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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I was loading some 445 supermag today on my Dillon XL 650 and I had a primer chain fire detonation. About 70 Federal Match large magnum pistol primers went up at once. This is only the second time in 15 years this has happened. Really gets your attention. Its like shooting a 357 on the basement with no hearing protection.
The first time this happend it was my fault, this time I'm not sure why it happened. I'd been loading for several hours and everything was fine. There was no sticking, no excessive force, they just went BANG!
I'm going to be calling Dillon tomorrow for a new large primer system. The only damage i can find is the inner aluminum primer tube is ruptured, but Dillon replaces the entire assembly.
The only commonality between these incidents is they both happened using Federal large primers.
I prefer Winchester or CCI but in today's market, you don't always get a choice.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
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If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Wow!! So all of the primers that detonated were in the press’ primer feed tube? I have a Dillon RL550B press. I’m planning to use Federal Large Rifle Magnum 215 primers to load 300 PRC rounds in near future. Keep us posted on what you find out please!
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February 22, 2009
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Primer dust and static electricity could be a possibility if you didn't feel any resistance. Patch the tube occasionally and keep an eye on the feeder area as well.
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
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December 4, 2011
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rwsem said
Primer dust and static electricity could be a possibility if you didn't feel any resistance. Patch the tube occasionally and keep an eye on the feeder area as well.
That's a good idea Ron.
I'm still unsure why they went up this time.
I'm going to tear the press down and replace the entire priming system with new, also going to realign the platform and verify timing.
At least the ballistic steel tube contains and directs the blast up and away from the operator. Other than ringing ears, nothing happened to me.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
February 16, 2016
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June 11, 2016
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Wow, glad nothing really bad happened to you.
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July 12, 2020
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February 16, 2013
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Glad you weren't hurt!
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March 5, 2024
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rwsem said
Primer dust and static electricity could be a possibility if you didn't feel any resistance. Patch the tube occasionally and keep an eye on the feeder area as well.
Sounds like the usual suspects.... I make sure the press is well electrically grounded (manually operated or motor driven) and use a static ground strap on myself (like when working on electronics). The grounding strap can be a bit of a pain but is long enough that I can reach most things I may need during the actual loading process.
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December 4, 2011
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To what do you attach the ground strap from the press?
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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March 5, 2024
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SCORPIO said
To what do you attach the ground strap from the press?
This is a basement situation for me, so the water pipes run on the ceiling: Cold water pipe; the ground wire in a receptacle (assuming a 3 wire... hot, neutral and ground)
May 6, 2024
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RichardsDWs said
SCORPIO said
To what do you attach the ground strap from the press?
This is a basement situation for me, so the water pipes run on the ceiling: Cold water pipe; "the ground wire in a receptacle" (assuming a 3 wire... hot, neutral and ground)
Sorry but, On the Reloading sites I visit, this practice is a No No...Me no no Why...but, not ever having any static problems, I only notice such things in Passing!
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January 24, 2009
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Is it possible that some primers fell into the tube facing each other? Two with the business end facing each other may have bumped each other & fired off under pressure, then fired off the next few up the line?
I don't have a system like that. I intentionally hand prime only, so I can get a feel of an irregular one coming into the mix & to make sure one doesn't go in backwards. But I also only reload a few hundred at a session, maybe you guys are into the 1K area?
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February 24, 2013
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I just completed building a new reloading table. Well, I do have a few more tasks to complete before it’s fully done, but it’s far enough that I can begin using it. Also invested in some InlineFabrication quick-change mounts to allow me to swap out my Dillon RL550 and MEC 600 Jr. That system works great. I don’t know why my second pic decided to rotate 90-deg clockwise. (fixed it- rwsem)
May 6, 2024
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Charger Fan said
Is it possible that some primers fell into the tube facing each other? Two with the business end facing each other may have bumped each other & fired off under pressure, then fired off the next few up the line?I don't have a system like that. I intentionally hand prime only, so I can get a feel of an irregular one coming into the mix & to make sure one doesn't go in backwards. But I also only reload a few hundred at a session, maybe you guys are into the 1K area?
If you study such phenomenon...and SEE (blown up Guns) .. you will find that Invariably..they were loaded on a Progressive
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December 4, 2011
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I run a powder check to prevent double charge and no charge situations, never had that issue.
The design of the Dillon 650 primer system makes it prone to chain firing if one primer goes off.
Federal primers seem very sensitive to accidental detonation also.
The 750 presses changed the primer system to help stop the chain fire issue. I'm considering switching to a 750 since all my dies and tool heads will swap over.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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March 28, 2023
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I'm kind of glad I have no idea what you all are talking about! I figure to reload no blow myself up! Just learning a new language I would have to get the Babbel reload edition to learn how to speak reload!
May 6, 2024
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Stmstan 445 said
I'm kind of glad I have no idea what you all are talking about! I figure to reload no blow myself up! Just learning a new language I would have to get the Babbel reload edition to learn how to speak reload!
LOL
Been reloading since the late 70's..only popped one primer...my own fault ..did it with an old Lee Loader...the Whack a Mole system!!
Thought I could deprime a live primer!!! Woke Me Up!!
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February 24, 2013
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I’m using a Dillon RL550B press, never had a primer detonation issue so far.
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January 24, 2009
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KurtB said
I just completed building a new reloading table. Well, I do have a few more tasks to complete before it’s fully done, but it’s far enough that I can begin using it. Also invested in some InlineFabrication quick-change mounts to allow me to swap out my Dillon RL550 and MEC 600 Jr. That system works great. I don’t know why my second pic decided to rotate 90-deg clockwise. (fixed it- rwsem)
Good looking table. Are you going to make some shelves to attach to it too?
Man, I wish my basement was that empty again! It was fairly empty before my 2nd wife came along...then we lumped all the crap from her house into mine & damn!
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