I hand prime with an RCBS hand priming unit. Is it silly to use eye and ear protection when doing this?, plus, I really hate being startled unless it's completely unavoidable
Do what works for you... that is your choice
Can say that in 38+ yrs of priming on single, multi and progressive presses, have never worn eye/ear protection.... can not remember a setting off of a primer
Yea, probably just paranoid 😂
It's not as paranoid as you think.
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?29830-What-Could-Go-Wrong-Primer-Detonation (https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?29830-What-Could-Go-Wrong-Primer-Detonation)
Eye protection for sure
I use a Lee bench primer and just enough primers. Pretty sure I would only poop my pants, not lose an appendage.
Absolutely, not concerned with losing anything just the startling / poop part : )
I had an old Cougar & Hunter progressive press that I was able to simply modify for 40 S&W from 38 Spl and 357 Mag. It had a setup were the pimers traveled horizontally to where they would get seated. One day the pimer to be seated got sideways and it popped. It created a chain reaction down the line. Needless to say, it was loud and got my undivided attention. It was enough energy to strip the eight #8 fine thread screws that hold the access plate and total the press.
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Yea, weird stuff can happen regardless of how careful you are. I've decided I'm ok with the ear / eye protection while priming, plus I have a more relaxing time doing it
Thanks man!
According to the RCBS website, this unit has this: "safety mechanism separates the seating operation from the primer supply to reduce the risk of tray detonation." So worst case is a popping a single primer with this tool. I use the Lyman, but this and the Lee and others also have this safety feature. I've intentionally set off a primer before, and it's not deafening. So for me, eye protection yes, ear protection no.
Eye protection is never silly. Same goes for ears.
I have developed mild intermittent tinnitus in both ears, and I am just shy of 50. If I could go back in time I would choose very differently about hearing protection.
Quote from: sqlbullet on April 23 2018 08:25:35 AM MDT
Eye protection is never silly. Same goes for ears.
I have developed mild intermittent tinnitus in both ears, and I am just shy of 50. If I could go back in time I would choose very differently about hearing protection.
I hear you! :-[ I too suffer with tinnitus in both ears, and being in a space where plenty people are communicating can make for difficulty understanding certain sounds because if their frequencies. I was tested and showed I had about 70 db loss, There are sounds I can't hear!
I attribute this to many things in my life, FD sirens and revving engines while pumping, lawn mowers, chain saws, machinery, loud music and yes shooting/hunting adventures. It all adds up!
My word of advice on hear loss, "Deafness is usually painless!" Protect your hearing!
Eye protection is a must... ::) Yes you have two eyes, don't get cockeyed about them! :-\
My thoughts as well, Thanks!
I too hand prime and I wear reading glasses while doing so, not safety glasses. I also make sure that no portion of my hand putting the case into the priming tool is directly in front of the case mouth. Not sure how bad of a burn or damage a primer would cause and I'm in no hurry to find out.
That's a good idea regarding the hand / case mouth positioning
Safety glasses, yes mine have "readers" and help these 55+ year old eyes examine brass better but do not wear hearing protection.
I wear my normal glasses.
I prime on my RCBS hand press. But I'll tell you what I do: normally I prime when coming down out of the #2 die, the expanding/flaring die.
But if I prime cases without a die in there, I have a steel pipe about 2.5 feet long that I had threads cut on one end. It screws into the press. If a primer goes off, the idea is that the pipe will convey the blast up over my head. I've never had to test this.
Neat idea, Thanks!