How not to decap!

[dikman]

Putting your finger in the way is NOT a good idea!
I was decapping some .44-40s yesterday, using my Lee turret press. I still don't know how it happened, but my left index finger ended up on top of the case, resulting in the obvious - the decapping pin went into my finger at the first joint!! I'm not sure how far in it went (and I don't want to know) but I think it's going to take a while to heal.

Dumb! Dumb! Dumb!

[Shawlerbrook]

Ouch ! Be careful, puncture wounds infect very easily.

[country gent]

Clean it out good and dress it with a good drawing salve as the pin carried powder fouling and primer fouling into the wound with it. Keep a close eye on it for a few days. Hope it heals fast for you

[aarolar]

Ive done that exact same thing only I didnt make it as far as you did. Definately makes you pay attention from that point on!

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[MyFlatline]

Turpentine. Will save you a lot of soreness...

[lightman]

If you are changing the dies in a Lyman 450 the handle can fall and the top punch can punch through your thumb nail. Ask me how I know?

[DerekP Houston]

ouch! I've squished my finger but not tried decapping it yet, I think I'll pass on that experience.

[Beau Cassidy]

If it went INTO the joint that could be a problem- adjacent to the joint not so much. Also the extensor tendon is very shallow over the top of the joint. Hope you didn't injure it. Not that I do this stuff for a living or anything...

[Bzcraig]

Man that made my butt pucker!

[lefty o]

im sure that smarted! in the joint is about as bad a place as you could manage to hit. hope it didnt cause any long term damage.

[dikman]

I don't think there's been any damage done (I hope). Hurts like hell if I knock it, just waiting for it to stop weeping (which is probably good 'cos it should carry any gunk out with it). Slightly swollen at the moment. I cringe when I look at the decapping pin as I had it set a little longer than necessary.

Oh well, could have been worse, I guess.

[jetinteriorguy]

I Hope it wasn't your trigger finger.

[slide]

Soaking in Epsom salt might help.

[srtolly]

I got the pin along the edge of my finger nail once a few years ago. Hope it heals well for you.

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[dverna]

I tend to rush chores like this. I did 2000+ .223 cases a while ago and managed to injure my index finger. Not nearly as bad as dikman but it did smart and bleed all over the place.

And yes, it is a chore. If I really enjoyed reloading, and took my time, I would not get pinched as often as I do. Putting bullets on top of cases in a progressive is the other area I have had issues. But I am getting bullet feeder dies to address that.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

could be worse Attachment 202745

[dikman]

dverna, I've found the boolit feeder on my Lee Loadmaster is great for keeping fingers out of the way! Pity I can't use it on the turret press. (Hmmm......??).

Just took off the band-aid and had a closer look. Swollen and stiff, but it looks like it missed the joint by about 2 mm (just forward). Put on some Betadine, but as long as there's no infection I reckon I'll be right in a few days. Glad it wasn't the finger nail, they can be nasty and take longer to heal.

Luckydawg, if I'd applied a bit more force to the loading leaver that could well have happened (but from the underside). I had a nice round imprint on the skin from the case!

[Ole Joe Clarke]

You probably won't do that again.
I hope is heals soon.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

[corbinace]

Making my living as a mechanic has me cringing and physically moved by the posts in this thread. I will not be returning to it. I can feel each one of them.

[Grmps]

Having a damaged finger joint really sucks especially if it's next to a missing finger.
Seeing I no longer heal like I used to, I douse all wounds with hydrogen peroxide to help clean them then a coat of ointment and bandage for insurance.

Let us know how your range of motion is when the swelling goes down