The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 17, 2013, 11:54 AM   #1
iraiam
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2012
Location: Lakewood, CO
Posts: 1,057
ruined my perfect record:(

I've been reloading extensively for 20 years, tens of thousands of rounds loaded and fired, not one single misfire until today. I had one 9mm cartridge with a little bit too much bulge get by me, just enough of a bulge it locked up the M9 before it went into battery.

It was from a batch of old military 9mm brass that I did have issues with loading 147 grain FMJ in during the worst of the component shortage.

Dang it! At least it was an easy fix, i just released the extractor from the rim of the case with a tiny screwdriver, locked the pistol open and tapped the stuck round out of the chamber.
__________________
NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason
iraiam is offline  
Old August 17, 2013, 10:07 PM   #2
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
I've been reloading since the middle to late 1970s with a perfect record until I did this a few years ago.



9.8 grains of WW 231 makes quite a bang.
__________________
"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.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old August 17, 2013, 10:55 PM   #3
BuckRub
Junior member
 
Join Date: October 3, 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 1,046
yep, you reload enough and be as careful as possible and check and doudle check and sooner or later you'll be boo boo somewhere.
BuckRub is offline  
Old August 18, 2013, 07:15 AM   #4
grumpa72
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 5, 2009
Posts: 487
Hmm, I hope that "bound to happen" is behind me. I have only been reloading for 4 years and my first batch of 9mm had one round that was a squib, primer only. I have since changed my procedures such that if there is even a shred of a doubt I stop and examine the round in question. Yesterday I was reloading and noticed that my powder hopper was nearing empty. I said to myself (quietly since I don't talk to myself YET) "it is only taking 4.3 grains and I can finish the remaining two rows". Nope. I noticed that my last casing has a dusting of powder so I pulled the previous 10 rounds just to be sure. I am careful but I screw up now and then and have caught my screw ups so far.
grumpa72 is offline  
Old August 18, 2013, 05:44 PM   #5
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
I suspect a "case gague" would have caught that round ...allowing you to reject it - before you boxed it up.

I will occasionally have a case with a small crack or a bulge or a burr on the base...( sometimes a small crack will show up, after you seat the bullet )...and a case gague, is the way I check every round -as I box em up. It only takes about 1 minute per box ...for a little more piece of mind - and one last final check !

We all know the risks associated with reloading...and I don't think a mistake is inevitable / if you follow careful procedures, keep your bench clean - and keep your eyes and ears tuned to issues on your press.

It is possible to load for many years - without an overcharge or an undercharge ! ...and presses with powder check dies help us !
BigJimP is offline  
Old August 18, 2013, 07:02 PM   #6
Wreck-n-Crew
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 8, 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,820
Don't feel bad I had some crappy factory ammo do it to me during the shortage. Was some import from Russia in a blue box (forget the brand).

I have been blessed with feeding well and not overloading. But I have forgot to charge the case. Luckily the magnum primers pushed the round out!

Since then I charge 50 rounds and do a visual check before seating and crimping. Been good so far.

Quote:
I've been reloading since the middle to late 1970s with a perfect record until I did this a few years ago.
WOW! Nothing like an uh oh to get the blood a pumping.
__________________
If you ever have to use a firearm, you don't get to pick the scenario!
Wreck-n-Crew is offline  
Old August 18, 2013, 10:11 PM   #7
LSU
Member
 
Join Date: May 12, 2013
Posts: 38
I'm back into reloading after a long time away. I started on a single stage RCBS back in the 70's and I loaded tens of thousands of rounds, one by one.

I'm now using a Dillon 550B (having loaded about 1000 rounds so far) without any issues BUT . . .

Today I took out some .40 S&W that I'd loaded. These rounds were loaded with 180 grain SNS LRN. CCI primers.

I had two "misfires". I was very unhappy (with myself).

After looking at the two misfires, I found what I think were two light primer strikes. I had two failure to fires out of the 100 "test" rounds I'd loaded.

First time I'd ever had a misfire - ever.

I checked the two rounds. The primers on both of them had slight dents on them.

I reloaded the rounds and they fired perfectly.

In retrospect, I think I didn't seat the primers deep enough in the primer pockets.

I blame myself for not seating the primers deep enough but I thought I'd "finger" checked the primers to make sure they were all seated.

No question - my error on the loading but I'm going to learn from my mistakes.

Of course, I've got some more .40 to shoot and I'm going to check the seated primers. If I found any that look "high" I'm going to mark them with a Sharpie and see if these "misfire".
LSU is offline  
Old August 19, 2013, 10:12 AM   #8
buck460XVR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,341
Quote:
Originally posted by BigJimP:

We all know the risks associated with reloading...and I don't think a mistake is inevitable / if you follow careful procedures, keep your bench clean - and keep your eyes and ears tuned to issues on your press

I agree. Saying it WILL happen sooner or later is much different than saying it COULD happen.
buck460XVR is offline  
Old August 19, 2013, 06:18 PM   #9
Boomer58cal
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 18, 2013
Location: closer than you think
Posts: 967
I've always charged one case at a time, visually inspected the powder to charge and then seated bullet. I've always done one at a time but that's just me. I also tend to use powders that mostly fill the case decreasing the odds of a double charge.

Boomer
__________________
The number one cause of death in the 20th century. 290,000,000 citizens were first disarmed and then murdered by their own governments. This number does not include those killed in war.
We're from the government, we're here to help
Boomer58cal is offline  
Old August 19, 2013, 06:58 PM   #10
BigJimP
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 23, 2005
Posts: 13,195
I like reloading ....but I like shooting more...( speed is not the goal / maximum accuracy is the goal ) !....

....but when I realized I could get a progressive machine, especially for handgun calibers, -- with a case feeder and a "powder check die" ---that gave me a higher volume ( 800 rounds an hour is easy ).....and a significant increase in safety by making sure the powder drop was within its goal ranges...I've long since left the single stage operations / for a Dillon 650 press for all of my metallic reloads.

I loaded about 25 boxes of .357 Mag on Sunday afternoon ...in under 3 hours ( and that included case gageing every round as I boxed it up .....and a break and a snack...)...and then I went over to my local range with 3 guns and 4 boxes of .357 Mag ...and 4 boxes of 9mm - for some tactical practice and entertainment.

I like the added safety feature that the "powder check die" gives me - not that I rely on it exclusively....but its that little extra that makes me feel better. All day long my powder drops -when I measured them were right on the goal of 6.1 grains ..../ I rejected 2 rounds ...( both with small case cracks that opened up after I seated the bullets )...and set them aside to be pulled later.
--------------
modern progressive presses ...just make this part of the hobby better in my view ! You can get a higher quality cartridge ...and improve your safety at the same time - with a good press like a Dillon 650 or Hornaday LNL...in my view.
----------
I also loaded up about 20 boxes of 12ga ( clay target shells ) ...so I can go out to the club on Tue for some Skeet and sporting clays...( it took me under an hour on a MEC 9000 HN press ) to get those 20 boxes done.
BigJimP is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07241 seconds with 10 queries