Reloading mistake. Guy is lucky to be alive.

I loaded up 100 rounds one day , turned to put the powder back on the shelf, and seen the powder I thought I was using sitting there. Mistakes can easily happen
 
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Complete noob with regards to reloading (looking into starting, but haven't yet)

Can someone explain what exactly happened? Did he load the 7mm08 with handgun powder instead of rifle powder? I different more powerful type of powder?
 
statixstorm said:
Complete noob with regards to reloading (looking into starting, but haven't yet)

Can someone explain what exactly happened? Did he load the 7mm08 with handgun powder instead of rifle powder? I different more powerful type of powder?
Click to expand...

That's basically correct. He mixed up a pistol powder (Titegroup) with a rifle powder (Varget). Pistol powders burn MUCH more quickly than rifle powders, and will generate more pressure quickly.

Take a look at this chart of relative burn rates. Titegroup has a burn rate of 14. Varget has a burn rate of 100.

Typically you will put 4-7 gr of Tightgroup in a pistol cartridge. This guy put 40 grains in a rifle cartridge. KABOOM.
 
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Thanks for taking the time, appreciate that.

HeavyTread said:
That's basically correct. He mixed up a pistol powder (Titegroup) with a rifle powder (Varget). Pistol powders burn MUCH more quickly than rifle powders, and will generate more pressure quickly.

Take a look at this chart of relative burn rates. Titegroup has a burn rate of 14. Varget has a burn rate of 100.

Typically you will put 4-7 gr of Tightgroup in pistol cartridge. This guy put 40 grains in a rifle cartridge. KABOOM.
Click to expand...
 
Accidents can happen, period.

Personally I've got a few basic rules I follow; never reload if I'm tired, never reload in a rush, always reload with good light, always only have the components within reach that you are currently using right now, have a system for doing everything related to reloading, always double check everything...

This stuff reduces the chances of accidents, but nothing can guarantee safety...
 
This is why, since day 1, I never have more than one powder on or near my bench, at a time.
If I'm loading rifle, everything pistol (powder/dies/brass/bullets/primers) goes back in the cabinet, and vise-versa.
 
Northman999 said:
Accidents can happen, period.

Personally I've got a few basic rules I follow; never reload if I'm tired, never reload in a rush, always reload with good light, always only have the components within reach that you are currently using right now, have a system for doing everything related to reloading, always double check everything...

This stuff reduces the chances of accidents, but nothing can guarantee safety...
Click to expand...

This ...
 
I have the same rules for loading as for my milling machine and lathe.. Never when I do not want to, never when I am not interested, never when I am distracted, never when I cannot dedicated the required attention. Akin to the saying "the wise man said nothing", few people have ever suffered for taking a break...
 
I can tell when I shouldn't be doing something requiring a lot of focus and attention to detail. Like others here I choose not to reload when I can't focus. That guy is lucky and hopefully his tendons and joints survived, the rest is just flesh wounds. A painful reminder to always stay focused and know when to throw in the towel. I feel for him, that's a rough way to remind yourself. Stay safe guys.
 
I think I should make a checklist to put up in front of my reloading table to look at before I start every time. I am a double checker but...............
 
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