Primer ignition while using bullet puller

[recoilguy]

Interesting......that would be very frightening to have happen.
I don't think it is enough to make me switch to CCI primers though.
I guess the moral of the story is wear protective gear and be very careful.



RCG

[lewmed]

 I still use Federal pistol primers today I just replaced the old C&H Autochamps with Dillon 650's and keep the primer tubes clean. I still have one of the old Autochamps it makes a great door stop.

[M1A4ME]

This is for all the so called experts that call this story BS. I had a 06 FFL to manufacture ammo many years and we switched from Federal primers to CCI primers in my old C&H Autochamp progressive machines after the yellow dust left from the Federal priming mixture exploded when I was loading a primer magazine.  Federal primers are the most sensitive that is why they are packaged in such large boxes. About a year ago I had the same thing happen that Earl did with a Federal small pistol primer I about wet my pants. Just the primer went off all the powder was left unburned in the RCBS bullet puller. I posted here on this forum when it happened to me and several people commented they also had it happen.

The primer "dust" will explode and I know a guy it happened to.  I think, somewhere in the directions/safety instructions for the presses with a primer feed they recommend cleaning the priming tube/system regularly.

One of the guys at work was big into the "action" pistol shooting/competition world several years ago.  Had a custom .38 Super he competed with.  One day he came to work with his right hand all bandaged up.  The primers had stopped feeding.  He pulled the tube loose and it was really dusty with the primer dust.  He shook it and got some primers out but still couldn't see through the tube.  He, holding in in his right hand, rapped it on the edge of the bench top and it exploded in his hand.  Took off most of the last digit on one of his fingers (ring finger I think) and cut up the rest of them, the thumb and the palm of his hand (palm not so much, but still bleeding and small pieces of metal/burnt priming compound in them.)

The material is very sensitive to impacts.

I stopped buying Federal primers years ago when they made the 100 primer trays so big I couldn't dump them in the Lee hand priming tool tray anymore.  Probably did that for "separation" between primers in case one, or more, were set off by something.  CCI, Remington, S&B and Winchester still put there's in the small boxes I can dump easily into my priming tool trays.

[painter]

The only circumstance I can't understand is how one single not dusty primer went of in a kinetic hammer.

I do understand that 'stuff' happens, but the ways I've mistreated primers, without incident, makes this one tough for me.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

This is for all the so called experts that call this story BS. I had a 06 FFL to manufacture ammo many years and we switched from Federal primers to CCI primers in my old C&H Autochamp progressive machines after the yellow dust left from the Federal priming mixture exploded when I was loading a primer magazine.  Federal primers are the most sensitive that is why they are packaged in such large boxes. About a year ago I had the same thing happen that Earl did with a Federal small pistol primer I about wet my pants. Just the primer went off all the powder was left unburned in the RCBS bullet puller. I posted here on this forum when it happened to me and several people commented they also had it happen.

Earl pulled his post from face book,he did not say it happened to him. As to the primer feed and dust issue yeah I've heard of problems with that and That's why I'm still seating primers one at a time the OLD way. I don't pile them in feed tubes or any other such contraption. However I will never give up my federal primers when I can find them.

[newageroman]

I've had this happen to me as well. It was a Blue FA bullet puller. It was about 3 or 4 years ago when I was still learning a lot. 30-06 round for with I forget what primer??? and 47.0 gn of 4064 loaded for garand.
It was a late night, and I know the rounds I was pulling were crimped good. I forget why they were being pulled but most likely it was due to case bulge from seating/crimping in one step with improper adjustment.
Well, when the primer popped off, it scared the crap out of me and took a few minutes to make sure I still had an arm and hands and such. Luckily, same as in the OP's instance the powder did not go off. I double checked everything as far as the puller and all looked GTG - inserts were in the correct way and such. I took that bullet puller and threw it directly in the trash and never looked back!

Since then I pull bullets with a single stage and a thin block of hardwood (to keep from marring the surface of the press) with a hole drilled in it on top of the press and grip with pliers or wire dykes. Some are marred up more than others, but I still load them for plinking/sighter rounds. I will say that I have much fewer "bad bullets" to pull nowdays. I will NEVER go back to banging on bullets with those types of bullet pullers!

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

If this can happen the only thing that makes sense to me would be after multiple impacts with the kinetic puller the primer backs out and in the process releases it's anvil which could possibly be slammed backwards into the priming compound detonating it.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

So after some searching I do agree now this can happen.Interesting discussion in this link. There's some other pretty good evidence out there but I'm not going to post every link.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/6364502/all/Kinetic_Bullets_Puller_KB_Poss

[timetofly]

I'm sceptical about this also.  The only scenario that makes it plausible is that rather than the cup striking the anvil, the anvil went "backwards" and struck the primer cup igniting the material. I know that this will generate controversy and bring up the safety of kinetic pullers but you can't rule out a freak occurrence.

Let the flames begin!

[M1A4ME]

With a kinetic bullet puller the direction is "down".  When the tip strikes the concrete, wood, hard surface the bullet moves downward, following the direction of movement prior to the tip stopping suddenly at the time of contact.

How does the anvil move in the reverse direction of the bullet/hammer/puller direction?

I know the bullet puller bounces upward but without a strike/contact at the rear of the bullet puller does it stop fast enough to make the bullet or the anvil move upwards?

I wonder if a contributor might be a (slightly) defective primer?  Priming material that comes loose, falls through the legs of the anvil, then is struck/compressed by the anvil in the downward movement occurring at the time of impact of the tip of the puller with the hard surface?

[timetofly]

I wonder if a contributor might be a (slightly) defective primer?  Priming material that comes loose, falls through the legs of the anvil, then is struck/compressed by the anvil in the downward movement occurring at the time of impact of the tip of the puller with the hard surface?

Very plausible in my mind also. 

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Well we know primers are meant to be struck and fired one time so I'd think beating them around with the puller may very well loosen things up inside. They were not intended to be subject to that kind of battering.
What I learned early on with my puller was a good meaningful swat on concrete will usually free even the tightest bullets on the first hit. Pounding half a dozen times on one cartridge may be where the issue lies.

[toteone]

The primer "dust" will explode and I know a guy it happened to.  I think, somewhere in the directions/safety instructions for the presses with a primer feed they recommend cleaning the priming tube/system regularly.

One of the guys at work was big into the "action" pistol shooting/competition world several years ago.  Had a custom .38 Super he competed with.  One day he came to work with his right hand all bandaged up.  The primers had stopped feeding.  He pulled the tube loose and it was really dusty with the primer dust.  He shook it and got some primers out but still couldn't see through the tube.  He, holding in in his right hand, rapped it on the edge of the bench top and it exploded in his hand.  Took off most of the last digit on one of his fingers (ring finger I think) and cut up the rest of them, the thumb and the palm of his hand (palm not so much, but still bleeding and small pieces of metal/burnt priming compound in them.)

The material is very sensitive to impacts.

I use a Dillon 550 press and had a primer get "jammed" in primer feed tube.  I did exactly what Dillon told me to do when I called them.....soak in water, throw away, and they sent me a new tube free!!

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

If I ever go with a progressive loading outfit it will be a Dillon. They absolutely mean it when they say no BS warranty.

[double-d]

Looks like I'm purchasing one of these and collets.
http://rcbs.com/Products/Case-Preparation/Bullet-Puller/Standard-Bullet-Puller-without-Collet.aspx