Dear Northdude
The person who lost an eye may have blamed it on pistol primers but I suspect there may have been a more fundamental cause.
A hornet is held to 25000 CUP (or approximately 35000 PSI) which is in the upper range of pistol pressures and is well within the acceptable pressure range of pistol primers.
The thin nature of the Hornet case dictates that pressure restriction as well as the sometimes light construction of the firearms it is chambered in, for example actions that are also used for light 410 shotguns.
Exceed that pressure range at your own risk.