Don't be stupid & light off your primer tube. A public service announcement.

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GJgo,
Thank you for posting this. I'm very glad you're safe & proud of you for posting a "not so bright" moment in hopes it keeps someone else safe.

Here is a shining example of why I come to THR on a daily basis. The willingness to share ideas & tips of the great & not so great variety is second to none!
 
I think the primer feed system on the current generation (EZ-ject) LNL's is the only low point. I'd bet the next generation will have an updated primer system.

My main problem is that even the smallest ammount of powder under the slider arm will jam the slider. I usually remove the shell plate and slider every two loading sessions to blow out any stray flakes. I'm also going to polish the plunger and slider hole (giggle) when I have some free time.

(Serious, not sarcastic) I would be interested to know how the Dillon system is better.
 
Thanks for putting you humility aside and sharing your safety incident. Good learning here.

I never popped a primer in my LNL, but I did tear it down and chamfer the parts as you said you should have done.
 
After four months of trying to get the primer system working on my new LNL I finally gave up, in my opinion, it is a bad design all the way around and my direct line to Hornady was to no avail.

I prime on my Lee cast turret, it's great!!!

If I had to do it again, I would buy a Dillon.
 
Balrog said,as usual,
This problem could have been avoided with a visit to www.dillonprecision.com
Click to expand...


Actually their primer system isn't any safer than Hornady's.
Do check Dillon.com, but go here: http://www.dillonprecision.com/PrimerExplosion-98-11-632.htm

RCBS also shared the danger...which is why they invented the APS system.
They recognized that nobody can be a perfect reloader, all of the time. We are all just waiting for the next...or in some cases...the first slip.;)

I wonder if Dillon replaced his ear drums and repaired the ceiling.
 
I've found the primer seater punch has a tendency to collect metal shavings underneath its head on a LNL press. This causes the punch head to stick up just enough to jam the primer slide. Try unscrewing the seater punch from the underside of press, remove the little e-clip that holds it together and give it a good cleaning. Glad your OK.
 
What exactly is sticking in the ceiling, the primer feed tube or the primer tube housing? Is it both pieces?
One other question, were you wearing eye protection?
 
I've had a healthy respect for primers from an incident when I was about 15. I had just bought my first deer rifle, a Remington 700adl in .243. Then I bought this mini tourch and was wondering if it would get hot enough to melt the brass case from which I had pulled the bullet and dumped the powder. I placed the "empty" case on my desk and fired up the tourch. I don't recall how hot the case got, but I didn't even think about the primer. It blew and sent the case up into the ceiling and the primer went thru the top of my desk and landed in the drawer underneath. My ears were ringing and my eyes were real fuzzy. Mom was home and she came running to my bedroom fussing with me, what the heck happened?

Now that's a lesson I will never forget.
 
Primer Strips

I was in a building when a tube of primers blew.
This is one of the reasons why I like the RCBS primer strip system.
 
Hey folks,

My LNL AP has the same parts that came with it in 1997. There has been no primer upgrade or EZ-Ject added to it. Like Nofishbob, I have also used thousands of Federal primers without any incident like described in this thread. My press, like Nofishbob's, feeds all primers smoothly as long as it is maintained properly and kept clean. Let a piece of powder drop in the slide, and it will hang up. This happens rarely, but when it does, I do not just keep pushing the handle. I can recognize by feel when there is something interfering with the shuttle, and I stop to fix it. Sounds like Bob does the same thing.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
Thanks for posting. There are so many people who have claimed in so many threads that primers will not explode in a priming tube.

You know the types: "prove its unsafe!"

Maybe the picture will provide a rebuttal. :D
 
SlamFire1 said:
Thanks for posting. There are so many people who have claimed in so many threads that primers will not explode in a priming tube.

You know the types: "prove its unsafe!"

Maybe the picture will provide a rebuttal. :D
Click to expand...
Yeah, but they don't detonate on their own. Kind of like a negligent discharge.
 
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HAHA maybe I'll stick it in the ceiling for posterity!

Since I have owned this press (about 3 years) I have only ever used Federal primers in it. Reason being most of my reloading on it is for S&W revolvers, and I don't trust them (personal experience) to ALWAYS light harder primers. I've loaded thousands of rounds on it with the Federal primers and this was my first "incident". As I said sometimes small primers were a little "sticky" but it never really hung up. my suspicion in hindsight was that there was probably some FOD in there that was exacerbating the problem- I'll be doing a thourough cleaning (to clean the burn marks!) in addition to chamfering that hole. I bet that'll smooth it up and I'll continue on my way, right after I buy a new primer feed tube of course...
 
Someone's been into the blue koolaid again...

If anything the Dillon 650 priming system is more prone than any other to set off the tube, as reported with alarming regularity. The 550 and LNL AP priming system at least have a large separation between the primer being seated (where most detonations occur) and the rest of the primers in the tube. Only if one goes off at the bottom of the tube (much more rare) does it set the tube off. The 650, on the other hand, has a disk with several primers leading a chain-reaction path from the priming station back to the tube. One problem at either end on a 650, and ka-boom!

Both Dillon and Hornady have tubular blast shields that safely direct the blast up and away from you. The lee plastic tray does not, so it will send primer pieces and shards of plastic everywhere when it goes off (and they do go off occasionally, otherwise, I'm sure Mr Lee would have no need to sell an optional blast shield for it.)

Andy
 
Couple things...

This is the first time i've ever seen a chain fire on a LNL-AP. Until now, I'd only seen it happen with Dillons and maybe(?) Lee. Good to know it's possible, as I'll continue to use extra care. So I do appreciate your post, and glad there was no injury.

Secondly - "get a dillon" is just a strange comment. As noted above, the first time i heard about primer tube explosions it WAS with dillons.

Finally - I've reloading thousands of rounds on a LNL. Never had a single mishap, although I've only used CCI and Win. I'm a bit mystified by comments that believe the LNL priming system needs an overhaul. Yes, powder flakes can be a problem... but I don't really see that as a significant flaw. If you spill powder on the shell plate, you should be stopping down and cleaning it anyway. Canned air works great for this.

thorn
 
Wow. Glad you are safe. My wife would've killed me if the primers didn't!
This just reinforces my decision to hand prime only. I ain't in that big of a hurry.
 
wow, that is fricking scary :\ i hate dealing with primers. the cumulative nature is impressive. It does look funny sticking in your ceilign though... laughing now only because you're OK.... thank god for that blast shield.

A gentleman mentioned vacuuming a live primer..... i did that a couple nights ago for the first and last time. LOL. Blew the fan of my 12 amp eureka Bravo II clean in half, and i SAW the flash through the bag somehow. That was wild.
 
That's like one of the Red Neck jokes. "Hey, watch this........."

You may have saved someone an eye or a finger in the future by fessing up to it though, so I'm glad you did.
 
If anything the Dillon 650 priming system is more prone than any other to set off the tube, as reported with alarming regularity.
Click to expand...

The primer to be seated is more than an inch away from the tube. Also, the cup is surrounded by steel and the anvil is covered by the primer pocket. The adjacent primers are completely surrounded.

Is it possible for one to propagate to the next? Anything is possible.

The 550 and LNL AP priming system at least have a large separation between the primer being seated (where most detonations occur) and the rest of the primers in the tube.
Click to expand...

Apparently not enough.
 
EddieNFL wrote:
Quote:
The 550 and LNL AP priming system at least have a large separation between the primer being seated (where most detonations occur) and the rest of the primers in the tube.
Apparently not enough.
Click to expand...

I can't see how the OP's mishap occurred during the primer seating operation. Too much steel and brass and distance between the primer being seated and the primer tube.

I bet there was some sort of crunching going on as the primer shuttle attempted to slide the primer out of the bottom of the primer tube, placing the detonation right at the bottom of the primer tube.

Bob
 
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