Lee Primer System Detonation [PICS]

[Maxinquaye]

I was reloading some .357 mag today and I had a primer go off in the press. Like a doof I had not screwed my decapping die all the way in, and tried to seat the primer on top of a spent one. Like a REAL doof, I felt the resistance and kept on pushing, thinking it was maybe a tight primer pocket (in .357 mag!?!).

Anyway, the loud pop surprised me. I dropped the carriage and pulled the shellplate off to inspect the damage. Only the one primer went off, and it absolutely DESTROYED...one...little...plastic...piece.

Actually, didn't even destroy it, just sheared off the tab on the primer slider. Here's a pic for all you voyeurs:

That's the sum total of the damage due to the detonation. Called Lee and they're sending me a new one free.

The more I use this press (I have about 3500 rounds thru it in the last 2 months) the more I'm impressed with it

 

[Kamicosmos]

One thing nice about Lee's primer setup is that it isolates the primer from the rest of the sytsem. Getting a catastrophic 500 primer explosion is greatly reduced on the Lee system. Plus the plastic generally gives before primer goes, in the case of a jammed up primer feed.

I had a primer turn sideways on me in my Loadmaster a couple weeks ago. Fortunately, I stopped when I felt the resistance!

 

[esheato]

Alright, alright...point taken.

Ed

 

[Maxinquaye]

"Alright, alright...point taken."

Hehehe

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i'm yet to set one off in the pro1000, now i've seated... eerrr... i mean crushed them in sideways and upside down, but lucky so far...

just think what could have happened if you'd had 100 primers sitting on top of this one in a tube!!!!

 

[bogie]

was this a 1000 or a loadmaster?

 

[Maxinquaye]

'twas a Loadmaster, sir.

 

[alex-v.]

just think what could have happened if you'd had 100 primers sitting on top of this one in a tube!!!!

If you are refering to the Dillon primer feed system as on their 550 it would not set off the remaing primers in the tube. The new primer drops into the pick-up cup and then moves about 4 inches to the position under the case. Only the one primer would go off (but I have never had it happen yet -- knock on wood).

The only way I could see anything happening to the primers in the pick-up tube would be if the bottom one did not enter the cup properly and got sheared when the little arm moved and the impact was enought to set it off.

 

[JA]

I have only had one detination with my Pro 1000's. That was the one time I didn't follow the directions and used some Federal small pistol primers. Ran out of Winchester and CCI primers. Just couldn't resist using some free primers a friend's wife got for me from one of her widow friends.
Some where between the 300-400 round mark of 9mm loaded with the Federal primers one went off. It blew primers and primer feeders parts all over. The only damage was one side of the primer trough was snapped in half. Using CCI and Winchester primers I have never had one go off. Even the ones that have went in the pocket sideways or were crushed when a case with a crimped primer pocket slipped by me.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Which priming system are you using, Maxinquaye. I have the Lee Auto Prime system for my Lee turret. Just curious.