I've had 3, 2 about 30 years ago, one this year. When checking the power weight on my Dillon press I must have not put it back in the case. ALWAYS look before seating the bullet. You can also get a squib if the powder charge is too light, I had this happen loading target loads in .357 cases. Switched from 148 HB lead to 148 HB Plated bullets, a few got out of the bbl one didn't. I still shoot the same load with lead bullets.
Dang, it has finally happened to me
- Thread starter DavidAGO
- Start date
jdAnd this ^^ is why I have never had a squib - as I mentioned in post #16.
And it is also the reason why I will never go full progressive. The charged cases in a loading block where I can view the charges one at a time under strong light (I don't use a flashlight; but I have a spotlight clamped right over my charging station). I consider this to be a - no, THE - critical control point that I don't ever see myself forsaking. Going full progressive eliminates this critical control point. Uh-uh; not for me.
I know this isn't a post about loading processes. But to me, brass reconditioning and ammunition loading are two completely different processes. All my brass is stored in a ready to load condition. It's all cleaned inside n out, including primer pockets, and flaired.
Although I do use a Dillon progressive these days, the processes are still separate. For each cartridge, I have a reconditioning toolhead, and a loading toolhead (yes, I have a lot of toolheads). I decap/resize and flair on one tool head. Brass is tumbled clean in ss pins at this point. Then seat, taper crimp, and a final crimp (as applicable) on another toolhead.
But I still prime by hand; and most critically, charge by hand in loading blocks that I can then view before placing a bullet atop.
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I also have checked each load with a flashlight and still had a squib. It is often hard to tell just how much of a charge there is. I use a piece of brass rod on each case to check for too light a load.
As mentioned above the squib is why I have taken to using my Lee Turret like a single stage press.
willr
As mentioned above the squib is why I have taken to using my Lee Turret like a single stage press.
willr
I've had three nice cerebral events that have blown my focus and attention out of the water. I feel really uncomfortable loading, and only in the last week have I taken it up again. I've always been extraordinarily cautious, and now, even more so.
It worries the hell out of me when I suddenly blank out for a second, find myself at a stage that I don't expect to be, and have to completely redo that step. I've even dragged my wife into the task, specifically to eyeball charged cartridges for proper charges. For rifle, I have always used a labeled rod and checked every cartridge for not just a charge, but the absolutely correct charge. I also will not use very dense powders that can even hold a double charge. I use powders that nearly fill a case.
when I'm working, I will sometimes just have a hitch in the process of handling cases. A glitch in handling cases in passing them through the dies or priming. simple enough to stop, and examine the rounds to see if they are processed correctly.
It worries the hell out of me when I suddenly blank out for a second, find myself at a stage that I don't expect to be, and have to completely redo that step. I've even dragged my wife into the task, specifically to eyeball charged cartridges for proper charges. For rifle, I have always used a labeled rod and checked every cartridge for not just a charge, but the absolutely correct charge. I also will not use very dense powders that can even hold a double charge. I use powders that nearly fill a case.
when I'm working, I will sometimes just have a hitch in the process of handling cases. A glitch in handling cases in passing them through the dies or priming. simple enough to stop, and examine the rounds to see if they are processed correctly.
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"I've had 2 primers that got seated backward."
That is why I put all my loaded cartridges in a Berry's Bullet box, primer up.
3 reasons, 1; I can easily detect primers that are not fully seated (usually it's WIN primers in Win cases), 2; I can easily see if a primer is upside down, and 3; I can see if there is a nonexistent primer.
I will say that although I occasionally get a protruding primer, I haven't had an upside down primer since I lag bolted my bench to the wall, or a no-primer since I have gained more experience on the progressive.
I started back reloading over a year ago after a 30 year hiatus. Originally with a Rockchucker, since sold, should have kept it.
Jumped right into an XL650. After around 2K rounds I had a Squib in my 1911 .45 from round development. Didn't poor powder back in case after weighing.
Last week I was shooting bullseye and it went like this, bang bang bang BOOM.
No damage done, except for a flattened primer. I use a powder check, so not sure how that happened.
I am current trying to develop an adapter for the Dillon powder drop that would allow me to measure off press, and drop through adapter into case just as the current powder measure does. This would be for load development, not production loading.
I know that Dillon makes something similar, but it is a replacement die and funnel to the existing die and powder measure and works differently.
Lee has the powder through expansion die, but again, I want to be able to simply replace the powder measure rather than remove and refit dies.
"I've had 2 primers that got seated backward."
That is why I put all my loaded cartridges in a Berry's Bullet box, primer up.
3 reasons, 1; I can easily detect primers that are not fully seated (usually it's WIN primers in Win cases), 2; I can easily see if a primer is upside down, and 3; I can see if there is a nonexistent primer.
I will say that although I occasionally get a protruding primer, I haven't had an upside down primer since I lag bolted my bench to the wall, or a no-primer since I have gained more experience on the progressive.
I started back reloading over a year ago after a 30 year hiatus. Originally with a Rockchucker, since sold, should have kept it.
Jumped right into an XL650. After around 2K rounds I had a Squib in my 1911 .45 from round development. Didn't poor powder back in case after weighing.
Last week I was shooting bullseye and it went like this, bang bang bang BOOM.
No damage done, except for a flattened primer. I use a powder check, so not sure how that happened.
I am current trying to develop an adapter for the Dillon powder drop that would allow me to measure off press, and drop through adapter into case just as the current powder measure does. This would be for load development, not production loading.
I know that Dillon makes something similar, but it is a replacement die and funnel to the existing die and powder measure and works differently.
Lee has the powder through expansion die, but again, I want to be able to simply replace the powder measure rather than remove and refit dies.
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