Dillon Primer Tube Detonation

[Baja_Traveler]

Well, I now know that 50 primers going off at once sounds like. Running a Dillon 650 for 45 acp, and midway into my run of 100 the press went off in my face, launching the low primer sensor rod into the ceiling, and blowing the whole steel blast shield completely out of the primer station mount and across the room. I caught a tiny bit of shrapnel in my right arm, but otherwise injury free - not even ringing in my ears surprisingly.
I completely disassembled the priming station and could not find an obvious cause, just alot of shrapnel and black soot. Cleaned everything up, and no parts were damaged on the press itself. Cant say as much for the primer tube though, I had to drive it out of the blast shield with a drift punch - looks like every primer in the tube went off. I'm thinking a primer got caught half way into the index wheel and got pinched as it rotated, setting it off. The blast shield did its job though, and I pressed it back into the station mount. The aluminum primer tube is split the whole bottom 6 inches.

[RED333]

DAMN, glad you came out all right.

[Adam10mm]

Yup. Happened to me a few times with my 1050. Call Dillon and they'll send in a replacement for free.

This is why I always wear eye protection when reloading. It saved my eyes a few times.

[parrott1969]

Freakshow, what caused you primer detonation?

[Oreo]

This is why I prefer the LNL-AP. Never heard of this happening on an LNL-AP.

Glad you're ok.

And, I agree that eye protection is an absolute must when reloading.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Federal primers by chance?

[kd185]

as long as everyone is ok
and minimal damage done to the press and surrounding area
good reason not to keep to much stuff (jugs of powder and sleeves of primers)
on the bench top when your reloading

[hunter64]

Seen this happen on a Lee 1000 with my shooting/hunter partner. It left pieces of plastic embedded everywhere including his face just below his chin and neck. His wife took him to the hospital and had to have a few stitches and lots of plastic removal.

He was wearing glasses but wears a full face shield now and has bought a LNL.

[jmorris]

I have at least one of every dillon they make and have been using them for 27 years and (knock on wood) have never lit a primer off. I've even crushed primers in a bench vise before without them igniting. That being said I was at a friends house a few years ago when he lit a tube off much like you did, he was having problems and getting frustrated right before it happened.

I think you should treat reloading like a first date, forcing things and jerky movements are only going to work against you.

FWIW this does show a good reason not to weigh down the primer rod.

[r1kk1]

My suspect would be primer dust. I wash my tubes in hot soapy water but no rinse. Ive seen a rifle barrel split like that once. Thanks to the blast shield/tube covering the priming tube.

Most of all glad your not hurt.

I use to worry about the old Remington 97s with the open flash hole and plastic trays. Luckily, never had a detonation. I wash those trays with the same soapy water solution to remove primer dust.

Take care

r1kk1

[Doc Highwall]

I think I read somewhere about the primer dust causing the problem.
Think about it, when was the last time you cleaned the primer tube.
I think we all just think about it being filled to make sure all the cartridges have a primer and nothing else. Then go shooting and repeat the process.

[Tazman1602]

Glad you are OK but this is exactly why I use a Lee nutcracker to size/deprime and then RCBS hand primers to prime. Then they go to the Dillon to reload.

I know it sounds stupid but it's kind of cozy. I sit there running my nutcracker or hand primer while wife is crocheting with the TV in the background.

Just my oddball preference

Dillon will fix your press for free by the way...

Art

[dauntlessdave]

Dayum! Glad you're OK. Guess it's time for me to clean some primer tubes!

[Adam10mm]

Freakshow, what caused you primer detonation?

First time it was the rubber sleeve that got torn and a primer got inserted on the slide cock-eyed and got set off. Same thing happened again when I replaced everything. Third time it was a double feed.

[Larry Gibson]

I think I read somewhere about the primer dust causing the problem.
Think about it, when was the last time you cleaned the primer tube.
I think we all just think about it being filled to make sure all the cartridges have a primer and nothing else. Then go shooting and repeat the process.

I've also been loading on Dillons for many years w/o this problem. I do, periodically, clean the press and blow out dust and debri with compressed air.

Popped a few primers with a Lee Loader years ago........scares the bejesus out of you and you don't mind forking out for a real primer seating tool..........

Keep all priming tools clean and free of primer dust is all I can recommend

Larry Gibson

[btroj]

I suppose I should clean my primer tubes. Have had my 550 for about 15 years and have never cleaned the primer tubes.

[MtGun44]

Never cleaned a primer tube in Dillon since 1981. Never detonated a primer. Use
CCI almost exclusively. The seamless steel tube works as intended.

Bill

[Baja_Traveler]

Federal primers by chance?

Winchester primers -

Buddy at the range told me that he also hand prime's everything before dumping them into the feed hopper. After this experience I'll probably do the same. Since I clean the brass using stainless pins, I might as well have clean primer pockets...

[rollmyown]

50 compelling reasons to wear eye protection. Thanks for the wake up call.

[quasi]

Does the Hornady LNL have a blast shield on its primer system or is this a Dillon only requirement?