Chevyz71 Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Well it happend again.... 2nd time in about 18 years of reloading on a Dillon XL650. Except this time I wasn't the one running the press. A friend of mine was over reloading (and yes, he is a very experienced reloader). Either a finished round got hung up on the ejector wire, or a primer got flipped and crushed, maybe both. Either way, it resulted in a detonation of a full string of primers and send the black primer rod through my ceiling and into my attic. I now have a indexer ring broken in 2. and my priming system has the primer magazine tube expanded inside (i imagine) and the primer support shim is now buckled. Luckily no one was hurt, just a hole in my ceiling. I now have a machine down, and an email to Dillon to order some replacement parts. Just a Public Service announcement to remember to wear eye and ear protection at all times while reloading. Chevy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Bird Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Been there done that have the T-Shirt Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warfarin Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Glad to hear everyone is safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Glad nobody was hurt... might we all see some aftermath pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyz71 Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 I can take some tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul-the new guy Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Make sure you get new shorts... I know I needed some when it happned to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Wow...that sucks, thanks for the reminder. Very glad nobody got hurt. I run both a 550 and a 650. When I load on the 550 I don't mind having my daughter in the area (wearing eye protection, of course), but when I load on the 650 I do it strictly by my self because of the possibility of primer chain fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyz71 Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 Funny thing is: this is the same machine that had the first detonation back years ago. ( I know because this one doesn't have Zerk Fittings) it is my original machine. I just wanted to remind everyone. Now, I only need to look up at the ceiling above my reloading bench for my reminder to wear my PPE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker88 Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Glad you guys are okay! What primers were you using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyz71 Posted May 14, 2014 Author Share Posted May 14, 2014 CCI #500 small pistol primers. He was reloading 40SW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread1911 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Thanks for posting. In the 30 years I have been reloading I have never had a primer detonation. HOWEVER. When I do I will have safety glasses on as I always do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave300 Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Man I am new to the 650 and this is the second time I have heard of this in about two weeks, Scary, glad all are ok and I will be wearing the PPE, Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Through the celing, pretty impressive. Did you have a weight onthe rod, like a 45acp case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G19 Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Either a finished round got hung up on the ejector wire, or a primer got flipped and crushed, maybe both. Either way, it resulted in a detonation of a full string of primers and send the black primer rod through my ceiling and into my attic. I thought the separation of the primers on the primer disk would prevent a chain explosion that reached into the primer magazine. Guess I was wrong. So what exactly got launched? The entire magazine shield along with the primer magazine inside it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Ryder Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 I hate the "fear" of reloading that occurred after I sent my primer rod and a few primers into the ceiling, after shattering the fluorescent lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 I had one on my 650 using Federal primers. I hit a NATO primer pocket that was a bit too small and the primer got sideways. Ignited almost 100 primers in the tube. Put a nice hole in the ceiling but didn't go through. I have pictured somewhere. It sounded like one large bang. My wife was in the room and thought she was going to turn around to find me without a face. No harm done other than ringing some ears and destroying a primer system. I try two use Winchester primers now. They feel a bit less squishy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyz71 Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 Jmorris. Yes through the Sheetrock and yes I had a 45acp case on the rod. I'm guessing i probably don't need that on the new one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmorris Posted May 19, 2014 Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) Yeah, a bad idea. You are adding mass to a part that is designed to fail. Not unlike a similar thread recently on a billet aluminum indexer, you jack with a part with the intent of "fixing" it and cause other problems down the road. I remember a thread on some forum where a guy ditched the plastic rod altogether and used an 1/8" Stainles steel TIG welding rod. That would likely go through the roof. You could do even better by having a screw that forced the primers down and left no play for a "reverse" action. At that point it would likely be called a pipe bomb. Edited May 19, 2014 by jmorris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyz71 Posted May 19, 2014 Author Share Posted May 19, 2014 Thanks for pointing that out. I'll be taking them off fall of my machines. I never thought of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjohn Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 How about a wooden dowel rod? Wouldn't that be lighter and easier to break when it hits the ceiling and therefore cause less ceiling damage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alma Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 There plastics rod made a dent but didn't go through anything. It bent in half from the force but otherwise seemed to be a good compromise for safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRK Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Hi Just had the XL650 blow up while loading 9mm. Using WSP primers. Probably my bad for forcing it a bit. Anyway, Dillon folks were great. They sent me a whole new small primer setup plus the plastic primer followed rod (which got all melted and bent when it hit the ceiling). Be careful out there ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncie21 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 Damn DRK,sounds like you're OK, so that's a plus. On the flip side, no pics? What exactly happened? Inquiring Dillon 650 reloaders want to know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODP1911 Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 I’ve been on a 650 for 24 yrs now without a blow up. Just so I’m understanding what’s happening, the primer as it enters primer disc from the tube is detonating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 4, 2020 Share Posted February 4, 2020 1 hour ago, ODP1911 said: I’ve been on a 650 for 24 yrs now without a blow up. Just so I’m understanding what’s happening, the primer as it enters primer disc from the tube is detonating? Yes that’s what happens. Then it sets off a chain explosion right up the column in some cases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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