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Accidental primer ignition

1969 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  autosurgeon
Just something i've always wondered, how likely is it for a primer to accidentaly ignite? For example, I know of reloaders that sell cartridges in ziploc bags, could the cartridges bumping into eachother cause a primer to ignite?

EDIT: Can't believe I refered to a cartridge as a "bullet", i am such a noob.
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Despite what you see on TV, no. You do have to be careful, they are explosives after all, but primers are not prone to spontaneous ignition.
the only time ive ever seen a round ingnite outside of a firearm was a 22LR that was dropped onto rough rock from about 8 feet (intentionally). it just popped and the case opened up. the bullet went a foot, the case maybe three. never seen a centerfire do it.

SW
I read an aritcle a few moths back in handgun magazine on this .. He was at the range shooting his .40s&w when he heard a low thud and his ammo tray flew off the table.. After investigating what happened he found a spent shell from his gun came down and struck the primmer in his box off ammo sitting in front of him . They even had pictures of the spent case and the round the primmer got hit by .. As for primers while reloading they are not that dangerous until powder is added and the seating process begins .. However if done correctly the chances of one going of after seating the primer in the case is 1 in a million ..
Centerfires are going to be hard to ignite by anything but a firing pin or something of similar design. Rimfires though, probably have a greater chance of being ignited by dropping them or dropping something onto them, as the primer is in the rim and easier to hit with any kind of force. Either way, it's not something I'd let keep me up at night.
Thanks guys, nothing I was worried about as I am careful around ammo, was just wondering.
.. However if done correctly the chances of one going of after seating the primer in the case is 1 in a million ..
i sees what you did there......
i had a half a tray of large rifle primers detonate when one flipped sideways in the feed of my lee press. 50+ primers sypathetically detonating about two feet from your face gets your attention. i prime everything by hand now, i dont use any kind of automatic feeding system.

SW
I used to love it when I was hand loading with my lee single loader, and I would set a primer wrong, hit with the nice little plastic hammer and it would go BOOM! used to make the dogs jump out of their skin, got really dirty looks from the wife and banished to the cold garage to finish up!

LOL
I read an aritcle a few moths back in handgun magazine on this .. He was at the range shooting his .40s&w when he heard a low thud and his ammo tray flew off the table.. After investigating what happened he found a spent shell from his gun came down and struck the primmer in his box off ammo sitting in front of him . They even had pictures of the spent case and the round the primmer got hit by .. As for primers while reloading they are not that dangerous until powder is added and the seating process begins .. However if done correctly the chances of one going of after seating the primer in the case is 1 in a million ..
i read the same article. he shoulda bought a lotta ticket that night 8)
I used to love it when I was hand loading with my lee single loader, and I would set a primer wrong, hit with the nice little plastic hammer and it would go BOOM! used to make the dogs jump out of their skin, got really dirty looks from the wife and banished to the cold garage to finish up!

LOL
Hahhahah I know what you mean that really gets your attention!!!
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