed shell falls into a container and my other hand is usually there with several shells in it. I hook one with the shell holder and start to squeeze to hold it before I move my hand away.
3.) Wear a protective glove. I would need to answer what balance of protection and dexterity give the desired result.