Primer KB in Dillon 550B...

[Edward429451]

So there I am last night, crankin out some 223's on the Dillon, when BANG, a primer KB's in the press.

When the primer warning sounds I take out the rod and run through the remaining 3 or 4 until totally out, then reload the primers. It was the very last primer and it seemed to just go on its own as soon as it barely contacted the brass before even going in at all.

I always look through the flashhole against the white bench surface to ensure no bits of media or crud stuck there before inserting it into the press so that wasn't it. I wasn't being hard with the stroke. I've no clue why it happened. Overly sensitive primer perhaps?

The only thing even remotely out of the ordinary was I was using Federals 205 SR primers for the first time because they were out of the Winchesters when I went to pick some up. I had already been through 400 with no problems.

I was not wearing safety glasses but did for another 100 that I did afterwards to see that all was ok. The only thing it did was to blacken up the brass flashhole and primercup which was wiped and I went back at it with no more mishaps. Weird. First time for that to happen.
Ideas anyone? Any similar experiances with your 550's?

 

[hps1]

Have loaded thousands of rounds w/a 550 Dillon, both rifle and pistol with CCI, Win. and Fed. primers w/o anything worse than one primer that managed to get turned sideways and was seated flush in the case without detonating.

The Federal primers are softer metal than Win or CCI IMHO, which could make it easier to set off.

Bet that got your attention, though.

Regards,
hps

 

[Cal4D4]

Any chance of a buildup of dust from the primers in tube or?

 

[HSMITH]

I have seated 15 primers sideways, and 10 upside down without a consequence in my 550's. Never had a problem. I just want it to be the primer in the carrier and not the tube FULL of primers that KB when it happens to me. If you handle primers long enough it will happen to you, you can only be prepared for it.

 

[uglymofo]

Hey, don't take those glasses off. Lose an eye, and you'll wish you could go back in time.

 

[Edward429451]

Any chance of a buildup of dust from the primers in tube or?

Sure there was a chance of buildup of dust. I'd just finished up 400 with the Fed primers and had loaded 3 or 4 hundred a few days earlier with Win's. Plus all the ammo I've loaded on it to date.

I've never cleaned any of the tubes. Didn't think you were supposed to. I've loaded multiple thousands with LP primers and never went bang. The small primer tube has seen the least use of any tube so should've been the cleanest..I cleaned the cup and spring assembly before starting this run.

I dont think it was dust because it happened in the cup and I hand fill the tubes and visually check the primer on the up stroke. Guess I'll order some new tubes just to be on the safe side. Probably just a fluke.

 

[SDC]

I've never had a primer go on me with my 550; I think there would either have to be something loose in the bottom of the primer seater, or (maybe) the case wasn't lined up properly over the primer when you tried to seat it? Dillon does mention the possibility of having a primer go off in the primer magazine, but I can't see how that would ever happen, unless someone was to stick a metal rod down there and start hammering on the primers.

 

[Edward429451]

Dillon does mention the possibility of having a primer go off in the primer magazine, but I can't see how that would ever happen, unless someone was to stick a metal rod down there and start hammering on the primers.

Uhh, I was 'in the other room' when this happened to a guy I know on a 550. Dont know why it happened, but it blew the whole tube leaving an ugly shotgun type pattern in the ceiling of his reloading room. Destroyed the low primer warning system too.

Biggest thing this taught me was not to be complacent and always wear safety glasses.

 

[larryw]

You weren't wearing glasses??!!?? I'm glad you're OK: It sounds like you've used up all your good luck.

To paraphrase something that I think WESHOOT2 said, "Don't take a breath at the loading bench without the protection of safety glasses."

Safety first. Safety always. Failure to be safe in any shooting related activity negatively impacts ALL shooters.

 

[hps1]

Don't think you need to replace your tubes, but it is recommended to clean them out from time to time to avoid primer dust buildup.

By the way, how does the primer alarm work? Assume it has a battery...... I never added that feature to my press and was wondering if a static buildup could have caused your detonation.

Regards
hps

 

[JohnK]

In loading 10's of thousands of rounds on a 550b over the last 13 years I've never had a primer go off. I've had some get in sideways and crushed, some upside down but never had a detonation.

From what you describe I'd think it was a fluke and something odd with that primer if it just went off as it touched the brass without any (or much) pressure on it.

That's no reason to be complacent about safety though, you should still wear safety glasses. I guess that's one "benifit" of having less than 20/20 vision, I always have safety glasses on (perscription glasses with safety glass).

 

[SDC]

Hps1, the primer alarm on my Dillon is basically a little "flapper" with a cut-out in it; once you've got a tube full of primers in the magazine, you put a lightweight plastic rod on top of them that makes sure the primers feed down, and that rod has an enlarged head that presses this "flapper" down. When you hear the buzz, this lets you know you've only got 3 or 4 primers left.

 

[hps1]

SDC:
I was just wondering if there is any possibility of a short causing enough heat to set off an accumulation of primer dust??? I'm with John K; it's hard to conceive a primer going off just as it barely touched the case unless caused by static electricity or heat. Guess stranger things have happened, but........

Regards,
hps

 

[Edward429451]

Hmmm, Static discharge is an interesting and possible theory. I've got carpeted floor and low humidity downstairs. I get ESD's all over that room when walking around touching things.

IIRC, I only had the handle by the plastic ball and was reaching for the press but hadn't touched it yet with my off hand for support while seating when it happened. ?? I'll be more mindful of that in the future.

 

[clown714]

glad to see you're OK.

safety 1st

to clean primer tubes,i run a patch soaked in

rubbing alcohol.i do this about every 400-500 primers.

YMMV

clown

 

[Edward429451]

Good idea clown. Thats what I forgot to ask in my other post!

 

[Johnny Guest]

Exact same as JohnK wrote:

In loading 10's of thousands of rounds on a 550b over the last 13 years I've never had a primer go off. I've had some get in sideways and crushed, some upside down but never had a detonation.

Okay, maybe twelve years for me, and well over 100 thousand rounds loaded on my 550B. Only primer I ever had let go was in an old CH press, back in the '70s, and I was REALLY mistreating the gear, getting a case with sidewise seated primer out of shell holder. Clearly MY fault--no design flaw at all.

Edward, I have considered the possibility that a particularly hard bit of walnut hull from the cleaning medium might get in the priming cup. Other, metallic, foreign matter, would be more probable, I imagine. Then, this might cause primer ignition on a really vigorous seating stroke. I am clear, though, on your statement, "barely contacted the brass before even going in at all." I can't suggest any cause for your mishap, but I'm thankful the incident was no more traumatic than it was.

For those not familiar with the system, the low primer warning buzzer on the 550B is located at the very top of the primer magazine, over a foot from the seating location. I think possibility of a spark from that source would be quite remote. D )

The aluminum primer magazine is housed inside a steel tube which appears quite strong. (I almost wrote "bulletproof." ) I guess it would be barely possible to get hurt with the system, but it would be a really rare set of circumstances. Bet it would be really noisy for the whole tube of primers to go off, though!

I have never cleaned the inside of a primer tube, either the fillers or the magazine, but I will now. Reckon I'll also clean out the steel housing, as well. Heck, I'm about to change over from .45 ACP to .38/.357, so I'll probably tear down the whole press and do a general housecleaning. Glad you initiated this thread - -It'll probably make ALL of us more conscious of proper procedures.

I do wear prescription glasses, but if I didn't, I'd sure wear safety lenses.

Best,
Johnny

 

[hps1]

This thread had been a very good reminder to us all as to safety and houskeeping.

I gave my priming tubes a good cleaning as it has been some time since they were cleaned, even though I knew better.

Another small detail I have been negligent on is replacing the cap on the powder measure after filling. Sure wouldn't do to have a priming tube detonation and have the flash somehow ignite the powder in the measure.

Regards,
hps

 

[Edward429451]

Edward, I have considered the possibility that a particularly hard bit of walnut hull from the cleaning medium might get in the priming cup. Other, metallic, foreign matter, would be more probable, I imagine. Then, this might cause primer ignition on a really vigorous seating stroke.

Media inthe flash hole concerns me highly. I always check the flash hole before inserting it into the press, gives me a chance to catch that nato brass also. There was no vigorous stroke either but sometimes a flake or two of powder finds itself onto the priming cup which leaves an indentation on the primer which is ugly, so I wipe the cup on an empty upstroke (with the handle) to keep it clean also, regularly.

So I'm thinkin ESD. Mayyybe some primer dust. Cleaned my tubes last night. Suprising how dusty & dirty they were.