Dillon Explosion - Wear your safety glasses !

[Lucion]

Wow, glad your OK. I just started reloading single stage and this goes through my head every few rounds while pressing primers.

 

[red_zr24x4]

Glad there was no serious damage to you!
I've been reloading since about '93, about 2 months ago I had my first primer detonate in a RCBS hand priming tool, scared the S*(& out of me. I couldn't imagin about 50 going off

 

[shibumiseeker]

Wow, glad your OK. I just started reloading single stage and this goes through my head every few rounds while pressing primers.

Just wear your eye pro and don't worry a lot about it. It's pretty hard to set off a primer in a single stage press let alone have a mass detonation. It takes just the right set of circumstances to make it happen. In Andrew's case, it's sort of a one in a million shot. Of course, when you make a million rounds of ammo like he does...

 

[ghitch75]

glad your ok......i'll have safety glass's on from now on when run the 650....

 

[edsinger]

Glad you are ok and Safety Pays!

 

[ChalupaCabras]

Thank you for posting this, and thank goodness you weren't hurt.

I was considering buying a feeding system when I upgrade my press, but now I think I will continue to prime manually in an additional step.

 

[lon]

...I'm used to the occasional detonation, it happens alot with .223 when you're removing mil crimps on the 1050 and repriming...

About how many is alot ? Any way to approximate a number? 1 in 10,000?

Anybody want to help me out here?

 

[Leo]

First matter, Andrew, I am thankful you are alright and didn't lose anything that cannot be replaced.

ION, I'll chime in. I have never been concerned with the reloading for profit business, so I probably take things somewhat slower. I have been reloading since 1974. I was a pistol competitor turned rifle competitor turned shotgun competitor. In my disciplines I would routinely reload between 5,000 to 10,000 rounds per year. (probably way less than a reloading business) For 10 years of that I used a Dillon 550b press and a MEC progressive. I NEVER popped a primer on the presses, or in a Lee auto prime, a hornady primer tool or the RCBS strip system. Maybe part of my good luck was that I did not deal with military crimps on the fly. All my military brass was prepped outside of reloading before it was ever entered into my reloading parts inventory. Like I said, I was a competitor, so I reloaded for match accuracy, rather than volume. If anything didn't feel right, I stopped everything and investigated. In my mind, I think it is possible to reload all your life without popping a primer.

That opinion said, I am aslo a Motorcycle Safety Foundation trainer. I also believe it is possible to never wreck a motorcycle. At well over 250,000 documented miles, I totalled one, and spent 4 months recovering. What saved my life was that I wear all the safety gear, all the time. I believe it is prudent to apply the same principles to firearms and reloading. Glasses ALWAYS! Hearing protection every time I shoot. Plan ahead for the worst possible outcome. If I am doing small volume and I am using a hand priming tool, I make sure to never have any open powder near by, and if the primer does not slide right in, I stop and find out why.

Everyone, please be careful, between wars, highway accidents, industrial accidents and crime, I have already lost too many friends.

 

[gixer454]

Glad your ok Andrew.

 

[Fenway]

Glad you are ok and were wearing eye pro!

 

[Dwight D]

Glad you are ok and they safety warning is appreciated. Having reloaded somewhere around 200K rounds in my life I am thankful for the reminder. Years ago I visited a friend in the hospital who was badly burnt reloading. He had an 8lb jug of Reddot on the bench with the cap off and he bumped a light fixture and a spark went in the jug. A big flash and serious burns were the result. The loading manuals give plenty of warnings and I know from experience sometimes even the best of us forget to follow the rules, so a sober warning like this is very important. Thank you for being humble enough to share with us, perhaps one of us will remain safe because of it.

 

[Aszerigan]

Just as a final note - Dillon did replace all the broken parts for free.

I ordered a few extra parts just in case, but the press is back up and running for $15 plus shipping. Another +1 for Dillon customer service.

 

[GLOCKBOY]

Holy Cow! I always wear saftey glasses ever since my old (way back in the day) Lee Pro1000 set off 40 or so large pistol primers. I was picking bits of plastic and primer anvils and sundry other trash from my arms for a while! Had some majr ringing in my ears too! My wife was kinda freaked out.

 

[ballisticmike]

harsh !!! wearing safety glasses is something i hadnt even thought about. I'm brand new to reloading so.... nows the time to form good habits!!

 

[billybob44]

harsh !!! wearing safety glasses is something i hadnt even thought about. I'm brand new to reloading so.... nows the time to form good habits!!

Mike welcome to INGO+The World of Reloading..The FIRST tool you need to order is a good loading manual-The Lyman 49th. is an excellent start. All over the loading manuals are safety warnings-including the safety glasses..Have Fun..Bill.

 

[gunman41mag]

Thank GOD you're ok, Did it scare you ??? Send the damage parts to DILLON & they will replace them

 

[Aszerigan]

Thank GOD you're ok, Did it scare you ??? Send the damage parts to DILLON & they will replace them

Uh, yeah. It was... shall we say... loud. Dillon replaced the parts for free, and we're up and rolling again.