Priming Kaboom — Primer Flash Sets Off Multiple Primers in Tray
Here is an important safety reminder for readers who employ hand priming tools with trays of multiple primers. In this instance a primer detonated while being seating in a pistol cartridge case. This caused a “flash-over” which instantly ignited multiple other primers in the tray. That, in turn, caused a small explosion which broke the tray and Hornady Handheld Priming Tool. The user, a Forum member, posted this report this morning in our Shooters’ Forum.
Report by Forum Member about Primer Flash-Over Incident
I had a small scare the other day while reloading. My experience might be a helpful reminder to people to keep safe and follow proper procedures and not be sloppy.
A primer popped (went off) when being seated and (while hot) flashed over into the tray causing other primers in the tray to detonate. That, in turn, broke my Hornady Handheld Priming Tool and injured my hand.
Here is my loading area after the incident. Note the damage to the hand priming tool. I’m not not sure where the rest of the pieces are.
Injuries to User — Multiple Cuts on Hand and Forearm
This photo shows the resulting cuts to hand. Fortunately they seem superficial. Note — I was wearing latex gloves so my hand had some protection.
The blast also blew my glasses off my face and they landed about six feet away. Be careful folks and wear your eye protection! EDITOR: Guys — This is yet more compelling evidence why handloaders should always wear eye protection!
More Details — Primers Were Federal LP, Case Primer Pockets Had Been Checked
The forum member noted: “Just in case people are interested, I didn’t notice anything different from usual. Cases were Privi Partizan (PPU) factory brass on their fourth firing. The primers were Federal Large Pistol. The cases had been ultrasonic cleaned and the primer pockets checked prior to priming. I had primed around 50 cases during this session before the accident.”
Here is a close-up of “flashed” primers — note the empty but dented cups and triangular “anvils”:
This incident happened using a Hornady Handheld Priming Tool, as shown below.
Two other Forum members reported feeding issues with this particular handheld priming tool and one other member, Kiwi Greg, suffered a multi-primer detonation causing injury: “I had the same thing happen a few years ago now with the same Hornady hand primer with 50-75 [Federal 215M primers] in the tray. Made a bit of a mess of both my hands, blew primers and tray all around my large workshop. Scared the [heck] out of my employee who was near me at the time. Some stitches, bandages and it was all good, [but with] some wicked scars… I think a primer had turned side-on when being put into Bertram .408 CT brass which had nice tight pockets and required more force than usual. I use RCBS [priming tools] now with a flat bar that slides across to prevent sympathetic detonations. I hadn’t heard of it before, but found out it wasn’t that uncommon after it happened.”
Thanks to Boyd Allen for finding this post.Similar Posts:
- Primer Flash Chain Reaction in Priming Tool Tray Causes Injury
- Primer Chain Reaction — Flash Ignites More Primers in Tool Tray
- Frankford Arsenal Hand Priming Tool With Depth Adjustment
- TECH Tip: Check Your Primer Tools If You Have Primer Problems
- Primer Problems? Check Your Primer Seating Tool
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Tags: Hornady Priming Tool, Kaboom, Primer detonation, Primer Flash Accident, Priming, Priming Safety
I would bet that primer was sitting upside down in the primer arm and went off as you set it into the case. Other wise it would have sent the flash into the primer hole and case body.
Bill, thanks for that thought. It really sucks to get a primer upside down. Glad I have the habit of checking before seating. Upside down primers are a common thing….I use a different primer seater…..And I wear the glasses always. And over the years, I have still had eye issues/incidents. And always the safety glasses made it a less thing….mostly at work…
Still have 2 good ones….sorta.
A long time ago in working with a 45acp Super, I had a blowback and the debris pitted my glasses.
I always wore safety glasses, when shooting prior and was glad I had then that day.
Only incident I really have had a issue with, in 60 some years, but safety glasses are something a person should have on in many cases with various types of work and reloading/shooting.
This happened to me more than 2 decades ago with LP primers and a Lee autoprime. A primers was seated poorly and needed pressure to make it flush so it could me removed from the shellholder. And it ignited taking the 80 primers in the reservoir with it. Luckily only my hand was hurt numerous several cuts and the plastic reservoir was shattered. It felt like fireworks went off in my hand. I made 2 mistakes: applying too much pressure in a jerky manner and not emptying the primer reservoir befor trying to clear the misbehaving primer/case.
Thanks for posting this. It is a good reminder to wear safety glasses.
I have not had this issue. I only put about 20 primers in the tray at one time.
I always wear safety glasses.
Wow – I will be sure to use my shooting glasses while priming now.
I use the 21st Century priming tool so only 1 primer could ever detonate at a time.