Blew up new Ruger 45Colt/45ACP

I use a loading block and was charging all the cases with powder then checking levels before seating the bullets. A couple months ago I read were a reloader charges a case with powder then immediately seats the bullet before charging the next case as a way to prevent double charges. I started doing this then. I'm so afraid of a double charge as I've caught myself almost doing just that more than a couple times now in the past 2 years.
Click to expand...

It is easy to double charge cases in a loading block. I have a propensity to day dream, so do most people, when conducting repetitive tasks. It is my opinion that I am less likely to double charge on my Dillion 550B than a loading block.

I recommend putting all the charges in, then examine all cases with a flashlight, I use a small Maglite, and see that all cases are charged and to the same level. Then put bullets on the top and go seat them.
 
I used to charge all the cases, inspect with a light and commence seating bullets. About two months ago I changed my routine. All my empties sit in the loading block... primer up. Each case gets a charge and then the bullet gets immediately seated one at a time and gets moved to another loading block. I find that it's just as fast if not a little faster.
 
Seen a few accidental disappointments over the years with those who owned Ruger Blackhawks. Serious enough to where I wouldn't buy one. So I bought a S/S Redhawk instead. (Last) disappointing Black Hawk in 45 Colt I observed suffered a separation of its ejector housing from its barrel. Not serious But still requiring factory repair services.
 
I've got one in .44 Remington Magnum that has been shot thousands of times. High pressure magnum loads and heavy projectiles (300 grain Sierra JSP's with H-110, max allowable charges) It's a stout pistol. If you blew it up, it's nearly certain there was a mistake made somewhere in the reloading process.
 
One thing I use is a powder cop die when I am loading cases that can easily be over charged.
050063.jpg
 
All my empties sit in the loading block... primer up. Each case gets a charge and then the bullet gets immediately seated one at a time and gets moved to another loading block. I find that it's just as fast if not a little faster.
Click to expand...

This has been my method since I started loading metallic about 30 years ago...
 
I charge and seat one shell at a time also, but I use an autocharge dispenser, .1 gr over and it errors out and I have to reset it.

Love that thing.

I have auto-progressives also but don't use them for maximum loads. Single stage only for them. I don't use my beam scale anymore either, mine is a Redding #1 also and it is just to hard to set the counterweights and one bump and I have to set up again.
Also don't like the oil creeping out of the oil well all over the scale.

I thought about buying a new beam scale but after using the computerized dispenser, and having the Hornady bench scale (which I already had for years) to verify with, I'm very comfortable with them and they really speed up the process, That is the biggest reason I load and seat one at a time, it's to give the Hornady Auto-Charge time to have the next measure of powder ready and waiting for me.

They are not cheap but they will keep you out of trouble and dramatically speed up the process so you can slow down and do more inspections while getting more done.
 
When loading on a progressive type press I use a lock out die for straight wall cases. I know, there are those that insist seating and crimping in one operation is a bad habit. That is what Dillon said, I informed them I was not starting over on a complete re-due on dies, therefore I can not use their RL550B. I guess they made an exception, I purchased a RL550B and use RCBS dies, or Hornady etc..

Then I purchased the PRO type RCBS scale. I checked it out for speed, I loaded 250 30/06 rounds. Before I started I sorted the case heads and weighed the cases. There was 17 grains difference in weight between the lightest group of cases and the heaviest. After loading the 250 rounds there was 17 grains difference between the heaviest and lightest round. If I had not weight the cases and knew the difference in weight between the different cases I would not have know where the 17 grains came from. 17 grains difference in powder would be something I would want to avoid.

Pistol, same thing, the last opportunity I have to check is after seating the bullet and before firing. If I do not know the weight of the components I can not validate loads.

"It must have been a double charge", that is scary.

F. Guffey
 
You know everyone has been talking about a possible double charge. Nobody has thought of a pressure spike because of a light charge. This is very possible. I've seen photos of the results which look very much like the damage shown in the OP's photos.
 
I also suspect a double charge.

I regularly use 10gr of Unique under a 275; however, my Ruger is not the medium frame you used. That frame is not meant for Ruger Only Loads more than 20k.
 
You know everyone has been talking about a possible double charge. Nobody has thought of a pressure spike because of a light charge. This is very possible. I've seen photos of the results which look very much like the damage shown in the OP's photos.
Click to expand...

Yes I mentioned it in my post on detonation, it's been said that the pressure spike caused by detonation will quadruple the normal pressure, that's what causes the guns to blow so violently.

Some seem to think detonation is not possible that the problem is caused by a squib load where the bullet from the previous shot is stuck in the barrel.
That was not the case in the article that Elmer Keith wrote about and it was not the case with the shooter I know detonation happened to, in both cases the previous fired bullet strike was witnessed before the explosion took place.
 
Ignition, pre-ignition and detonation. Then there is timing early, late and rat on time. All of that makes sense until someone thinks! Firearms do not have a crank shaft.
Then there are those that ask a question with their minds make up, they reject all information that does not starts with "Mush have been a double charge".

Then there are those that just have to pull the trigger to find out.

F. Guffey
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top