l weigh every round as a matter of course, even using a progressive, but it seems its far easier to get a squib than a double charge- either waym i use only powder for pistols and one powder for rifles- and the rifle stuff is in the next room
Never be distracted during reloading
- Thread starter Sig_1959
- Start date
Boomer, It was a great stroke of luck that you were shooting over a chronograph.
I have read on these threads so many times, when they are talking about loading too heavy, that the over-loads do not increase the velocity to any extent.
You sure proved that is all hogwash!
I have read on these threads so many times, when they are talking about loading too heavy, that the over-loads do not increase the velocity to any extent.
You sure proved that is all hogwash!
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Come to think of it I've seen & heard of a Lot more squib loads than the dbls. Very nasty, all kinds of them during IPSC matches ,--- watched an R.O. one time ,disregard the click (primer) the next one was boom, voila, bulged bbl.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I think that depends on a number of factors. When I work up a load I prefer to use the chronograph and watch for the velocity plateau when I get near the maximum load, rather than work up to a sticky bolt. The difference in velocity between what I consider to be my maximum working load and a sticky bolt is not great. That is not to say that a massive overload will not increase velocity dramatically, as I discovered.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
It also is a good idea to pay attention when working up loads.
I had a deer on the range once, and her reactions to my shooting, had my attention. That's when I grabbed the load from the HOT end of the loading block.
The primer fell out of the case, when the extractor slipped off the rim, after I pried it open. A few minutes later, the case fell out with a good rap from a cleaning rod.
No damage done, except to my pride.
The velocity, going by memory, for a 140 grain bullet, 6.5X55 in a Carl Gustafs Swede, was over 3200fps.
No, it wasn't a published load, mistake #2. I was working up a load for an unlisted powder.
As a check on regular loading, I use a large loading block, and check powder levels across the block, when the block of charges has been dropped.
I had a deer on the range once, and her reactions to my shooting, had my attention. That's when I grabbed the load from the HOT end of the loading block.
The primer fell out of the case, when the extractor slipped off the rim, after I pried it open. A few minutes later, the case fell out with a good rap from a cleaning rod.
No damage done, except to my pride.
The velocity, going by memory, for a 140 grain bullet, 6.5X55 in a Carl Gustafs Swede, was over 3200fps.
No, it wasn't a published load, mistake #2. I was working up a load for an unlisted powder.
As a check on regular loading, I use a large loading block, and check powder levels across the block, when the block of charges has been dropped.
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Thanks for the reminder Sig_1959. Glad you're safe.
Must have been quite the explosion since it looks like it took out the photo too -- getting "The specified image does not exist" from the link
Ditto with my progressive. I still catch the odd mistake weighing the casing after priming and after charging and inspecting the primer to see it didn't go in upside down....just part of the drill. Hard to manage 400 rounds an hour that way but if it avoids one exploding barrel that's ok with me.
Edited to add: should probably mention there's a downside to too much vigilance with a progressive. They were built for automatic operation and are probably best used that way, with careful inspection after the fact. E.g., if you pay too much attention to priming and charging, especially if you keep interrupting the sequence to weigh the cartridge, you will eventually forget to insert the bullet
Must have been quite the explosion since it looks like it took out the photo too -- getting "The specified image does not exist" from the link
Ditto with my progressive. I still catch the odd mistake weighing the casing after priming and after charging and inspecting the primer to see it didn't go in upside down....just part of the drill. Hard to manage 400 rounds an hour that way but if it avoids one exploding barrel that's ok with me.
Edited to add: should probably mention there's a downside to too much vigilance with a progressive. They were built for automatic operation and are probably best used that way, with careful inspection after the fact. E.g., if you pay too much attention to priming and charging, especially if you keep interrupting the sequence to weigh the cartridge, you will eventually forget to insert the bullet
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Thanks for the reminder Sig_1959. Glad you're safe.
Must have been quite the explosion since it looks like it took out the photo too -- getting "The specified image does not exist" from the link
Ditto with my progressive. I still catch the odd mistake weighing the casing after priming and after charging and inspecting the primer to see it didn't go in upside down....just part of the drill. Hard to manage 400 rounds an hour that way but if it avoids one exploding barrel that's ok with me.
Edited to add: should probably mention there's a downside to too much vigilance with a progressive. They were built for automatic operation and are probably best used that way, with careful inspection after the fact. E.g., if you pay too much attention to priming and charging, especially if you keep interrupting the sequence to weigh the cartridge, you will eventually forget to insert the bullet
or forget to reclose the gate and the next one falls out spreading powder all over the place
i don't weigh the powder charge- i weigh the ENTIRE ROUND against known weights for bullet, primer and case- therefore the difference should be the powder charge
ie the typical 44 mag bullet weighs 240 grains, a typicl primer weighs 3, and a typical federal case about 118 grins - your winchesters run 110 or better,etc- therefore a squib would be 361 grains using A FEDERAL CASE AND A DOUBlE WOULD BE 381- IF YOU COULD GET IT TO FIT- ANYTHING AROUND 370 grains is just about exactly where i need to be
ie the typical 44 mag bullet weighs 240 grains, a typicl primer weighs 3, and a typical federal case about 118 grins - your winchesters run 110 or better,etc- therefore a squib would be 361 grains using A FEDERAL CASE AND A DOUBlE WOULD BE 381- IF YOU COULD GET IT TO FIT- ANYTHING AROUND 370 grains is just about exactly where i need to be
