Reloading Screw Up

C

cw308

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Last night I started to load 24 cases sitting in my loading block. Filled the first 6 with IMR 4064, set up my seating die, set the first 168 gr HPBT in the case, removed that round set it in the range box to see I didn't seat any primers. Lucky for me 4064 is a large stick powder. dumping the 5 cases no problem, but seating a primer with a loaded round, was the slowest prime I ever did. I guess there is a first time for everything. OK, I did call myself an AH
 
Sounds like something to avoid but can't quite follow what you did or did not do. If you don't mind, could you phrase it a little differently? Best I can tell is that you poured powder charges without priming??
 
Well I was right then; not a smart thing to do, trying to save money by withholding primers. ;) last time I tried that it didn't work.
 
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I don't believe I would have primed that round with the bullet seated in it. I realize you were being careful but It only takes once to regret your decision. I would have set it off to the side if I didn't have a means to pull the bullet and then pulled it when I did.

I'm glad it worked out for you but just be careful.
 
What I find work for me is that I have the cases upside down in my try that I use for reloading and I put the primers in them all keeping the cases upside down that way you see what is prime and what one is not and then when you add the powder the case will be face up and you see all the ones that is charge and ones that is not and then just add your bullet and finish it off after and then you know that you got all the cases done.Hope this might help someone.
 
Don't feel bad. A guy from work was going to show a newbie how to reload and did that very same thing. The newbie asked me later if the guy really knew what he was doing. And no, I wasn't the guy from work.

I still make mistakes from time to time but with experience they are usually spotted and corrected in short order m
 
It is not a screw-up if you catch and correct what you did, before using loads. It is a learning experience.
 
Priming charged cases is highly NOT recommended. You got by this time but I'd suggest pulling the bullets and powder before any future attempts.
 
I agree with all of you, problem is I didn't check. Just like cutting wood, Measure twice, cut once. Wanted to pass on my screw up so it wouldn't happen to you. Be Safe Chris
 
Foolproof single stage pistol method:


1. Resize, put in tray base down.

2. Expand mouth, put in tray base up (or if you prime on the press during expand operation)

3. Prime, put back in tray base up.

4. Powder charge, put back in tray base down. (of course)

5. Visually examine charged cases and seat bullet.
 
Not to argue that there is no danger at all in priming an already charged case, of course there is. there is danger anytime this stuff is even handled.

it still begs the question, how much risk was there, really? In tens of thousands of times that I have put in primers, I never, ever had one blow. They are designed to never explode just from pressure, they are designed to explode from pressure and shock.

Whatever risk he took in pressing primers into charged shells was so minimal that it almost could be called nonexistent. If he was to do such a thing again, myself, I'd like to see him pull the bullets and start over, but I'd not flee the house if he didn't
 
briandg, you are right on all accounts. It's just that guy they call Murphy is always lurking and he makes me nervous and error on the side of caution.
 
It is a little known fact that Murphy invented protective eye gear. it was his plan all along to lull the mechanically minded person into a sense of safety and complacence.

It is also a little known fact that he invented dirt. By inventing dirt, he ensured that while working, everyone would spend at least half of their time looking over those dirty lenses. This is when the primers will blow up.

So keep them glasses clean, buddies, because Murphy is waiting.
 
I load a Kichen Table with Digital scale. I measure powder, grab case and tap upside down on table. Look inside case to see the primer. If I can not see primer I tap again, If still no primer, I do not load it.
 
Lot's of good "hints" so far, but my advise is inspection. I check every step on every cartridge as it's done, between steps. But, forgetting steps does happen BTDT! :o
 
Yes, good hints, but you are spot on. Inspection.

I check at so many steps. one of the things I learned early on was to prime and only when primed do I expand. I process in huge masses, a stage at a time. so ever batch is primed and checked. Then they are expanded only after checking, and again eyeballed as I load them into the blocks. After charging and inspecting the blocks to make sure every cartridge has a charge, I once again look as I set in bullets and seat.

Even at the very last stage, at least in theory, I should never push a bullet into an umprimed case, since there will be no expanded cases available that aren't primed.

Point is that I do all of my loading single stage, and that is where I believe that people are at greatest risk of error. letting a round slip through the process. So on single stage, I believe that redundant inspection is absolutely necessary.

one of the benefits of priming before expanding, occasionally a primer pocket that is stretched will still feel good as you prime, and go unnoticed. The compressed air when the expander slides in can blow it out. I have had that happen a time or two.
 
Forgetting to prime the cases was a simple error that can be a lesson to learn to avoid.
Slow down and inspect every move. You should of noticed some powder in the loading tray if some could fall through the flash hole. Try to paiy closer attention. Try to keep the loading bench clean at all times and the clue should of been powder spills. I am not being sarcastic just trying to help you to understand. Although that part was no big deal in its self. The big deal is the priming live rounds. BOOM
 
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