Lightning strike

[hornady]

A few years back I read in one of the gun rags, an article about keeping the primers down or boxes closed on the firing bench.
According to the article the shooter was shooting a Semi-auto pistol, one of the spent casings landed on a live primer in the box and detonated several live rounds in the box.
I could see were if everything came together in the perfect storm it could be possible. But has anyone had a real life experience of this happening.
I reload all my own ammo, and have since started putting them primer down in the boxes.
But I have yet to see factory ammo shipped primers down.
You would think if this were a real problem. Manufacturers would change the packaging, or at least put a warning on new boxes to keep them closed.
It just seems to me you would have the same odds of this happening as getting hit with lightning. But then I don’t stand in a field in a thunderstorm either.

[Bill,SC]

You are saying that a spent/empty case hit a primer dead center with enough force/weight to detonate the primer?  And the primer was seated in loaded case?  In a box with other loaded ammo?  Just not very likely.  Sounds like a job for myth busters!

[hornady]

I am not sure which gun rag it was in, I would bet it was Guns & Ammo. It was a couple years back and they had pictures to go along with the article. I too believe it would be pretty hard to recreate. I was just wondering if anyone had seen anything like this in the real world.

[SHOOTALL]

No never heard of such but anything can happen maybe. I don't place primers down though. With some powders it can clog the flash hole . I like boxes that grip the case not letting the bullet nose touch.

[Tom W.]

I just looked at my boxes. They're all stacked bullet up, but I do this to protect the tips.

I do remember seeing pictures and reading an article about it somewhere, though. It's not a common thing to happen, but I suppose it's possible. No need to tempt fate....

[Savage]

I remember the article. I wouldn't change the way I do things because of it. I'd say your odds of winning the lottery are greater than an empty case striking a loaded round with enough force and in the right position to detonate it.
Savage

[thejanitor]

I didn't see the article but with my sons semi auto .223 they come out so hard I don't doubt it could happen under the perfect conditions.  thejanitor

[SHOOTALL]

maybe the belief is the heat set it off ?

[Tom W.]

http://splodetv.com/weird-stuff-happens-0

I found this.....

Ain't saying it's true. Who knows?

[hornady]

Thanks Tom for the link, It must have been Guns & Ammo with it being by Patrick Sweeney , that was the same article and picture I saw.

[charles p]

I think ammo factories have blown up before.

[fastchicken]

Don't believe it for a second, no way an empty case hit that live round with the amount of force shown in those pics without some external influences, like a block of wood and a hammer. No doubt somebody set the round off with the other, just not the way as described.

[SHOOTALL]

Anything can happen , some ain't so good. I don't leave any primers open on my bench . Don't have any containes of powder open unless placing it in powder dump or trickler. Trickler is on a shelf above bench as is scales so things won't drop on them. Only have powder container you are using on the bench . any good reloading manual has common sense safety rules .