tj3006
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,958
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Post by tj3006 on May 16, 2020 13:00:04 GMT -5
A couple days ago, i was loading .357 mags for my GP100. Loads used a 160 grain cast from Montana Bullet works over 15.5 grains of H 110. I was about 30 rounds into the batch , when i was called away from it for a few minutes. When i came back, i was seating a bullet when i met some stiff resistance. I was not sure what it was, 1st thought was something was stick in my seating die. Pulled it out and looked in it, nothing to see. then it donned on me.Over charge. I grabbed my frankford Kinetic bullet puller,( that,s a fun tool to use in front of a non gun person, they think you are about to detonate a bomb) and whacked it a couple times, and was right. It has been years since i had made this mistake, and it could have been a problem, A big problem. The GP 100 is a strong revolver, But ! Years ago i decided to not use powders like red dot, for this very reason. About the only exception, is when i am loading light target .38 Special loads for a .357, And then i use W-231, A double charge under those conditions would not likely prove catastrophic. It is also why for spagnums, (my word for loads in between specials and magnums) i like unique. It,s Bulky , 9.2 rounds in a .41 mag case is well more than half full. However i think it would compact and allow you to seat a bullet. That,s why if you feel something funny you should stop and figure it out before you proceed. Just a reminder , we are all human and each of us knows where our strengths and weaknesses are , plan for your weaknesses and you will spend less time kicking yourself in the ass !...tj
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Post by sixshot on May 16, 2020 21:26:36 GMT -5
What kind of press were you loading on?
Dick
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paul105
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,614
Member is Online
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Post by paul105 on May 17, 2020 9:38:33 GMT -5
Just an observation -- I mostly load on a Dillon 550 -- If I stop mid cycle I always leave with the ram all the way up (handle fully down).
FWIW,
Paul
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Post by sixshot on May 17, 2020 10:13:04 GMT -5
I too load on a 550, this one has me scratching my head, I'm wondering where 31 grs of H110 went without seeing it?
Dick
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Post by boolitdesigner on May 17, 2020 10:16:11 GMT -5
You know, reloading is not an activity you do when on automatic or your brain is away on vacation. You have eyes to see with and a brain to reason where you were at when you got called away. Use both and you probably won't have any problems.... but if you just can't get it right, there is always factory ammo.
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Post by taffin on May 17, 2020 10:39:50 GMT -5
[ , when i was called away from it for a few minutes.
There in lies the key!! I do not want any interruptions when I am reloading; no phones, no visitors, no radio, no TV, no nothing.
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Post by bula on May 17, 2020 11:29:11 GMT -5
After the 1st two dies, loading is no longer a social occasion. Am glad no damage done. It is good to share, even the almost oops. Thank you OP.
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Post by oddshooter on May 17, 2020 11:44:21 GMT -5
Dillon 550 NO disruptions, NO distractions !!! If someone even says hello, I start over.
I've had a big bada boom from factory loads. That's what got me into handloading. I trust my handloads, but only because I became very obsessive/compulsive.
It's a great hobby, but ya gotta stay safe.
Prescut A handloader without a bullet puller is a fool. Say it with me, "When in doubt, throw em out".
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kgb
.30 Stingray
Posts: 127
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Post by kgb on May 17, 2020 12:27:34 GMT -5
I bought an ebay LED light setup for my 550 that extends into the center of the toolhead. It does not illuminate .357's to the bottom of the case due to the angles involved, but a clean case interior without powder reflects differently than one with powder. When loading light charges (BE-86 in .357 and HS-6 in .38s) any double charge will show powder at the charging station. Any interruption of the process means any bullet-less case on the machine gets checked again, and I really like that suggestion of leaving the handle down as a stopping point.
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Post by jfs on May 17, 2020 12:59:53 GMT -5
been there.....
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Post by bradshaw on May 18, 2020 16:51:15 GMT -5
Not sure where my marksmanship would be without fast burn rate handgun powder. Just as the .22 Long Rifle is the all-time great teaching cartridge, so too are light handgun loads the ticket to RYTHMN & CONSISTENCY in handgun marksmanship. You don’t learn finesse on Rocks & dynamite. Muscles needs to be toned. Nerves need to be toned. Dealing with noise and recoil is not the way to start, and without a start, we don’t arrive. Real marksmanship sinks deep into a man or woman’s makeup, ready to be drawn upon at any time.
It’s better to work up than to work down. Cartridges which breed stillness keep the COORDINATIONS of MARKSMANSHIP in order, through the target. Fast pistol powders are economical & efficient. Fast pistol powders & light, accurate loads encourage practice & excellence.
I trust visual inspection of the charged case. David Bradshaw
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Post by blackmamba on May 18, 2020 19:38:39 GMT -5
Amen, brother David, great post and completely "on target." I shoot lots of Red Dot, 700X and American Select with light to medium weight bullets, to find the "stillness" in my release. It carries over to the big boomers! Check and double check when reloading, and have systems in place to find inconsistencies.
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Post by harold89 on May 18, 2020 21:28:07 GMT -5
Glad you caught it. I can’t imagine not using fast powders personally. I have found that being in a hurry can lead to mistakes too.
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Post by matt56 on May 19, 2020 19:36:23 GMT -5
I loaded a case with no powder once. Still no idea to this day how it happened, certainly a distraction of some sort.
Luckily it was a heavy magnum cartridge and the crimp kept the bullet from being unseated. Actually the primer came out and tied the gun up. I’m always worried I won’t recognize a squib when it happens because it’s never happened to me before. Obviously shooting another round over a squib is very dangerous.
I only learned there was no powder after I got home and pulled the bullet. It was quite a wake up call, we are humans and we do make mistakes.
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Post by wheelguns on May 19, 2020 20:35:19 GMT -5
When I first started reloading, I bought a lee turret press kit. It came with what turned out to be a terrible powder dispenser. I had a squib because the dispenser would sometimes drop very little powder. The remaining rounds were pulled and about 20% had very little powder. The next day, I bought a decent scale and started individually weighing all my charges. I haven’t forgotten that squib, and listen to every shot. If the report doesn’t sound right, I check the barrel.
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