better watch out if you didn't load those handloads... broken gun...

Pistol powder

I have seen a few ruined Rugers in my day but haven't blow one myself. On the
forum I notice new hand loaders asking questions that scare me. Most are pistol
Cals. I realize you got to start some where, and asking questions about things
you don't know is smart. Having said this I think some of these guys should do
a lot more reading or get with a experienced loader before loading a round. Most
rifle cals. are a lot easier to detect a double charge, just by overflow. Pistol cals.
with pistol powder has a lot less room for mistakes. The high cost of factory ammo is driving a lot of guys into loading, the 1st thing they should buy is a
good book and spend some time reading it. To many guys are just starting in
and using book for loads and not reading tech. info.
 
@ Magnum Wheel Man; Great advice, and I'm glad you didn't get hurt. One of my best friends, Matt, had something very similar happen when he was shooting his coworker's deceased Father's .45 Colt (Ruger) and a hot loaded .44 magnum ended up in the wrong box and he called me right after it happened. He said he noticed a loud report, and couldn't get the casing out.

I told him he was lucky it a Ruger... As the story came out later, the coworkers father (who loaded the rounds) was diagnosed with dementia before his death. I'm gonna have to agree, don't use inherited reloads. Once again, glad you're alright.
 
Good post, sorry about your revolver. I also don't shoot anyone else's reloads, but I add to that by not letting anyone shoot my reloads. Maybe too paranoid but I don't want a mistake I make (haven't made one yet) hurt someone else or their firearm.

Tony
 
If I know the guy real well then ok. Otherwise not. Been several times out shooting we would see how a 'load' performed in my gun, and visa-versa. Of course I know exactly what he loaded, and visa-versa. This was with .45 Colt and .45 ACP.
 
TIM... I have not loaded much 2400 & still have the bottle from my FIL... the 2400 is in a black plastic bottle with ( I think green in the lettering ) all the Unique that was in the house when FIL died, was the paper canisters with the tin top & bottom... in other words, they didn't look anything alike ( I think the last bottle of Unique I bought was also in a black plastic bottle, but that was after these were loaded )... but the labels are different enough... also the powders don't look anything alike... the 2400 is little tiny grains ( looks like a ball powder ) & is dark... the Unique is a grey flake...

I may not pull all the rest of FIL's loads down, but will be pulling all 44 Special & 44 Magnum, & will at least pull one of any other calibers to confirm my best, that they are both safe, & appear to be as is the label on the boxes ( he was pretty good about labeling everything )
 
My new replacement cylinder should be here today or tomorrow ( weather is slowing down shipping )

MRS had surgery, & work has been busy, so I've had a hard time getting down to my reloading room lately... but this last weekend, I finally had the time to look over the rest of the loaded cases & pull the bullets... all were double charges of the same powder ( I still suspect Unique ) I refilled one case, & they must have all been compressed loads...

I did notice that the cases still had some bell on them... ( ironed out enough, that they would chamber, but not crimped by any means... so they may have been mixed in with his 44 magnum cases... & he just readjusted the seating die to seat the bullets???

anyway... It'll make me at least pull one bullet of any of his loads in other calibers I have left, just to confirm the powder & charge...

can't wait to get the cylinder here, & get the gun running again...
 
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My father in law found this Marlin 336 in the woods a few years ago. Chamber blown out the bottom in the shape of the cartridge. Fore end and mag tube gone. Bolt frozen. Hammer blown off. Receiver twisted and cracked at ejection port. No idea if really overloaded round or wrong cartridge or what. Can't see how shooter escaped injury. At very least left hand caught hell. Maybe got serious blow back in face. Must have dropped the rifle where he was and staggered off to find help.

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I wouldn't think it possible to double charge a 44 magnum case but apparently it can be done. Must have been seriously compressed when the bullet was seated.

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Hello
I have hand Loaded for the past 25 Year's or so with No Ill effects. I keep within the Maximum Limits and check the cases by weighing the powder acrosss my digital scales as well as a visual check inside all of the cases before seating any Bullets. I flat refuse to load for anyone else but myself or my son in law there is Far too Much Liability Involved in that. A resposible Hand Loader checkes and rechecks his Powder weight through the process of hand loading....;) Hammer It
 
Nobody is mistake-free, but when you handload as I do (grab a piece of empty brass with your left hand, dip and charge with your right hand and then set the brass in neat rows off to your left), it's hard to make a double charge. If the phone rings or you get otherwise interrupted, just finish the piece you are holding and attend to it. Of course, you still have to make sure you are using the right powder and dipper.

Glad you were not hurt.
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Me too. It may take me all day to do 100 rounds, but I hand weigh and trickle feed onto a scale each and every load.
 
I don't trickle and weigh every charge, but I put all the charged cases in a loading block and visually check that all the cases are filled to the same level before seating bullets. Once in a while my powder measure doesn't dump completely with some powders. One of the ways a single stage makes me feel safer.
 
I'm a single stage guy too, if I'm loading 38's for use in a 357 I will weigh every 10th charge. If I'm loading hot pistol loads or rifle, I weigh and trickel if needed, every charge. A last visual inspection before bullet seating goes along way in keeping you out of trouble. I have been loading with my bought second hand RCBS Jr since 1980 and never had a problem.
 
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