Thread: exploding primers?

ok , so I have just set my self up with a lee load master , I like it , came as a swap for a m305 norinco , ... all set up for 9mm , ....reading the instructions , I am a little worried at the warning about federal primers being more deadly if they explode and says to use an explosion delflecter , (bent steel plate to save my face ) .... is it that dangerous ? ... or is it a standard warning like on most stuff , ... you know like "don't run with scissors" etcc etcc

Hahaha, Dirty Harry pic

the red dot on it made the kick very low , ... for a 357 I thought there would be more ..... I really want one ,

Wear a full face shield, about $35 at Bunnings, I always do. Ive never had a primer go yet even when pushing out live ones, but I have seen some nasty videos on youtube, but I load manually in a Lee hand primer and not "on the press".

I dont think Fed are more damaging? just more likely to go off according to Lee, Im not aware any other press manufacturer's give the same warning?

I have found the Fed primers 100% reliable in going off so far and if the comments I get in the club is anything to go by other's experience is the same, others less so.

cheers mate , I have around 3000 fed primers to use ... so I should get a full face ... I do use glasses for loading but full face is cheap insurance .... will head to bunni ngs

Surely safety glasses should be sufficient.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Surely safety glasses should be sufficient.

I would have thought so. but get a full face motorbike helmet if it makes you feel better.
think about things like chain explosion. if you have a lot of primers all lined up ready to go. I hear once a case is primed its basicly a loaded gun, so watch that too.
iv never had any go off.

I don't even wear glasses, I load them on the press one at a time. I probably should do in case one day it decides to go off though

I would recommend glasses, never worried about it for a long time but a mate recently had a primer go off and the photo on farcebook of the broken glasses he had on at the time has changed my mind.

Stumpy

Wear Safety Glasses and install the blast shield because you never know when one might let go.

I have two Load Masters and use federal and other primers all the time in them.

After many thousands of rounds through these presses I have not had a primer explode ........ Yet.

As an Apprentice Tool Maker back in the early 8's I had the unfortunate experience of having a carbide milling cutter shatter on me.

Pieces of carbide cutter flew in all directions.

One piece hit my safety glasses fair and square in the centre of my left eye

Had I not been wearing the safety glasses at the time I'm certain I would have lost an eye that day.

Thing is you never know when this sort of thing may happen and It's never happened to me since, but I still wear the safety glasses just in case.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by Savage1

Surely safety glasses should be sufficient.

Depends on how pretty you are I guess....

;]

Seriously when things fly about, (as I use a dremel, router and a grinder as well, a cutter letting go...icky). Now if its proper pair of prescription safety glasses with side shields etc, yeah great.

I also find a full shield the most comfortable and easier with std prescription glasses especially in hot weather as it doesnt mist up so bad and is cooler.

regards

Originally Posted by P38

Stumpy

8><-------

Pieces of carbide cutter flew in all directions.

In my case It was a drill bit, oh and Ive had a grinder wheel blow as I turned it on, I wasnt in front of it as per training, standing to one side, thank f***.

regards

Saw an interesting thread once about some guy who tested out bullet tips on primers to see what it would take to set off a primer in a tube mag. Rekons you can belt the snot out of them with a lead SP and no kaboom but a little tap with an FMJ and they're off, which I guess it says something about the type of impact more than the force.

Think I would rather wear glasses and not need them...

Originally Posted by steven

In my case It was a drill bit, oh and Ive had a grinder wheel blow as I turned it on, I wasnt in front of it as per training, standing to one side, thank f***.

regards

Yep

I saw a centre grinder wheel explode at about 10,000rpm.

The wall behind it looked like it was hit with multiple shot gun blasts.

Thankfully the only injury to the operator was to his pride ...... his undies didn't fare so well though.

Cheers
Pete