Dillon Primer System Detonation [PICS]

[esheato]

I did send a quick email with a link to Dillon, so we'll see what happens with that.

I also talked to my friend again and he said he had to pick himself up off the floor after the explosion. According to him, he didn't know what happened, but he wasn't about to stand there in front of the machine.

Ed

 

[LAH]

A fellow commerical loader set off appox. a half tube of primers in his 1050. Blew a hole through the ceiling of his shop into the apartment he rented above. No one hurt but he couldn't hear the same for a day or two. The primer shield held.

 

[Kamicosmos]

The Achilles' heel of all the progressive presses is the primer system. My Loadmaster seems to have the 'best one' as far as keeping the primers seperated from each other. But with it being made of plastic, parts wear out sooner, and they can break or twist without providing any feedback, so you still can get primers on their side occasionally, which I did the other night actually. Fortunatly I load extremely slowly on my progressive out of Paranoid Fear, so I stopped as I felt the odd resistance of the primer crushing.

I bought a hand primer from RCBS and keep saying I am going to go with just hand priming from here on out, but that defeats the purpose of the progressive, which is to quickly load lots of ammo. I am half tempted to buy a nice turret press to replace my progressive. Of course, I can just rearrange my dies in the Loadmaster to make hand priming an easier course of action.

 

[Jeeper]

esheato,

What do you mean by short stroked? Do you mean that the primer was half pushed in and then sheared off?

Does he know which primer blew first? Was it the one in the priming station? I had this happen to a buddy a few weeks ago and it was due to his primer punch being loose and the primer falling under the plate.

 

[esheato]

Surprise, surprise. I just got a response from Dillon about this thread.

------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the link; the description of the explosion isn't unusual,
except for the cracks in the platform.

Did your friend phone us to get a return merchandise authorization for
repair?

At Your Service,
Gary Kieft
Sales Manager
Extension 311

Dillon Precision Products, Inc.
**********************************
PLEASE LEAVE ALL PREVIOUS MESSAGES
AS WE NEED THEM FOR OUR REPLY
**********************************
Orders/Expert Assistance: 800-223-4570
Order Status/Basic Orders: 800-762-3845
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and Saturday 8 am to 3 pm
Visit us on the Web at
www.Reloader.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Ed [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 9:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Dillon Primer System Detonation thread on TheHighRoad.org

Sir/Ma'am,

I posted about an accident with the Dillon XL 650 on a
gun forum recently. I just wanted to share it with
you.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=118164

Thanks,

Ed
------------------------------------------------------------
How's that for customer service?

 

[BenW]

Thanks for the link; the description of the explosion isn't unusual,

Well, that "isn't unusual" thing kinda worries me. It isn't unusual for it to happen, or it isn't unusual to see those results if it does happen?

 

[HankL]

I, for one will be giving Gary a call in the morning.

 

[Zak Smith]

I've had two SDB's, currently own a XL650. A friend of mine has a 1050.

The primer system in the 650 is prone to problems, IMO. Mine has blown up once, and detonated a few single primers besides. It is much more sensitive to tight primer pockets than my SDB ever was. Dillon has designed a system that is "safe" with regard to blow-ups and they replace anything that breaks with no fuss.

Next time I'll buy a 1050.....

-z

 

[goon]

Glad your friend wasn't hurt. It really is amazing how much power those little beasts contain.

 

[griz]

Thanks for posting that. Good pics too. I'm surprized it did that much damage to the parts. I would expect the tube to be wasted, but it seems it would take a lot of energy to crack and bend those parts. Live and learn, and wear glasses.

Aside from that, and no offence meant to your friend, does it seem that the people who turn out a zillion rounds per hour are more prone to this kind of thing? I've reloaded tens of thousands of rounds, and despite crushing a few primers have never set one off. (I am knocking on wood right now) Have I been lucky or have I been saved by the fact that I don't hurry the process?

 

[JNewell]

I am wondering how often primers go blam in ammo manufacturing plants?

 

[tex_n_cal]

I still have an old Hornady Projector, which I haven't used in a long time. I recall once if you got in adjusted just right, it would once in a while neatly flip primers over and put them in upside down. I sure was sweating while depriming them, but they never did let go.

 

[benewton]

I've run a 650 for about, oh I guess, 8 years or so: how time flies...

I've had problems with Federal primers in the priming tube, and so have gone to Winchesters, primarily in SP, since I've drifted away from the .45 ACP and into the .40 S&W, along with the required .38 Spl.

I've had primers go in backwards, and simply chuck the brass, with oil soaked primer, but other than that have had no problems that I've not caused.

But I'm probably turning out 1K of reloads over 4 hours or so, and while I don't really remember correcting any primer problems, I probably have: things do tend to loosen up a bit, after all.

Still, while I love the machine, I'm knocking on wood!

But, I'd buy it again.

 

[neolithic hunter]

dillion primer detonation

i had a primer detonation about 5 yrs ago. sent the press back to dillion along with some of the primers that were left. they sent me a new press and checked the primers, said that the primers were too sensitive and that is what caused the problem with the press. had no problems with dillion about it, got a new press and haven't had a problem. press is working great.

 

[klw]

I'm a bit confused

How do we think that this accident happened? Did a primer detonation go around that wheel or did the blast occur just under the primer tube?

When the Star was introduced in the early 30's they had a problem with primer detonations. Their solution was to beef up their primer tube making it, essentially, a primer tube/primer shield. That worked. The FEW examples I've seen of detonations in a Star primer tube showed it swollen up but not split.

When Dillon came out he used a primer tube contained in a primer shield. Serves the same purpose. I've never hear of anything getting past a Dillon primer shield. Can blast out the top, I suppose, but I've never heard of an injury where the Dillon primer shield didn't work.

The two Dillon machines that I've never used are the 650 and 1050. All the rest, including a 1000, I've operated. Is the 650 primer system a problem? Some of the comments here seem to suggest that. Maybe but somehow I wouldn't expect that from a Dillon product.

 

[BluesBear]

Sooner or later we all end up seating a primer upside down.

Have no fear. Just deprime it like a fired case. Since there will be no support for the anvil it will just pop right out.

However if you try to "decap" a live primer loaded CORRECTLY, the primer cup will support the anvile and the primer will think the decapping pin is a firing pin sneaking in the back door and therefor will do it's job and go
BOOM!

I do not recommend trying to remove a live primer with any sort of reloading press.



A primer Kaboom in a modern progressine press is still a very rare occurance. But all of the name brand presses are DESIGNED so that if it happens the press will react in a certain way to ensure minimal damage.

 

[P95Carry]

I do not recommend trying to remove a live primer with any sort of reloading press.

I also would not recommend this .... however, I have done it a few times! The proviso is IMO - SLOW .... even if pressure on anvil and compound - there is a need for energy input which is normally the sudden impact of a firing pin. so a slow steady pressure can do this without problems... no guarantees tho!

I reiterate - NOT a recommended practice.... probably better to chamber the primed case in suitable piece and discharge the primer - in safe direction.

 

[Cacique500]

Thanks for the info & pics!

Has anybody spoken with Dillon on this yet?

the description of the explosion isn't unusual

That statement causes me a little concern...

If anyone does talk with them please let us know what they say!

 

[BluesBear]

It's pretty evident.

When you go shooting do you wear eye protection? WHY? Are you "concerned" that your firearm will explode?
When you drive do you wear a seatbelt? Why? Are you "concerned" about your inability to drive safely?

If you are so concerned as to what Dillon has to say about it then get off your lazy butt and call them yourself.

Dillon stated;
the description of the explosion isn't unusual,
except for the cracks in the platform.

What that statment means is that the Dillion performed almost exactly as it was designed.

Now if the person at Dillon had said, "It did WHAT? I've never heard of anything like that." then I would be concerned. As it is I am not.

You'll find that a primer explosion in ANY name brand progressive loading press is RARE. It is an extremely uncommon occurance. But IF it does happen Dillon, Hornady, RCBS, et al have PLANNED for it. And they have planned very well. Did thay plan this because they feel their products are unsafe? Or because they realize that anything mechanical can have a problem.

Everyone I know uses eye and ear protection when reloading. Is this because they have no confidence in their equipment? Or is it because they are just prepared for the worst.

As you can see from this thread the replacement of a few small parts, which of course Dillon will replace for FREE, and the press was good as new up and running with no further problems.

The chances of a primer detonation in a progressive press are SLIM. There are several factors that could possibly cause it to occur. So the chance that it was 100% the fault of the machine is even slimmer.

The fact that there was an explosion inside a loading machine and no one was hurt and there was very little physical damage to the machine should stand as a testimony to the product.

Ater all, we expect our automobiles to have "crumble zones" for safety.



I have heard all of my life that if you are prepared for the worst you seldom have to face it.

However if you choose to imitate Henny Penny and perceive that the Sky is Falling that is your perogative.

 

[Cacique500]

If you are so concerned as to what Dillon has to say about it then get off your lazy butt and call them yourself.

Slow down there chief...I think you read a little more into my post than was actually there.

I said I was concerned because I own a Dillon 650. Notice I said 'concerned' as in I care about it and want to be safe when I work on it (both myself AND the press). If the platform cracked then maybe there's something that needs attention...maybe not.

I didn't say I was running around freaking out and yelling that the sky was falling. I'm not bashing Dillon one little bit...my entire reloading bench is and always will be BLUE.

I also appreciate the safety lesson on when and when not to wear safety glasses and seatbelts.

 

[g56]

The main thing is that the Dillon did it's job and protected the operator, I've never had a problem but things can happen, it's no coincidence that Dillon surrounds the priming tube with a steel sleeve. In the same thought, if a Dillon owner ever has a primer jam in the aluminum priming tube, Dillon says to call them and they will send out a free replacement, and not to try to clear the jam yourself, but I've loaded many thousands of rounds on my Dillon and never had this happen.