Re-seating primers on loaded cartridges

I have admit I have done it. I never had a primer go off during standard seating. But that was usuing a hand press and I could hold it behind the door in my non-shooting hand. With leather glove on. Not that it would make much difference I guess.
That was letting my wife help me prime as she wanted to learn. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention. There were 34 rounds to be done. Oh well, she sticks to just lubing and sizing now. It boils down to how comfortable you feel with it. Mods can delete this if I am in err.

Don't risk it!

In the event that the primer were to detonate for whatever reason the powder in the round would ignite and rupture the case. Potentially spraying shrapnel into your face and body. Ouch!

I have had a primer detonate on seating and my God it was loud! I can't imagine what it would be like to have a loaded round explode right next to my head.

You did the right thing. I know it's no fun but everyone who handloads has to pull rounds apart at one time or another due to mistakes.

Stay safe!

I would NOT re seat primers on loaded cartridges!

^^^^^^^^^^^Don't risk it!^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Agree 100% Pull Em ; )
Y/D

Take the cartridge apart--your eyes are hard to replace
Have a great new year.

I see you chose to dissasemble, which is the right thing to do. But I wouldn't be afraid to reseat using a hand primer, wearing leather gloves, under a heavy blanket, wearing eye and ear protection. Usually a high primer will go off on the second try.....

Murphy's law can ruin your day.

Break them down and don't tempt fate. Safety at the reloading bench should always be a priority.



NCsmitty

I could probably never find it now, but there was a post on another forum where a guy was at the range and an ejected case bounce off something overhead, landed on an open box of rounds square on a round setting off the primer. He was fortunate the case didn't get him as it became the projectile.

Should you? No.

Have I? Yes.

Using a grinder face shield, a leather glove, an RCBS hand primer tool, and a 3' section of 8" PVC pipe to stick it in each time I squeezed the handle.

The odds are no greater that a primer will go off when reseating a loaded round then one going off while priming.
And I have never had one go off when priming since I stopped using a Lee Whack-A-Molie tool in 1964.

rc

Who has popped a primer while priming? I haven't in 17 years. The flat surface of the primer ram will not set off the priming mix. It has to be impacted. It won't go off if gently seated with a hand priming tool.

The risk you all are afraid of is the same as that for transporting primers, handling primers, and disassembling cartriges, i.e nill.

I've done it. Didn't like it.

I have a Dillon Square Deal that I use for an extensive ammount of .38 Special reloads.
I' m VERY carefull on the primer seat station but OCASSIONALLY a "high primer" occurs AND is obvious.
My single station press handles this EASILY.
ALWAYS wear Safety Glasses when reloading anyway!!

918v said-

Who has popped a primer while priming? I haven't in 17 years. The flat surface of the primer ram will not set off the priming mix. It has to be impacted. It won't go off if gently seated with a hand priming tool.

The risk you all are afraid of is the same as that for transporting primers, handling primers, and disassembling cartriges, i.e nill.

Click to expand...

While primers are sensitive to percussion I can assure you that they do not need to be struck to detonate.

Crushed primers can, and DO detonate. I, and many others, have had it happen. A quick google search of "primer detonation" will give lots of interesting reading.

Will a primer detonate with a hand priming tool? Highly unlikely.

Is it even remotely worth risking your health and well being to save 20 minutes of your time pulling down ammo? That can only be answered by the individual. As for me, not a chance.

Reminds me of the guy who launches the jumbo bottle rocket from his...

IF you really needed the consensus of this forum to answer that question, perhaps you should be questioning your need to reload at the juncture............or you should be rereading your loading manuals...............or we could all encourage this behavior and let Darwin's theory prove itself out - but that wouldn't be appropriate....

Guess I'm chicken, I pull them with a bullet puller and start over. So I lose. . .what. . .a little powder and a primer. . .and re-use the bullet and casing. As opposed to. . .a trip to the hospital, my eyesight, my job if I can't work. . .

In the cost/benefit ratio, "stepping" on a primer in a live round to save a few minutes is a loser.

I hope you pray often

Who has popped a primer while priming? I haven't in 17 years. The flat surface of the primer ram will not set off the priming mix. It has to be impacted. It won't go off if gently seated with a hand priming tool.

The risk you all are afraid of is the same as that for transporting primers, handling primers, and disassembling cartriges, i.e nill.

Click to expand...

I agree with you up to the point of actually doing it.

Not for me, and I live on the edge at times.

918v said:

Who has popped a primer while priming?

Click to expand...

I have. That's one reason I switched to a Lee Hand Primer, instead of the priming ram on the press.
I've got 2 eyeballs and 10 fingers, and I'd like to keep them.

NO. never, pull the bullet and powder, re-prime as needed and reload. It is one of the absolute DO NOT DO for a very good reason.

You have your eyes, your hands, and time. None of the three can be replaced. It's up to you to decide which one(s) you can live without.


Personally, I would take the time to pull the bullet and start over.

I popped a couple of primers with My old Lee Whack-a-mole,
Pretty good POP and it Stinks up the house,
Now I load with a single stage and check each stage thoroughly.
I would never reseat a finished cartridge!
Good Rule to live by, When in doubt---PULL IT OUT!

That's one reason I switched to a Lee Hand Primer, instead of the priming ram on the press.

Click to expand...

OK, has anyone popped a primer using a hand priming tool?