anybody ever stick a deprimer pin through their finger?

MadScientist · October 22, 2001, 07:04 PM

The other night I learned that watching SNL and reloading do not mix. While depriming, I went to move my hand out of the way after placing a case in the chuck and my finger wouldn't come along. Seems my lever hand caught up to my case-positioning hand and I put the deprimer pin through the end of my pointer finger, narrowly missing the bone.
I now have a new respect for the leverage of the loading handle. The thing popped the deprimer pin through my finger nail like it was a piece of paper.

capbuster · October 22, 2001, 08:09 PM

If you have never pulled something stupid, then you havent done much living. At least you fessed up to it.Take care.

uglygun · October 22, 2001, 08:30 PM

OH GOD YES! Only did it once and hope to never do it again.

Was working through a lot of around one hundred 38 special cases out in my friend's garage while it was cold out, my fingers were sorta cold and I was trying to hurry. All of a sudden through a miracle of compound mechanical leverage, RIGHT TO THE BONE THAT DECAPPING PIN SANK! This was quite a few years back but if I look hard I can still see the scar on my right index finger.

But I think I got off lucky, some people have managed to take a piece of their finger off when a sharp edge of the case mouth came up and caught their finger shearing the skin right off. NOW THAT HAS GOT TO TICKLE!

labgrade · October 22, 2001, 08:36 PM

" ... when a sharp edge of the case mouth came up and caught their finger ... "

Guilty - coupla times. No skin lose but there's this funny bio-feedback thing that says "Hey Stupid! Whatever you're doing that hurts so much - quit it!" Even with no brass & you "just" catch your finger with the ram, it'll make you wonder why you do things like that.

Impressive crushing power with a press. Got myself a D550 now & can crush more fingers faster ....

Good Guy · October 22, 2001, 09:33 PM

Not with the decapping pin. But once, many moons ago, when I was marathon loading 700 rounds of handgun ammo on a single stage press, I did get my thumb caught between the ram and the press frame. OUCH!

Made one helluva impressive flap cut.

**Mike Irwin** · October 22, 2001, 09:59 PM

I took a crescent out of my finger a couple of years ago, and also crushed the fingertip between the ram and the seating die.

That one made me pretty queasy...

Big Bunny · October 22, 2001, 10:00 PM

Me too, a blood-blister was painful until lanced. Rockchucker press used with 40S&W cases.

I too will be more careful in future - a cautionary tale indeed.

Thanks for posting it, it was important that you felt you could share the incident with us all. Safety first.

BB

Jack Straw · October 22, 2001, 10:26 PM

Even the short handle on a Lyman lubrisizer has quite a bit of leverage. I was sizing some round nosed .45 LC bullets and the top punch to fit those bullets has a sharp edge and is almost a full .45" in diameter...basically a 1/2 inch hole puncher. I had my left index finger between the ram and the top punch when gravity did its thing to the lever. I wound up with a .45 inch perfectly round circle punched into the back of my finger just below the nail. For 2 weeks, every time I bent that knuckle I would pop open a part of the cut...not much fun when you work with paint solvents. That's the sort of burn that just brings tears to your eyes.

Jack

seadog · October 22, 2001, 10:36 PM

Squashed my digit too. Slowed my rate down considerably that day. Big flap avulsion pulling a hunk of skin off. It will definitely light you up...You have no conception of the leverage involved until that happens...

KP95DAO · October 22, 2001, 10:50 PM

Yes, a beveled case mouth will take a chunk out. About 25 years ago. Much more careful since then.

Freedom in theSkies · October 23, 2001, 12:49 AM

I caught my finger between the bottom of the sizing die and the top of the case ONCE.
If I was centered a bit better, I could have punched a chunk of meat out that sure as sh#t would have made a great little bullet. I don't think it would feed real well in my .45 though.

Johnny Guest · October 23, 2001, 10:10 AM

Smarts, doesn't it?

All these stories are giving me contractions, way south of my belt buckle.

Best,
Johnny

Hawkman · October 23, 2001, 11:40 AM

Never a depriming pin, but I did put a screwdriver blade completely through my finger one time.

I have injured myself with tools so many times my wife has 911 on speed dial.

Cheapo · October 23, 2001, 05:27 PM

Yuup!

And I'd thankfully forgotten it until you posted this blankety-blank thread!

slickpuppy · October 23, 2001, 09:01 PM

You guys are getting in too big of a hurry. Slow down and take a chill pill dudes.

labgrade · October 23, 2001, 09:06 PM

Hey slickpup, load about 50K+ rounds on a stinkin' single stage press & you'll get pinched at least a coupla times.

Figure at least 2X operations per loaded rifle round & 3X+ for straight-walled pistol & we be talking serious potential for at least one (OK, 5 or more) screw-ups.

Denny Hansen · October 23, 2001, 09:09 PM

Been there, hurt that.

Long Path · October 24, 2001, 11:47 AM

...and Dad was shooting a bunch of IPSC matches, I used to get called out to the garage to help him reload .45 acp on his little RCBS single stage press. To move things along, he would put the case on the shellholder, actuate the lever, and I would remove the case. We'd move along pretty swooft like that. But remember that biofeedback thingy that labgrade was talking about? You don't have that with this method of reloading. Both of us got stuck or pinched once or twice.

So far, though, I've not managed to put a decapping pin through my finger. Just against it, rather hard.

Do be careful, won't you?

-L.P.

swampgator · October 24, 2001, 10:14 PM

In high school shop class, drilling holes in something (I don't remember), anyway the teacher asks me a question and I look over as I raise the drill.
Drilled a 1/4" bit through my left index finger. Missed both nail and bone. Mr Cable has this look of sheer panic and asks what I'm going to do.
I ask if this is a reversible drill?
Damn that hurt.

Stephen A. Camp · October 24, 2001, 11:49 PM

Hello. Yes, I did that once years ago. Didn't go all the way through the finger, just to the bone. I've never repeated it for some reason! Best.

bdhawk · October 28, 2001, 09:27 PM

yep, i impaled my fingernail with the deprimer pin and cut the other side of my finger with the brass. it also felt like i had smashed my finger, too. i am glad i wasn't in sunday school 'cause a couple of profanities slipped out (the air turned blue). i betcha it won't happen again.

muzzletalk · October 30, 2001, 10:14 AM

Nope not yet but then I have only been realoding for about 5 years... I sure it will happen sooner or later...

October 22, 2001, 07:04 PM	#1
MadScientist Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2001 Posts: 319	anybody ever stick a deprimer pin through their finger? The other night I learned that watching SNL and reloading do not mix. While depriming, I went to move my hand out of the way after placing a case in the chuck and my finger wouldn't come along. Seems my lever hand caught up to my case-positioning hand and I put the deprimer pin through the end of my pointer finger, narrowly missing the bone. I now have a new respect for the leverage of the loading handle. The thing popped the deprimer pin through my finger nail like it was a piece of paper.

October 22, 2001, 08:09 PM	#2
capbuster Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 1999 Location: Bessemer,Alabama Posts: 302	If you have never pulled something stupid, then you havent done much living. At least you fessed up to it.Take care. __________________ cliff

October 22, 2001, 09:33 PM	#5
Good Guy Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 1999 Posts: 638	from the school of hard knocks..... Not with the decapping pin. But once, many moons ago, when I was marathon loading 700 rounds of handgun ammo on a single stage press, I did get my thumb caught between the ram and the press frame. OUCH! Made one helluva impressive flap cut.

October 22, 2001, 09:59 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I took a crescent out of my finger a couple of years ago, and also crushed the fingertip between the ram and the seating die. That one made me pretty queasy... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 22, 2001, 10:00 PM	#7
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 605	Finger crusher press -new! Me too, a blood-blister was painful until lanced. Rockchucker press used with 40S&W cases. I too will be more careful in future - a cautionary tale indeed. Thanks for posting it, it was important that you felt you could share the incident with us all. Safety first. BB __________________ Bad boys, bad boys...watcha goin' to do - watcha goin' to do when they come for YOU ?!

October 22, 2001, 08:30 PM	#3
uglygun Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2001 Location: Cowpie Ca Posts: 552	OH GOD YES! Only did it once and hope to never do it again. Was working through a lot of around one hundred 38 special cases out in my friend's garage while it was cold out, my fingers were sorta cold and I was trying to hurry. All of a sudden through a miracle of compound mechanical leverage, RIGHT TO THE BONE THAT DECAPPING PIN SANK! This was quite a few years back but if I look hard I can still see the scar on my right index finger. But I think I got off lucky, some people have managed to take a piece of their finger off when a sharp edge of the case mouth came up and caught their finger shearing the skin right off. NOW THAT HAS GOT TO TICKLE!

October 22, 2001, 08:36 PM	#4
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	" ... when a sharp edge of the case mouth came up and caught their finger ... " Guilty - coupla times. No skin lose but there's this funny bio-feedback thing that says "Hey Stupid! Whatever you're doing that hurts so much - quit it!" Even with no brass & you "just" catch your finger with the ram, it'll make you wonder why you do things like that. Impressive crushing power with a press. Got myself a D550 now & can crush more fingers faster ....

October 22, 2001, 10:26 PM	#8
Jack Straw Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 1999 Location: Georgia Posts: 362	Even the short handle on a Lyman lubrisizer has quite a bit of leverage. I was sizing some round nosed .45 LC bullets and the top punch to fit those bullets has a sharp edge and is almost a full .45" in diameter...basically a 1/2 inch hole puncher. I had my left index finger between the ram and the top punch when gravity did its thing to the lever. I wound up with a .45 inch perfectly round circle punched into the back of my finger just below the nail. For 2 weeks, every time I bent that knuckle I would pop open a part of the cut...not much fun when you work with paint solvents. That's the sort of burn that just brings tears to your eyes. Jack

October 22, 2001, 10:36 PM	#9
seadog Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 287	Squashed my digit too. Slowed my rate down considerably that day. Big flap avulsion pulling a hunk of skin off. It will definitely light you up...You have no conception of the leverage involved until that happens...

October 22, 2001, 10:50 PM	#10
KP95DAO Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2000 Posts: 699	Yes, a beveled case mouth will take a chunk out. About 25 years ago. Much more careful since then.

October 23, 2001, 12:49 AM	#11
Freedom in theSkies Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2001 Location: The "Nice Dictatorship" of Canada Posts: 250	I caught my finger between the bottom of the sizing die and the top of the case ONCE. If I was centered a bit better, I could have punched a chunk of meat out that sure as sh#t would have made a great little bullet. I don't think it would feed real well in my .45 though. __________________ Live in peace... But defend it...Embrace it... But never take it for granted...

October 23, 2001, 10:10 AM	#12
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	YEP, sure have. Smarts, doesn't it? All these stories are giving me contractions, way south of my belt buckle. Best, Johnny

October 23, 2001, 11:40 AM	#13
Hawkman Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 445	Never a depriming pin, but I did put a screwdriver blade completely through my finger one time. I have injured myself with tools so many times my wife has 911 on speed dial.

October 23, 2001, 05:27 PM	#14
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	Yuup! And I'd thankfully forgotten it until you posted this blankety-blank thread! __________________ Let us never forget that the only legitimate source of government power is the citizens. If WE cannot exercise a certain power, we cannot grant it to the state.

October 23, 2001, 09:01 PM	#15
slickpuppy Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 1999 Posts: 928	You guys are getting in too big of a hurry. Slow down and take a chill pill dudes.

October 23, 2001, 09:06 PM	#16
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	Hey slickpup, load about 50K+ rounds on a stinkin' single stage press & you'll get pinched at least a coupla times. Figure at least 2X operations per loaded rifle round & 3X+ for straight-walled pistol & we be talking serious potential for at least one (OK, 5 or more) screw-ups.

October 23, 2001, 09:09 PM	#17
Denny Hansen Staff Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2001 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 2,422	Been there, hurt that. __________________ S.W.A.T. Magazine Weapons, Training and Tactics for the Real World Join us at TFL or at AR15.com or on Facebook

October 24, 2001, 11:47 AM	#18
Long Path Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: N. Texas Posts: 5,899	Back when I was a little kid... ...and Dad was shooting a bunch of IPSC matches, I used to get called out to the garage to help him reload .45 acp on his little RCBS single stage press. To move things along, he would put the case on the shellholder, actuate the lever, and I would remove the case. We'd move along pretty swooft like that. But remember that biofeedback thingy that labgrade was talking about? You don't have that with this method of reloading. Both of us got stuck or pinched once or twice. So far, though, I've not managed to put a decapping pin through my finger. Just against it, rather hard. Do be careful, won't you? -L.P. __________________ "Welcome to The Firing Line, a virtual community dedicated to the discussion and advancement of responsible firearms ownership."T.F.L. Policy Page Will you, too, be one who stands in the gap? ____________

October 24, 2001, 10:14 PM	#19
swampgator Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Gatorville, Florida Posts: 619	In high school shop class, drilling holes in something (I don't remember), anyway the teacher asks me a question and I look over as I raise the drill. Drilled a 1/4" bit through my left index finger. Missed both nail and bone. Mr Cable has this look of sheer panic and asks what I'm going to do. I ask if this is a reversible drill? Damn that hurt. __________________ www.afn.org/~guns

October 24, 2001, 11:49 PM	#20
Stephen A. Camp Staff In Memoriam Join Date: April 16, 1999 Posts: 2,570	Hello. Yes, I did that once years ago. Didn't go all the way through the finger, just to the bone. I've never repeated it for some reason! Best.

October 28, 2001, 09:27 PM	#21
bdhawk Junior member Join Date: December 22, 2000 Posts: 114	bad memories!! yep, i impaled my fingernail with the deprimer pin and cut the other side of my finger with the brass. it also felt like i had smashed my finger, too. i am glad i wasn't in sunday school 'cause a couple of profanities slipped out (the air turned blue). i betcha it won't happen again.

October 30, 2001, 10:14 AM	#22
muzzletalk Member Join Date: January 3, 2001 Posts: 85	Nope not yet but then I have only been realoding for about 5 years... I sure it will happen sooner or later... __________________ DVCE dilegentia,vis,celeritas,eruditio accuracy,power,speed,knowledge