OT-Primer oopsies

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:44 am

There have been a lot of questions on the forums I'm on about primers. Why Lee doesn't want you to use Federal or Remington, what happens if you use the wrong primer, can I decap live primers, can I decap and recap live primers? Lots of questions.

My pat answer is simply use gentle pressure and just do it. Primers are not C4, should one pop it won't blow the press up.

Well yesterday I was priming some 30-06 cases with my Lee Auto Prime tool. I was using up some older plated Winchester LR primers when somehow one primer got flipped onto it's side and without knowing it I seated the primer part way into the case. This is the first time I've ever had a large primer flip sideways in this tool. It jammed up my priming tool. To clear it I had to remove the cartridge and shell holder, the partially seated primer was preventing the case from being removed, then put it on top of the shell holder in my Bonanza Co-Ax press and using a universal depriming tool, removed the sideways primer. After that I used the Co-Ax priming tool to seat the buggered up primer into a buggered up case to be fired later. The bent up primer was seated sideway, bent all to heck, decapped, reseated and it did not go off. I simply use gentle pressure on primers, not sudden force.
This is the second time I've had a large primer flip and seat cross ways. Both times using different tools I decapped it and reseated it. Neither time did the primer pop until I fired it in the rifle.
So far so good.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

Joe

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:53 am

I think I have 4 or 5 .357 cases with CCI 500s "seated" sideways.

It's a real problem with the Lee 1000 and its auto-prime. Any dirt at all and the primers can flip.

But none have ever exploded.

cnjarvis · Post by **cnjarvis** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:38 pm

I've seated several primers sideways and upside down. Just deprimed them gently and went on reloading.

I can see how one of them could have gone off though had I been forceful about it.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:03 pm

J Miller wrote:There have been a lot of questions on the forums I'm on about primers. Why Lee doesn't want you to use Federal or Remington, what happens if you use the wrong primer, can I decap live primers, can I decap and recap live primers? Lots of questions.

My pat answer is simply use gentle pressure and just do it. Primers are not C4, should one pop it won't blow the press up.

Well yesterday I was priming some 30-06 cases with my Lee Auto Prime tool. I was using up some older plated Winchester LR primers when somehow one primer got flipped onto it's side and without knowing it I seated the primer part way into the case. This is the first time I've ever had a large primer flip sideways in this tool. It jammed up my priming tool. To clear it I had to remove the cartridge and shell holder, the partially seated primer was preventing the case from being removed, then put it on top of the shell holder in my Bonanza Co-Ax press and using a universal depriming tool, removed the sideways primer. After that I used the Co-Ax priming tool to seat the buggered up primer into a buggered up case to be fired later. The bent up primer was seated sideway, bent all to heck, decapped, reseated and it did not go off. I simply use gentle pressure on primers, not sudden force.
This is the second time I've had a large primer flip and seat cross ways. Both times using different tools I decapped it and reseated it. Neither time did the primer pop until I fired it in the rifle.
So far so good.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

Joe

That's happened to me several times. How big a deal it was is that I remember it seems quite common but no way could I legitimately tell you exactly how many times it has happened. Simply not a problem, just an irritation.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:06 pm

I've deprimed about a dozen or so live primers seated properly in the case. Smooth and steady is the word. Haven't had one pop yet. Reason I deprimed .... some were ancient mercuric primers and I wanted to use the case. Others were cases that I botched up during loading and wanted to remove the live primer before tossing the case.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:34 pm

I seem to remember reading... u might might have been in "Sixguns" by Keith that during WWII you couldn't get primers. You could however get hold of some military ammo. Some folks got rather skilled at removing the bullet and powder from Gov't ammo and then removing the primer to be used in another case. I guess they ain't all that fragile after all?

Rusty <><

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:08 pm

Rusty,

The trick to removing and reusing the military primers would be cutting the crimp out without cutting up the primer. I suppose a tool could be fabricated to do that.

Joe

Idahoser · Post by **Idahoser** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:25 pm

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:28 pm

Idahoser,

I had the same thing happen with my old Lee Loader. It got nerve wracking quick. That's why I went to the original little Lee Hand priming tool.

Joe

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:04 am

When my brother & I were young & still at home, we had a reloading bench in the back room.
My mother had a Kirby vacum cleaner & it seems the speed & weight of the impeller in the vacum cleaner was enough to set off a primer.
With a bag full of dust & a primer going off........... well mother could get a good rant going after one of those adventures

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:53 am

mescalero1 wrote:When my brother & I were young & still at home, we had a reloading bench in the back room.
My mother had a Kirby vacuum cleaner & it seems the speed & weight of the impeller in the vacuum cleaner was enough to set off a primer.
With a bag full of dust & a primer going off........... well mother could get a good rant going after one of those adventures

When I lived with my mom I had all my reloading equipment in my bedroom. The floor was carpeted and one day I had a tray full of primers flip and spill on me. I couldn't find them all. So I warned my mom that if she was vacuuming to stay away from my loading area. Told her the vacuum cleaner could detonate the primers. Days past, she forgot and vacuumed my area. And sure enough the vacuum sweeper found the primers I couldn't.
SCARED HER HALF TO DEATH!

Actually it worked out pretty good. After that she stayed out of my area and left it up to me to keep it clean.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:13 am

I couldn't begin to count the number of primers that have flipped sideways on my Dillon. Seems to happen most when it's could outside. The primer slide slows down and I don't.

And, mine are certainly not re-usable! Sometimes they're crushed so flat they come out of the holder just fine. It's only when they flip completely over that frustrates me.

Then it's out with the bullet puller and start over.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:44 pm

JMiller
Did you get as big of a laugh out of it as we did?

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:06 pm

I was at work when it happened. When I got home I heard about it. And yes after a respectable amount of listening to moms story I did laugh my self silly.

Joe

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