Will a primer go off no matter how slow the deformation?

[tkd4life]

I have disassembled a primer with a pick and scraped the compound out after soaking in clp. It is pressure sensitive so If there is enough pressure it can go boom. In the abcs of reloading I think there was a tale of a fellow carrying a pale of primers. One went off and caused a chain reaction. I think it said they only found parts of the guy.

 

[DanGuy48]

A friend of mine seated some primers upside down in some casings during reloading process. I watched him successfully deprime a couple on his press. He took it very, very slowly. He did say he had one pop one other time but for the most part he got them out OK.

 

[Bede5man]

No, if I wanted to make dummy rounds I would just punch out the primer while full length resizing the case. Then I would put the case in V blocks in the drillpress and drill some holes around it.

I was just always curious about the actual mechanism of ignition of the primer pellet.

 

[Jmorrismetal]

I have crushed them completely flat in a bench vise before without setting them off.

If you want a dummy, load it with no primer of just seat a fired primer.

 

[good guy 176]

Likely the stupidest post I've ever read on MDS! Why oh why would any sane person ever fool with a primer? Sure, go ahead and mess around, IF you don't value your eyes, ears and face. I've heard em all now.

Lew--Ranger63

 

[Jmorrismetal]

Likely the stupidest post I've ever read on MDS! Why oh why would any sane person ever fool with a primer?

To gain knowledge.

Years ago, before people had the Internet in their homes, I had heard stories of people who had set off primers seating them into cases.

I could not see how this was possible and did a controlled test, had eye and ear protection on and crushed a primer completely flat without setting it off. To this day, more than 30 years later, I still have yet to set off a primer seating it.

That said now that we have the Internet we can google many examples of people who have lit off a primer or entire tube of primers seating them.

From my "stupid" tests, and over 30 years of actual use, I can only conclude that it is not just the force applied to the primers that set them off but also the speed that the force is applied.

It did arm me with knowledge that not everyone had/has and I figured it was important to know since I "fool" with primers every time I reload.

 

[DC-W]

Relevant and extremely informative

 

[Jmorrismetal]

If you want insane you might like seating a primer with a few "taps" of a hammer.

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RE1423.pdf

At least they tell you to beat them in before adding powder...

 

[Jmorrismetal]

Relevant and extremely informative

Yep around 11:20. Crush is ok just don't try and grind them.

Also, did something similar to the fire part myself but not out in the open like that. Case pops like a blown capacitor and bullet does nothing.

 

[mikebalt]

I shed a tear watching all that ammo wasted...

 

[DC-W]

I shed a tear watching all that ammo wasted...

It was in the name of science and safety. I salute the sacrifice made by those brave cartridges

 

[GUNSnROTORS]

28,000 and 18,000-round bonfires ... 115,000-round retail & 252,000-round semi fires ... might have squeezed out a tear myself.

 

[Pinecone]

Oil works.. as long it penetrates the primer compound .

Have you tested that?

 

[lx1x]

Have you tested that?

Yes..

I didn't try to pop it..just went directly to trash..

Have you tried to light a wet match? Same practically same. Me thinks.

 

[DutchV]

Have you tested that?

Only works on un-loaded primers; loaded ammo is not affected.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-39-oil-vs-primers/

 

[lx1x]

Only works on un-loaded primers; loaded ammo is not affected.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-39-oil-vs-primers/

That's good link..

I learned about the oil on primers here long time ago (when I first started reloading).

 

[Pinecone]

Yes..

I didn't try to pop it..just went directly to trash..

Have you tried to light a wet match? Same practically same. Me thinks.

If you did not pop it, you have no idea if it was deactivated or not.

 

[Pinecone]

Only works on un-loaded primers; loaded ammo is not affected.

http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-o-truth-39-oil-vs-primers/

Thanks. I have been meaning for years to test it.

But to be comprehensive, you would have to check the unloaded primers with various materials. WD-40 has a lot of solvent in it. A more pure oil might not was as well.

 

[Blacksmith101]

If you want insane you might like seating a primer with a few "taps" of a hammer.

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RE1423.pdf

At least they tell you to beat them in before adding powder...

I have set off primers when using a wack-a-mole reloader, some brands are more sensitive than others, it is no big deal. Makes a noise but nothing goes shooting out either end of the case, it is seated in a holder and you have a rod stuck in the other end of the case.

 

[Mike4Maryland]

I was told to never ever play with primers. I think that is good advice.

I agree. Primers are EXPLOSIVES! The come in small trays and should stay that way. Don't take them out and place them in a jar or other container to save space. Messin' around with them can get you hurt.