Bad Primer Question

[krism83]

A week or so ago I was reloading some .40 S&W ammo for my handgun and had a primer go off in my face. Needless to say it was very very loud, scared the holy hell out of me, and ended my day of reloading. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a primer go off on them, and if so what could possibly be the reason.

[jaymark6655]

I haven't had it happen to me yet, but I hear that primers are the most dangerous part or reloading and that they can go off while being seated.  Supposedly they are manufactured and packaged wet to prevent accidents, because they can just go off with some rough handling.

[krism83]

Ya, I have no idea what happened. The "detonation" occurred on the upstroke.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I have a habit of checking the primer holder before setting each primmer. Single stage loader.

[carpsniperg2]

That's why I like a hand primer, I can feel if there is any problem when seating a primer with slow steady pressure. I have had bad primers, but never had one pop off.

[Helix]

Yup get yourself a hand priming tool and wear safety glasses for priming seating and trimming.

[jaymark6655]

I also always wear my ears just in case.

[krism83]

I will have to start wearing some ears now...I couldn't tell you how many thousands and thousands of rounds I have done over the years, but this one time was enough to teach me a valuable lesson in complacency.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Yup get yourself a hand priming tool and wear safety glasses for priming seating and trimming.

   And don't point the shell at your face when you seat the primer.  I don't use those "upstroke" primer arms any more.  The hand primer tools are lots faster.  Never had a detonation in the thousands of reloads I've done.  Not even while depriming live primers.  Just do it SLOWLY.