double charges

[swabjocky]

When I first started loading my own, it was with a 550b.every once in a while I would get a double load.so I started to load them one at a time to keep that from happening. the guns I use now will handle them ok, although I havent had any lately.when I say double load it only means that while shooting at the range I would get a report much stronger than the rounds I was firing.



swab

 

[hksigwalther]

I have a 550B as well.

A few years ago, with a little help of my overall positive results with my 550B, a coworker bought one also. During his startup in reloading, he had found that he was getting inconsistant powder charges particularly when loading larger calibers. This surprised me a bit as I had felt that I was getting pretty consistant results with mine.

In attempting to find a way that would cause a larger than normal variation (greater than ±0.1 grains), I tried many things. [First though, I reloaded a few rounds and checked powder variations. Nothing out of the ordinary was found.] I did eventually find a way to get a very large deviation. I had found that when the reloader was physically shook or banged on during the reloading process, more powder would fall into the powder throw bar (when it was in the position to pick up powder). An error of ±0.5 grains could be made, at least by me on my machine. IMO, I think that since the hole that the powder flows into is square (rectangle) it is impossible to fill every corner every time. When the reloader is shaken, more powder will fill these voids. Also, since I regularly use flake or disk powder, shaking the charge (without even considering the shape of the hole) would just align the particles better and allow more to be packed into a volume.

In short, the more unstable the platform and the more vibrations the machine is subjected to while reloading, the greater the error in powder charge.

This is what I found but it may not be exactly what you are encountering.

 

[Kermit]

Blew up my G21 last year. Best we can figure, it was from an over charge...man, what a mess! Blew out all the internals, tore the ramp partially off the barrel and left some pretty good burns on both of my hands...Double charges are best AVOIDED!

 

[Dave T]

swabjocky said,

"...the guns I use now will handle them ok..."

There is no make or model of handgun that can reliabily counted on to handle double charges of most fast to medium pistol powders (slow burning powder generally overflows the case in a double charge). Don't kind yourself into thinking double charges are OK, or no big deal.

Best educated guess is your loading technique is producing inconsistant charges rather than actual "double charges".

 

[C.R.Sam]

Stability of machine.
Consistancy of operation.
Attention to nothing but the process when loading.
Watchin telly while loading is dangerous.
Doing anything else while loading is dangerous.

Sam

 

[yorec]

I prefer to use powder amounts which will not fit a double load into the case. This will keep me from getting a double load because if I do, I'll suddenly have all the excess powder running all over the place. That sould clue me in that something is wrong.

If using faster powders which don't allow these sort of loads, I at least insist the load be one which I can eye ball at the bottom of the case from above. Not to hard to do with a shallow large mouthed case like the .45 acp, but difficult with long narrow necked rounds like the .223 Remington. It's also not an exact science, but it helps me make sure that powder did get dumped and gives me a chance to see a double load.

The secret to using the 550B is consistancy. Do the same thing for each cartridge, using the same motions, the same components, and the same double checks. On each and every round. Never had a double load yet with my 550B...

Knock wood.

 

[swabjocky]

to hksigwalther

all of you had good ideas.but thinking back I can remember slapping the powder despenser with my hand to level the powder. no reason,just habit.thanks,I will never shake the press again.you never get to old to learn something new.

 

[James K]

Swabjocky, many reloaders do tap the powder measure, and the old Lyman even had a hinged rapper that you flipped up so it hit the measure on the way down. The idea was to fill the charging bar uniformly each time.

That is still not bad advice, though I don't do it on my Dillon, having found the normal drop quite uniform with most powders that I use.

There is nothing wrong with the tapping. It is as C.R Sam says, a matter of consistency, of doing the same thing the same way each time. You just don't want to tap sometimes and not at other times.

But I can't think of anything in the way of tapping or jostling the tool that would give double charges. Double charges come from (surprise!) - dropping two charges into the case. Again, consistency is the key.

And if you lapse, or have a funny feeling that you may have goofed, STOP. Examine the last rounds, even pull bullets if necessary. Better to discard a dubious round than have it wreck the gun.

Jim

 

[1goodshot]

Maybe you seated a bullet to deep in the case or it was not propery crimped and when it hit the feed ramp it got pushed deeper into the case.

 

[Pinball]

You will know if you double charge a case with powder.Here is how I found out.
Pulled the trigger on a Dan Wesson 357mag revolver.Immediately,a louder report and my hand went numb.Upon inspection I found the following.Top strap about 1.5" above the frame as referenced by it's original position.Barrel intact.Chamber which held the round....Gone(tiny pieces).Chamber to the immediate left of the firing chamber....Gone.Second chamber to the left of the fired chamber.....Gone.Rear sight.....Gone...never to be seen again.Culprit???A double charged case holding a cast lead bullet.I have been shooting for over 40yrs. and reloading almost 20.Only time anything like this has ever happened to me.I thanked Jesus profusely with love and gratitude.After about 10mins. the feeling returned to my hand.That was the only damage I received.Thank you Lord.This happened about 14yrs. ago.I stopped shooting handguns for about 6 years.Now I am at it hot and heavy again,but only using single stage presses and Little Dandy Powder Measure.BTW,I sent the revolver to Dan Wesson Arms for their inspection.For 60.00 they fixed it up like new.Good folks there.