Dillon press primer chain explosion

[Mark Davis]

In another thread Savage22 asked me to describe what happened.

I was loading some .223s late one evening when my bed beckoned, and an early morning arrival at work was on tap for morning.
For best results don't be rushed, tired and in a hurry.

I wanted to use all the primers in the Dillon 650's magazine tube and feed plate so I could change over the press to large primers next time I used it.

I had never run all the primers out of the machine before, and changing the system primer sizes usually left a few primers to deal with on change over.

When the last primer in the magazine tube was gone, the plastic follower in the primer tube engaged the hole in the primer feed plate when the press tried to index the feed plate it jammed.
Right here is where don't be rushed, tired or in a hurry really counts.

When the press jammed I stopped, and looked for the cause, it was not because of a misfeed of a fresh case, or the primer being seated, or a shell being ejected, not the powder measure no case stuck in a die.

Ok, so I pulled on the handle harder.  Providence often holds idiots in his arms. With a solid BUMP the press cycled. Everything seemed good, each step of the loading process happened as it should, a fresh case ready to size, a primer seated, a charge of powder dropped, charge checked,
bullet seated, crimp done, finished cartridge went down the slide.

What I did not see was six primers in the primer feed plate,  in the jump of the plastic follower engaged in the primer feed plate, at least one of the primers had turned on edge, instead of laying flat.

I puled on the handle again, meeting stiff resistance just like the last cycle.  I pulled harder.

[Savage22]

Mark Davis, thanks for posting on this. As a newbie in the reloading world, learning from what not to do seems as important as learning what to do.