Pistol Powder Double Charge Overflow

J

JTReloader

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After searching for a new powder for my 40 S&W I chose WSF over unique simply because it is said to meter better. Both were said to overflow a case of double charged. I’m wanting to get unique to find out for sure because even at 7 grains, WSF will not overflow in the case if you double charge.

I would like to start a thread for not just myself, but anyone else searching for a powder that will overflow if double charged.... in pistols of course. So if you know of any powders/caliber combo that spill over when double charged please post them here! I’ve been told unique and 9mm is double charge proof but I have yet to test that myself.
 
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The approximate charge weights of the powders shown below will completely fill a 40 S&W case. So you would need a charge greater than this to overflow the case. Keep in mind that an intended charge would need to be 1/2 of these values for a double charge to completely fill the case (to the top).

Warning: These are not charge recommendations for any cartridge.

Powder ------------ Charge(gr.)
#5 ----------------- 22
Universal ---------- 15
231 ---------------- 14
CFE Pistol ---------- 18
Power Pistol ------- 15
HS-6 --------------- 21
WST --------------- 11
 
Hard, even with the fastest, smallest powder charge handgun powder, to not see a double charge if one looks in every case. Slower, magnum type handgun powders will generally overfill a case when double charged, but not so much faster ones. I use the best performing/accurate powder for the job, regardless of how it meters or if it overflows the case when double charged.......instead, I just look into every charged case before seating a bullet. This also tells me if the case is undercharged and prevents a squib load. Squib loads cause a many blown up guns as do double charged loads.

Just sayin'.
 
instead, I just look into every charged case before seating a bullet.
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Has worked for me for 30 years. They sell light kits that will work on most any press to get more light into the charged cases, and if you have a 5-station press, you can get a powder cop die that will check for a powder charge. The powder cop isn't intended to measure for a double charge, but in the tiny cases like 9mm, it can be an indicator if set up properly.
 
I'm in accord with Charlie_98 - with respect to "look..." Double charging is a symptom of a problem. The loader has to purposely do something wrong to get a double charge.

I could never understand press manufacturers touting how many rounds one could load in an hour with a specific press. For 30 years, reloading has never struck me as a race to the end. It is a simple process; very relaxing.

Whenever I'm in doubt [my attention was diverted for one reason or another] I simply strip the cases from the press and start again. If you are so fearful of a load because it leaves enough room for a double charge, I would look closely at your reloading method and figure out why.
 
I would look closely at your reloading method and figure out why.
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...and I should have mentioned that, too. Your reloading method has a lot to do with the serviceability of the rounds you produce. I have certain things I always do, and certain things I never do in my reloading process. I don't trust automatic powder drops, for example, I would rather actuate the measure by hand so I can feel what the rotor is doing, if it hangs up (on stick powder, for example,) and I can tap the drum to make sure the powder didn't bridge, etc. I have incorporated that into my loading process.

I have two kinds of rounds I produce... 'handcrafted' rounds... rounds that I pay special attention to for some reason or another, and production rounds... something like 1000 .45ACP's kicked out in one or two sessions... one requires more attention and technique than the other, but both require I pay attention to what is going on... to include the powder charge.
 
I'm on the fence on this issue. My main thinking is to establish safe reloading techniques right from the start. When I started reloading (Lee Loader in '69) I used powder for it's performance not if it was fluffy or stuffy and I was a bit "scared"/concerned about double charging and blowing up my gun. So, right from the start I looked into every case that was charged before seating a bullet. I'm now reloading 13 calibers and still look into every case (.223 can be tough, but I use a strong flashlight to see the powder). This removes the chance of double charges, no charges and "odd" charges (after looking at a bunch of powder charges in a case I can see ones that just don't look right, so I easily dump the powder and recharge).

I use a Co-Ax so my methods might not fit a progressive press use, but there are safe methods for them too (powder cops?). Start safe and you can use any powder that fits the need...
 
I could never understand press manufacturers touting how many rounds one could load in an hour with a specific press. For 30 years, reloading has never struck me as a race to the end. It is a simple process; very relaxing.
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Wow! Agree 100%. There are few that really need to pump out 1,000 rounds at a sitting (I had a friend that shot his 1911 in competition and I helped him assemble some ammo on his Dillon. All I did was pull the handle for about an hour, never felt so removed from my reloading). I reload for several reasons and none are money or high production numbers/quotas...
 
If I only loaded recipes where the propellant case fill is more than half (can not double-charge, in theory), I wouldn't have many load recipes.

An impossible double-charge is not part of my load work up criteria. Crafting good ammo for a given purpose is.

Checking your charge levels is paramount to the loading process. There is no substitute for this action.

I know the dreaded double-charge is a frightening prospect, to say the least. But I believe it is important to be aware of the concept (which you are) and operate within that paradigm with a great deal of respect. That's a fancyschmancy way of saying "pay attention to what you're doing."
 
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I chose WSF over unique simply because it is said to meter better.
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It is said, they say, he said? When finished I want to know if my reloads are going to loosen up my pistol/rifle or render it scrap. I know; there are many that are asking themselves; "What does that mean?"

We have had reloaders scatter their rifles and pistols all over the firing range with no way of knowing it could happen to them or suspected it could happen to them.

F. Guffey
 
In search of a powder that fills more than half a 40 S&W? Blue Dot fits that description. Alliant recommends 11gr as a max charge for 155gr Speer GDHP.
 
I just loaded 500 rounds of 9mm on my 550b......WSF was the powder of choice. I stand when I'm reloading so I can get a good look inside the case. If I don't see the powder charge I'll break out a flashlight. You gotta have a look.....it is in your best interest to not skip that step.
 
I could never understand press manufacturers touting how many rounds one could load in an hour with a specific press.
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I have never seen a manufacturer tout output...

Now, I have seen plenty of their customers do it...but never the company.
 
RCBS and Dillon ...both discuss outputs per hour on their progressive presses in their catalogs and marketing literature. I don't know if Hornaday does..but I would be surprised if they don't.

I agree reloading is not a race...its a big part of the gun hobby to me...and I hope everyone focuses on their procedures & safety ...and picking a powder you are comfortable with is important. But personally, I will only recommend a press that has room for a powder check system. Its an extra layer of safety that is smart in my view.
 
Keith,..... Elmer that is

Elmer Keith once wrote that he would not use a powder/charge with which he could double charge a case. I don't know what all calibers Elmer loaded, but he was famous for using 2400 in the .44 Mag.

A serviceable charge of Unique, say 5 grains , will leave just enough room to seat a slug in a 9mm case. But the 9mm case is not all that big anyhow. Where one has to watch out is in the larger cases, say the mag revolver cases for example. I suspect a .44 mag, or a .45 Colt case could accept even a triple charge of a fast powder.
 
Shootniron - maybe you never noticed. This was absolutely common on the Hornady, Dillon and RCBS sites years ago...."400/hr, 600/hr, 650/hr..."

I haven't shopped for a press in some time, but this was a common occurrence.

For the record, the only "customers" I've seen touting reloading speed are Dillon customers. Some Dillon customers act like they're in a cult and even make videos about their equipment and how great it is.

I have nothing against Dillon. They make fine products, of which I have some. But, the "blue-cool-aid" seems to have been distributed in batches.
 
The thing about Dillon is, they have the Dillon Girl's.

What other brand of reloading equipment has a legion of cute young girls modeling guns?

Thought so. And I'm not sure what "cool-aid" is but the refreshing liquid Dillon supplies to their customers is quite refreshing!

I too have heard press makers touting the "rounds-per-hour" as a selling point. I can tell you that if my machine is already set for the caliber, I'll do a 500 round batch in about 1.5 hours.

That's good enough for me! Also, OP, I try to use powders that are close to 100% case fill myself but that is no replacement for LOOKING into the case as you seat a bullet to make sure there is a correct charge present.

Load 'em up......
 
I too have heard press makers touting the "rounds-per-hour" as a selling point
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Me too, but I am not a fan of getting into mortal combat with reloading. I purchased a lock out die for my first Piggy Back press, it had 5 position tool heads and then:eek: I went to Dillon in Chandler, they said I had to purchase their dies because I should be seating and crimping on separate positions.

Anyhow that reminds me of the add about insurance. Seems one believe someone purchased the wrong insurance policy and the other believe they used the wrong insurance company.

F. Guffey
 
I have always loaded with the old Herter's press I started with many years back. My philosophy is: LOOK! When picking up a shell to drop powder in it LOOK to see if there is a primer in the brass. I have had primers go in backwards now and then. It is good to see this before the shell is loaded. When dropping powder use a loading board. Fill enough casings to fill the board, then LOOK! Pick up the board and get it under the light so you can see into each casing to see that each has powder and none is double charged. IOW just LOOK!
 
I have found that just "looking" at a charged case isn't good enough. It can appear that a sufficient charge is there when it isn't. Judging the amount of powder in the case is very hard to do. Even when I have "looked", I've found inadequate charges or too heavy of charges. My only trustworthy solution has been to check powder level with a marked dowel or brass rod -- on every round. Have had too many stuck bullets to do anything else.
willr
 
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