Hi Gents,
I used to post under shovel99 but that was attached to an old dead email address and found it easier to create a new handle.
I have been loading 4 pistol calibers and at least 4 rifle calibers since maybe 2009, and most of the 10k are 9mm and 38 special, 4-4.3 grains of Titegroup from a Lee Autodisk, 125 grain Berrys flatpoint 38, 115 grain round nose in the 9mm.
Saturday I was shooting the 38's in an S&W stainless model 66, 6 inch.
About the 15th round shot, 2nd in a cylinder of 6, big kaboom, bullet hits the paper about 5 inches low at 25 feet. Not "Oh Crap my hand hurts and my gun is blown up" Kaboom, but a "very stout recoil on that 32 ounce plus revolver."
This was a double charge: between 8 and 8.8 grains of Titegroup, 125 grain plated bullet. My Lee Modern Reloading manual states maximum Titegroup for 357, 125 grain plated is 7.5 grains.
I had almost chosen to shoot my Gen3 1975 manufacture Colt Detective Special in 38 Special instead of the 357 K frame M66. It would have likely blown up in my hand. I am a lucky camper.
The cylinder was locked up, and I was going to take it to a well known local gunsmith, but then thought "let's givethis a try." Some tapping on the back of the cylinder with a light mallet and punch allowed the cylinder to swing out. The shell was very tightly stuck, and the primer had a hole blown through it. No damage to the gun that I can tell. I secured the cylinder in a bench vise lined with rubber gunsmith plates and drove out the shell casing.
I am very lucky that I was shooting a stout gun when I made this mistake. I am usually, very, very careful when reloading. I don't listen to music, I don't have anyone there to distract me. I load on a Lee Classic turret, not progressive, so I can be especially attentive to the powder load.
But it happened. Just everyone be mindful that it is easy to double charge the especially the hot, small charge powders like TG. It literally gets lost in the 38 special casing that was designed for black powder.
Stay safe out there.
AtlEng/shovel99
I used to post under shovel99 but that was attached to an old dead email address and found it easier to create a new handle.
I have been loading 4 pistol calibers and at least 4 rifle calibers since maybe 2009, and most of the 10k are 9mm and 38 special, 4-4.3 grains of Titegroup from a Lee Autodisk, 125 grain Berrys flatpoint 38, 115 grain round nose in the 9mm.
Saturday I was shooting the 38's in an S&W stainless model 66, 6 inch.
About the 15th round shot, 2nd in a cylinder of 6, big kaboom, bullet hits the paper about 5 inches low at 25 feet. Not "Oh Crap my hand hurts and my gun is blown up" Kaboom, but a "very stout recoil on that 32 ounce plus revolver."
This was a double charge: between 8 and 8.8 grains of Titegroup, 125 grain plated bullet. My Lee Modern Reloading manual states maximum Titegroup for 357, 125 grain plated is 7.5 grains.
I had almost chosen to shoot my Gen3 1975 manufacture Colt Detective Special in 38 Special instead of the 357 K frame M66. It would have likely blown up in my hand. I am a lucky camper.
The cylinder was locked up, and I was going to take it to a well known local gunsmith, but then thought "let's givethis a try." Some tapping on the back of the cylinder with a light mallet and punch allowed the cylinder to swing out. The shell was very tightly stuck, and the primer had a hole blown through it. No damage to the gun that I can tell. I secured the cylinder in a bench vise lined with rubber gunsmith plates and drove out the shell casing.
I am very lucky that I was shooting a stout gun when I made this mistake. I am usually, very, very careful when reloading. I don't listen to music, I don't have anyone there to distract me. I load on a Lee Classic turret, not progressive, so I can be especially attentive to the powder load.
But it happened. Just everyone be mindful that it is easy to double charge the especially the hot, small charge powders like TG. It literally gets lost in the 38 special casing that was designed for black powder.
Stay safe out there.
AtlEng/shovel99