grant22
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Posts posted by grant22
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my 69 SMK's dont do it at all but both Sierra and Nosler ballistic tip's do
It's leaving a ring on my Horny 75 gr HPBT's. I am, however, considering switching to 77 gr SMK. If they don';t get the ring, all the more reason for me to switch.
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Excuse my thread jack, but you guys would be the ones to ask. My Dillon 223 seating die indents the bullet creating a ring around the bullet. I tried polishing the seating stem where it contacts the bullet, but I wasn't too aggressive. Still having the problem. Do any of you have any suggestions on how to solve this? THX
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Rifles for me, but I'm open minded and realize someday I'll enjoy pistols more.
Shotguns? Couldn't care less about those.
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Debris on the primer ram. Also, sometimes a primer can bind a bit when being seated and may wrinkle a bit.
This has also happened to me from time to time, and it was a brass shaving, every time.
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only one place I like to shop! Way'ta go Brian!... Good to hear your back a
nd cranking out ammo again Grant..Thx dude. I wouldn't wouldn't miss out on this great hobby. Brian got me back in it quicker!
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Brian is the man
Just a question, though - how's an RF100 going to actually make any difference for you, in this case? Stronger tube structure?
YES. In my case, no matter where my hand would have been on the pickup tube, I'da been screwed. With the RF, it's a dual wall tube (like the primer magazine on the machine), and I can grasp it midway up. Even if it ignited, primers would escape each end, but the middle of the outer tube wouldn't rupture probably.
It's not the end all, but with eye pro, gloves, and an RF, I'd be willing to get back on the horse and continue this hobby that I enjoy so much.
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As some of you are aware, I had a little kaboom incident a month ago ( My link ). After all was said and done, I asked Dillon very politely to sell me an RF100 at their cost in order to get me reloading again. It was something to at least make me feel safer, therefore allowig me to reload again. Dillon wasn't obligated to do this and I know I'm not entitled to it, but it would have been nice for them to help out. They chose not to.
As a second and final resort, I asked Brian Enos whom I have bought all my Dillon stuff from, if he wouldn't mind doing this. I simply explained to him what happened and referenced the original thread.
I heard back from him very quickly, and he had the 'can do' attitude. I couldn't believe how quickly he was willing to take care of me on this.
When searching where to buy my Dillon stuff from, Brian Enos' name came up repeatedly. I was happy to go with him then, especially for his good advice, but am very happy that I went with him now, since his customer service is very clearly second to none (including Dillon).
Thanks Brian, you have a customer for life!
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Yes, that is true, one could make that argument. My request for them to help me out with an RF is strictly a request, definitely not a demand. If they said no, then that's that.
However, I won't get into what the incident has cost me. Although I thank god for sick time and full medical benefits, it's still costing me a great deal to be off for over a month.
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Yes, as an above poster stated, I hope people don't get freaked, nervous, or refrain from beginning this great hobby. But yes, be aware, more aware than ever, that even when you are doing things carefully, or a 'mundane' task, that chit can happen.
Thanks for all the support and well wishing. Currently, my press is grounded and ready for loading, but I am refusing to reload until I have an improved priming system. Currently, I've talked with someone at Dillon and I've requested an RF100 at dealer cost, not cuz I think they're liable, but I know my incident has sold at least 5 RF's, and I think it'd be no skin off their back to do so. Besides, I'd think they'd like to keep one of their customers in the game.
Thanks again everyone!
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Grant,
Just out of curiosity, how do you feel about depriming primed brass and reusing the primers?
If you are talking about popping a good primer out of a case, and re-popping it back in to a case?
Not even remotely in my vocabulary. Even before this incident, I would have been too chicken to try something like that.
Besides, the primers I used were straight out of a fresh pack.
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Big rule of thumb is to minimize exposure all the time. Next rule of thumb is not IF an accident will happen but WHEN an accident happens be prepared so that if you followed all the rules your exposure will be limited and injuries minimized. Handling explosives demands extreme respect and is no place for a cavalier attitude.
I agree with all you wrote, but the above statement is HUGE!!! I am in the process now of doing just this, and will not resume loading until the above is met.
FYI, below is a pic of an $8 thermometer/barometer I got at Walmart. What's neat,too, is the back is a magnet, so it easily attaches anywhere that's metal near your bench, without drilling excessive holes.
After my incident, I strongly recommend this. One friend in the military told me they don't do anything unnecessary with ordinance if the RH is below 25%
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haha, thanks guys.
JK, I was reading Brian's book this morning (specifically the part where he says he will never shoot someone else's reloads nor allow someone else to try his major reloads in their gun), so I shook my head and grinned at the irony a little while after it happened.
My dad has been reloading longer than I have been alive... but I approach it completely differently and have even taught him a thing or two(when he'll listen to this whippersnapper
). He has gotten better about it recently, and these reloads were about 5 years old. I have 2k 40 bullets waiting to be reloaded, but I'm waiting for my chrono to get here to work up a major load. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, grant.
Thx dude!
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Bummer dude and glad to hear you're alright. Also,good job on wearing your eye protection!
Every day is a learning experience, I'm guessin you'll just be using your own reloads from now on.
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Alright, after my little kaboom and after seeing Steve's steel outer tube, I got to work on one today.
This isn't the answer, this is just a last failsafe in case the KB happens. Some ways to help avoid KB like mine are:
-Ground the machine
-Ground myself (wrist strap)
-Don't reload on dry days (waiting for days above 25% RH has been suggested)
I am going mostly with Steve's idea with a few small little differentiations
-My steel is cut to the longest possible length while still being able to use the original pick up tube how it was designed.
-the inner pick up tube is held in place by 4 opposing set screws
-the retaining clip is now a zip tie
-an ice pick bent to 90 degrees will serve as the clip puller
Here are some pics:
These will be modified tomorrow to hold the tube (if it can be done in a stable manner).
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I just found this thread. I was a reserve (volunteer) officer at the Wichita Police Dept. in the late 70s and spent some time on the police range. They had a Camdex loading machine they were running constantly loading .38 Spl. wadcutters for practice and qualification. They had an automatic primer tube filler too.
One day a tube of about 200 primers blew up. Thankfully no one was badly injured. After much discussion it was decided that the inside of the primer tube had become lined with primer dust over a period of time and a static spark had set off the dust which in turn lit off the primers.
The vibrations of the automatic primer feeder were thought to have contributed to the dust in the tube situation. The remedy was to wash out the primer tubes with hot water every month so the dust didn't have a chance to build up.
Maybe if you have used that tube for a long time it had primer dust that set off the primers the same way. I have never seen a static spark set off a whole primer.
Thx for that info. Although I don't think mine has been used enough to accumulate that much dust, it WILL become part of my (hopefully all of ours) routine. Thx again!
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Grant, I can't imagine your hand being in danger holding the tube a couple inch's up. I would just wear a good leather glove. Be aware that the more awkward you make handling the tube the more chance you have of having a mistake. Also, you can stick the blue tip into the black activator of the primer alarm. It centers the tube perfectly over the curled nut/blast shield. I do wonder why your primer alarm has so much damage on the corner. If a primer tube hits that corner it could definitely go off.
The tube was centered when I placed it on the primer magazine. I figure the pickup tube in my hand angled during the blast, allowing energy and soot to travel toward that corner.
I'm normally not great at finding the hole (
) but I'm pretty sure I was on the mark in this case. Of course it all happened so fast, who the hell knows??BTW, I don't think the above poster was mocking you. Using the square tubing the way you did IS pretty resourceful.
That is why I mentioned using the low primer alarm lever as a guide. I wonder if that is what Dillon intended anyway? I need to read my instructions again.
Yup, I usually remove the follower rod and flip the alarm lever back. I'm sure I was centered at least initially. What happened during the blast, I don't know. I do know, though, I wasn't trying to fill the corner of the alarm.
Thanks for all you're doing as far as a pickup tube improvement. I must say, I'm raising an eyebrow at Dillon for having a reinforced primer magazine, a reinforced primer tube on their RF100, but basically a drinking straw in our hand for the primer pickup tube. The more i'm thinking about this, the less I'm impressed.
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Grant, I can't imagine your hand being in danger holding the tube a couple inch's up. I would just wear a good leather glove. Be aware that the more awkward you make handling the tube the more chance you have of having a mistake. Also, you can stick the blue tip into the black activator of the primer alarm. It centers the tube perfectly over the curled nut/blast shield. I do wonder why your primer alarm has so much damage on the corner. If a primer tube hits that corner it could definitely go off.
The tube was centered when I placed it on the primer magazine. I figure the pickup tube in my hand angled during the blast, allowing energy and soot to travel toward that corner.
I'm normally not great at finding the hole (
) but I'm pretty sure I was on the mark in this case. Of course it all happened so fast, who the hell knows??BTW, I don't think the above poster was mocking you. Using the square tubing the way you did IS pretty resourceful.
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I applaud this ingenuity and resourcefulness, I do have to ask though, aren't you still exposed to the primers when putting the primers on the flip tray (or the RF-100) ?
Now back to filling the next 3 primer tubes for me.
I know your mocking me to a degree. I did this partially just to show Grant how easy it would be to make something. Now I kinda like having it. As far as exposure to the primers in the flip tray, this thing moves your hand away from the primers so that is also a good thing. The tube is .504" with a .068 thickness and it's steel I got from Lowes. I did not block the corners with RTV. Just a dab in one corner on each end. I don't want to test this thing but it's gotta be better then not having any protection. The explosion is not contained, it's vented out the top and bottom. Venting is the key I think. Main thing for me is your hands are not near the primers any longer. Even when pulling the pin. It looks awkward but pulling the pin with the screwdriver isn't bad at all if you don't have to worry about loosing the pin.
I fished the string through it so the pin doesn't go flying when I pull the pin with the screwdriver.
I have one last idea I will post a picture in a couple days after I have done it as well. Grant will really like the last improvement he sees in a couple days.
Steves idea is well on the right track for a few reasons.
First, it'll encourage the user to place the hand upward more on the steel (My left hand was at the bottom holding it like a pencil which is where one of the escapes for the explosion was).
Second, yes, rerouting the energy is key, not containing it.
Third, more of a suggestion, to bypass the awkwardness of the screwdriver, buy an ice pick and bend the last 1/8" to 1/4" 90 degrees and you can then pull the clip away from the tube.
One last idea, along the theme of keeping hands away, would be a pair of tongs holding the tube (the steel tube plus keeping my hand away will be necessary for ME to get back on this horse.) I plan on the tongs with a slight larger bisected tube welded to the tips.........it'll make sense when I'm done.
Also, I'm considering using the same zip tie you have there AS the clip.
Steve, you definitely helped by pointing out the square tubing to me. I am going to try to find a way to test it all out once it's done. Remotely of course.
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I made this shield to keep my hands away from the tube when you are loading the tube and when you pull the pin.
I will replace the zip tie with a string, attach the string to the upper part of the tube. Then you can use a screw in the hole of the pin, the pin slides out easy but the pin would stay attached to the tube and not fall on the ground.
Very nice. Have you been doing this or do you devise this right after seeing this post?
What keeps the aluminum pick up tube snug in the steel square tubing? Adhesive, pressure fit???
There was a post here a while back by a GM that lost a finger when he tapped a tube while loading it. It really made me think. Then I read your post and thought I better make something. I had all the parts in my garage and have enough to make one more. Even had the blue paint. So my cost was zero.
Thanks for posting BTW. Hope you heal up fast. You have to hold the tube by the steel to be safe. I use a little cup I have on my bench for loading the casefeeder to get my wrist about 2 inch's off the bench. Then my hand is no where near the primers. I am going to use it a while before committing to the next one.
Edit: I also meant to say screwdriver in the hole of the pin. It slides out nice and easy.
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I made this shield to keep my hands away from the tube when you are loading the tube and when you pull the pin.
I will replace the zip tie with a string, attach the string to the upper part of the tube. Then you can use a screw in the hole of the pin, the pin slides out easy but the pin would stay attached to the tube and not fall on the ground.
Very nice. Have you been doing this or do you devise this right after seeing this post?
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Got another theory from left field...WAG here...
What if the very first primer to get picked up in the pickup tube was grabbed inverted with anvil in the down position once the tube was rotated. Then removing the clip may have slid across the anvil exciting the primer paste.... sound possible?
Dude, ANYTHING is possible. I welcome any theory.
SE is still at the top of my list. I just figured out thr relative humidity at my house that day was 15% average and the low was 10%.
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You have cured me of my desire to reload. Thanks for saving me the money on a press.
Although I can't blame you, in all seriousness, I'd still say you'd be sorta missing out. It's a very rewarding hobby. Is it worth an injury, though??? I can't tell you.
All I know is, thank god for medical insurance! Knowing this now, if I didn't have medical insurance, I'd stay away from this type of hobby. Just my opinion, tho.
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I'd feel better if someone from Dillon Precision would chime in and tell us how this could have happened, and more importantly, how to prevent it.
I'm a little freaked out by this whole ordeal.
Grant, how is your hand?
It's jacked for now, but it'll heal.....thx for askin'.
I spoke with Dillon (I'm sure you all would like to hear from them directly...understandable) and they said they've never heard of my scenario before. Other than grounding, they've no real solutions at this time, but a) a defective primer and b ) static electricity are both on the short list.
I have some ideas (in addition to grounding) to hopefully keep it from happening and some ideas for ifit does happen again, but I'll have to wait until I heal up a bit.
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Is it possible there was some obstruction at/near the top of the primer magazine? I've always noticed that 100 rush out of that thing VERY quickly, and with quite a bit of force. If even 50 struck something solid after building up some momentum (especially something potentially pointy), it could easily touch them off.
There was no momentum. The primers didn't actually move. If they did,it was 1mm.
nd cranking out ammo again Grant..
). He has gotten better about it recently, and these reloads were about 5 years old. 
) but I'm pretty sure I was on the mark in this case. Of course it all happened so fast, who the hell knows??
Giraud Trimmer isn't trimming correct
in non-Dillon Reloading Equipment
Posted
I just received a new trimmer from Giraud and I'm having the same issue as Cworks. Mine isn't as bad, but the chamfer is not the same depth all the way around.
Doug is giving me the same explanation as he is to Cworks......stating that something is probably wrong with my Dillon sizing die.
Whether I'm making 223 plinking rounds or 223 'semi' precision rounds, does this slight variation on the chamfer affect accuracy at all? Is it that big a deal?
I'm starting to wonder if i should have bought the Dillon trimmer and scrubbed the whole chamfer/debur thing.