Dangers of handloading process

[hitchphil]

I once dropped a case, bend down to pick it up & banged my head on the press lever arm!

........... another time a large shifting spanner worked its way off then bench whilst full length resizing 100 cases & fell off it missed my toe by a few mm!

So steel toe caps, hard hat & glasses to be sure..............

[Dougan]

BRYAN3 - I'm curious too about why Sandy22 wants to know (come on Sandy, 'fes up) - But I wouldn't worry whatever the reason...

...He is asking about the actual loading process, not the use of homeloads at the range; which is what any possible certification would be about should it come to it.

To put your mind at rest; I've done a lot risk assessment in various jobs, and before anyone could even suggest that making ammo at home is dangerous, they would have to ban garden centers from selling chainsaws, trimmers, strimmers and lawnmowers...the stats involving the home use of these tools are quite bad, including serious injury and fatalities...

So back to the OP, and the loading process - This is a shooting forum, so It's good to warn newbies to reloading what the possible risks may be...

...between the sarcasm and jokes (which comes with the territory here) there have been some very useful comments - We have identified that the 'riskiest' part is when seating and de-capping live primers, and we have also identified that the use of eye protection reduces this risk to the point that an incident would likely only cause minor injury.

It's good that people give their experiences to warn others (all part of risk management), and I'm sure Chapius won't mind me pointing out that he gave a good example of 'what not to do'.

While we're on about primers; here's a few more tips for newbies - I've only ever heard of two serious incidents with them (one only anecdotal)...

...The first was an American who had the misfortune of all the primers in his primer tray going off at once - The details are sparse, but it was suggested that he had totally filled the tray; so when the one he was seating went off it detonated the rest of them - I'm still not sure whether you would consider it a 'serious' injury, in that his eyes were saved by the glasses he was waring, but he did spend some time in hospital having quite a few bits of metal and plastic removed from his face and hands...the risk management for this is simple...1. look to see that each primer is oriented correctly before seating it. 2. If you feel undue resistance, stop and check it out. 3. only put 20/30 primers in the tray at once, and 4. ALWAYS wear eye protection.

...The other indecent is from WW1; where someone was carrying a bucket full of live primers...he bashed the bucket on the floor...and they only ever found his foot! - Whether this actually happened or not, the moral of the story is that primers are packaged the way they are for a reason (in case you drop them), so you should never transfer them loose into another container.

I'll add one more tip of my own - When you're de-capping live primers in a press, along with eye protection, also wear ear-muffs...this has nothing to do with additional safety, but it will reduce the height you jump if one does go off razz

[Alpha1]

I believe the original poster asked the same question on a different forum to this one as well. Strange he has not bothered to respond to any of the answers to his question.

[Alpha1]

Alpha1 wrote:

I am paranoid about eye protection for a good reason this is me the day after being released from Hospital having surgery on my right eye to save my sight. At the same time they removed a cataract from the left eye and replaced the lense in the eye otherwise I would not have been able to see at all while we waited to see how the right eye recovered. I found out afterwards they also removed the lens from the right eye and replaced it so I would not have to have follow up surgery if the right eye recovered successfully . It took a couple of month but luckily the sight returned in the right eye all though not as good as I would like. The lenses in my eyes only work at one distance I can see for miles but can not see a foot in front of me with out corrective glasses.
My point is GET YOUR EYE PROTECTION ON.

Attachment:

EYE EYE.jpg

How did that happen, Alpha?

The cataracts are just down to old age some people are prone to them others are not. It was just my luck to get them in both eyes. You don't notice them at first corrective glasses help. Mine got to the stage were I could not recognise peoples faces until they were within 6 feet of me there were other signs but I chose to ignore them not wanting to go under the knife.
The problem with the right eye was originally a motor cycle thing I was riding to work pulled up at lights and lifted my visor the car in front pulled away and a pebble the size of a golf ball smacked me in my right eye. The eye was damaged and my eye sight was affected but it came back to what I thought was OK. I all ways had a large floater in front of the eye but just learned to live with it. I don't remember the exact date but I got a clip in the eye again it was nothing major some thing at work. The following day I had double vision and long black snake like things in front of my right eye and all sorts of other weird stuff. I made a emergency appointment at my opticians they sent me to my local AE by this time all I could see in my right eye was a red globe. I had all sorts of horrible things done to the eye that I wont go into. I left AE at 18:30 hours there parting words were we want you back in the morning at 10:00 to prep for surgery the retina has detached from your right eye if we can not repair it you will be blind in your right eye. Thank God they were able to re attach it. The outcome is I can stand behind any one at 100yards 200yards and tell them were there fall of shot is. But I am goosed with iron sights. Shooting any thing at 10. 20. and 25 yards with out optical sights is impossible. Loading a rifle or adjusting a scope or anything at short range is a challenge for me if I can get 5 shots in the bull at 25 yards I'm a happy bunny. Loading magazines is a challenge because close up all the rounds look the same to me.

[ovenpaa]

Many many years ago I occasionally worked with a chap who could and on occasion would remove and dismantle shotgun primers from live cases much to the horror of us and his elder brother. This was a trick usually reserved for Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings and he used nothing more than a couple of pairs of fine wire cutters and a penknife. I cannot remember anything going bang. It was my first lesson on how boxer primers were constructed and in the process he ended up with a little pile of Fulminate of Mercury for future use.

[ovenpaa]

Loading magazines is a challenge because close up all the rounds look the same to me.

Alpha, is this even with reading glasses on? Someone close to us is due for a cataract operation very shortly and I know there were discussions regarding the differences between the operation by the NHS and going Private and what sort of eyesight you end up with after the operation.

[Alpha1]

Ovenpaa they have absolutely nothing to worry about cataract removal is a 15 minute procedure. The difference afterwards in your vision is amazing after 48 hours they will see a difference. Colours are brighter every thing is so much clearer. They remove the lense from the eye and replace it with a new one the only problem with that is you only have one fixed distance. They will find that they can see for long distance and at first the eye will be very susceptible to bright light a pair of dark glasses helps. Eventually they return to normal. For close up they will need a pair of reading glasses.
My right eye also had a detached retina this left me with a very poor right eye. My right eye is also my dominant eye so iron sights are very difficult for me. I have several pairs of glasses made up for shooting. I just have to be careful when on the firing point .308 rounds and the rounds for the mas and to some degree 6.5 all look the same if I don't have the correct glasses on.

They normally do one eye at a time some times it's just one eye. I was unlucky I had to have three procedures at the same time. You are in and out the same day for cataracts I would urge them not to worry and get it done the difference is amazing.

My biggest challenge is shooting at 25 yards believe it or not.

[Alpha1]

If they are shooters ovenpaa depending on the disciplines they shoot I would advise them to seek out a optician that understands shooting they can help with corrective glasses.
You can get the same operation privately but the outcome will be no different. The people who looked after me were fantastic.
To get it done privately can cost up to about £2500 per eye.

Cataract surgery

About cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is a procedure to treat cataracts in your eyes. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye, which can make your vision blurred or misty. You can develop cataracts in one or both of your eyes. Most people who get cataracts are over 65 but children can also get them.



A Cross section of the eye

cataract_surg.png (76.67 KiB) Viewed 734 times

During a cataract operation, a surgeon will remove your lens and replace it with an artificial plastic one. This will restore your vision, although you may need to wear reading glasses after cataract removal.

How can I prepare for my cataract surgery?

When you have cataract surgery, you will be seen as a day case. However, you should arrange to have someone take you home after the procedure.

You may have an assessment before your operation, in which your eyes will be measured. This will help to select an artificial lens that is suitable for you.

What happens during my cataract surgery?

Before the procedure, your doctor will talk you through the process and ask you to sign a consent form.

Your surgeon will put some drops in your eye. These will widen your pupil and relax the muscles in your eye. Next, your surgeon will put some local anaesthetic eye drops into your eye. This will numb your eye and completely block any pain.

Your surgeon will then make a tiny cut on the surface of your eye. He or she will use a special instrument to break up your lens with the cataract into tiny pieces. He or she will remove these pieces with another instrument and then put in a new artificial lens.

The procedure takes around 15 to 20 minutes, but it can sometimes take longer. Because you do not need a general anaesthetic, you will be able to leave that day.

Are there any complications or risks?

As with every procedure, there are complications associated with cataract surgery. However these are rare. Speak to your surgeon for more information.

Recovering from cataract surgery

You should be able to return to your normal activities straight away. Any pain or discomfort should go after a few days. Your hospital will give you some eye drops to reduce inflammation.

For most people who have cataract removal, their vision is improved after the operation. However, your vision may be blurred until your eye has healed. This will take around two to six weeks.

[sandy22]

O.k., 'fess up time. Sadly it is for real.

I didn't give background initially to try to avoid prejudicial answers.

If you read the clauses below, along with whoowhoop's "Attack on Shooting" thread, you will understand the background.

I would like to make a rebuttal submission along the lines of .......in all other all countries where handloading is allowed to private and club shooters it is permitted on a kitchen-table or garden shed basis, and the incidence of harm or damage is negligible, and certainly no more than for any other household or hobby activity involving hand tools and some flammable substances...

But I don't want to have it thrown back quoting several reputable countries where filling rooms are required and/or quoting known serious accidents like "Mr.X who burned down his neighbour's house because he was storing powder in the garage" or "Mrs.Y who had her hands blown off because her husband left primers in the kitchen."

DoJ Clauses:

Exemption of filling or carrying safety cartridges for private use
Se
c 41
–
1.
Nothing in this Act shall apply to the conveying for private use
and not for sale any safety cartridges to the amount allowed by
this Act to be kept for private use.
2.
Nothing in this Act shall apply to the filling by a person for
private use and not
for sale any safety cartridges to the amount
allowed by this Act to be kept for private use, provided such
filling is
-
a)
carried out only in a filling room in accordance with such
conditions relating to public safety or security as may be
imposed by a Govern
ment Inspector of Explosives and is;
b)
carried out by, or under the direct supervision of, a
competent person, and is
c)
carried out by a person who is a member of a club to
which an authorisation under section 4A (inserted by
section 33 of the Criminal Justice
Act 2006 (No. 26 of
2006)) has been granted.

.........

"filling room" means a room suitable for the filling or making of
cartridges,
(a)
which is located at
-
(1)
a shooting range in respect of which an
authorisation under section 4A (inserted by
section
33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006) of the
Firearms Act 1925 has been granted, and
(2)
at a distance, specified by a Government Inspector
of Explosives from a store or magazine on that
shooting range; and
(b)
where such filling activity has been n
otified in advance, in
writing, to the licensor of the store or magazine, and to An
Garda Siochana

[Alpha1]

Sandy22 I don't know what you are talking about what's for real.? What is your point.

EDIT. I read the thread you are referring to I understand now. Unfortunately we are easy targets for these numpties.
My apologies for hijacking your thread.