First Reloading OOps That I didn't catch at the bench

[Cactus]

I was reloading .303 Brit late the other night with the Harris gallery load 16 grains of 2400 and I guess I double charged a case, When I was shooting today, everything was smooth, light recoil plinking rounds Then BANG one round was much louder and had the recoil of a 12 gauge slug.

When I examined the case, the primer was blown out. I'm guessing that it was a double charge since I measure all my rifle charges by hand. No harm done to the rifle or the shooter but I am thankful that my Enfield has a strong action and barrel. If it was a double charge, the load would have been 32 grains of 2400 with the book max being 21

The rest of my rounds fired fine and the lesson is don't reload when you're tired and not concentrating 100% you can always finish the job in the morning.

Sorry, no camera for pics.

Cactus

 

[Longwalker]

To guard against this I always charge the cases and place in a loading block, then I shine a strong flashlight into each case to compare powder height and be sure it is uniform. looking down a row of charged cases a suspect case stands out and is quite obvious. I have caught a couple of double charges and low charges that way that otherwise could have been a problem. Actually I have never "double charged" a case, but suspect that powder very rarely hangs up in the measure and then drops along with the next charge. The flashlight procedure is the only way I have figured out to ensure that hung up powder does not cause a problem.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Glad to hear you're not wearing part of the rifle in your face or hands. My foolproof method is to have the primed brass upside down in one loading block, which then goes to another one after it's charged with powder. Then, I use an appropriate sized bit or pen to double check.

 

[ben hunchak]

The only .303 that I thought might take that kind of an overload would be a Ruger #1, are you sure that you didn't damage that action or is it a P-14?? Which would prolly take it as well!

 

[zimbu]

The three loading manuals I have recommend seating a bullet immediately after charging the case. Charging the whole blockfull and seating bullets afterwards is just asking for trouble. This is especially true if your powder/case volume combination allows for a double charge.

Glad you're OK!

 

[ben hunchak]

I think that doing it one at a time would screw me up and there would be more chance of a mistake, I've been charging a whole loading block full for so long it just seems right. I always check the charged cases with a flashlight and have never had a double charge in near 50 years of reloading (alot).

 

[giant yetti]

I place my charge on the scale, then with my left hand take an empty. the empty is charged, then placed in the press. the bullet is immediately seated.

 

[Fozy]

Glad to hear you're not wearing part of the rifle in your face or hands. My foolproof method is to have the primed brass upside down in one loading block, which then goes to another one after it's charged with powder. Then, I use an appropriate sized bit or pen to double check.

+1

Thats quite an oops!

I do the same except I leave them in the same block, I never flip the cartridge till I have powder to fill it.

 

[t-star]

i use a powder that won't allow a double charge- ie it reaches the bottom of the shoulder or more- that's in the oldest of my reloading manuals, and the only variation i allow is 44 mag, where i'm using light charges- i reload that on a progressive, so as long as i don't stop the cycle for any reason, i'm gtg- incidnetally, that's what scares me about the dillon 550 - it doesn't auto- index, so you can concieveably get a double charge if you forget to rotate the star wheel for whatever reason

 

[tbrwlf]

I like my method. It always works.

I load powder into the case and put the measure back on the powder dispenser. While it is dumping the next charge I put my case in my press. Add a projectile and finish the round.

There is no way I can double charge a round.

 

[1shot]

You were bloody lucky.. But thank you for your honesty- its a good reminder to all of us regardless of experience.

 

[Cactus]

Like I said, I am only guessing that it was an overcharge, maybe the powder was too far forward and the pressure was sent back? I thought overcharge because there was a louder bang and more kick than the other shots along with blowing out the primer.

2400 is not as case sensitive but if there was too much powder at the front of the case could this explain what happened?

Either way, lesson learned. I normally seat the bullets right after dropping the powder from the scale. This time I was dropping the powder in a batch to save time. I was thinking of adding a tiny piece of toilet paper on top of the powder charge with my next reloads to keep the powder in the bottom of the case or at the very least tapping the case on the bench prior to loading in the rifle to get all of the powder at the bottom.

Cactus

 

[Eagleye]

Switch to "Trail Boss" For your light plinking loads. It's so bulky that it impossible to double charge a case. Regards, Eagleye.

 

[fogducker]

To guard against this I always charge the cases and place in a loading block, then I shine a strong flashlight into each case to compare powder height and be sure it is uniform. looking down a row of charged cases a suspect case stands out and is quite obvious. I have caught a couple of double charges and low charges that way that otherwise could have been a problem. Actually I have never "double charged" a case, but suspect that powder very rarely hangs up in the measure and then drops along with the next charge. The flashlight procedure is the only way I have figured out to ensure that hung up powder does not cause a problem.

this is the way i double check powder levels also

 

[travellerw]

When loading rifle cartridges... I always weigh all my finished cartridges. Its very quick and guarantees I won't have an over or under load.

It doesn't work as well with pistol cartridges unless you are using matched brass. Such a small amount of powder in a pistol cartridge that the differences between brass can throw off the number.

 

[colinjw]

The rest of my rounds fired fine and the lesson is don't reload when you're tired and not concentrating 100% you can always finish the job in the morning.

Call me a chicken if you wish but I would not have fired the balance of the loads. I would have pulled them apart . If there is one Oops in the batch there could be another.
My opinion only though. I have seen a few guns blown up over the years & some serious injuries.

 

[Suputin]

I always charge the cases and place in a loading block, then I shine a strong flashlight into each case to compare powder height and be sure it is uniform.

+1 This is what the smart reloaders do.

 

[rembolt]

Call me a chicken if you wish but I would not have fired the balance of the loads. I would have pulled them apart . If there is one Oops in the batch there could be another.
My opinion only though. I have seen a few guns blown up over the years & some serious injuries.

I would have to agree I would have been taking the remaining rounds home and pulling the bullet.

 

[kevin g]

To guard against this I always charge the cases and place in a loading block, then I shine a strong flashlight into each case to compare powder height and be sure it is uniform. looking down a row of charged cases a suspect case stands out and is quite obvious. I have caught a couple of double charges and low charges that way that otherwise could have been a problem. Actually I have never "double charged" a case, but suspect that powder very rarely hangs up in the measure and then drops along with the next charge. The flashlight procedure is the only way I have figured out to ensure that hung up powder does not cause a problem.

LW...I do the same thing! Fill my reloading blocks...then shine a flashlight into the charged cases (day or night...dont matter) go up and down and back and forth each row. Anything looks out of the norm....I pull the case and re-weigh....saved myself a few M-BARE-ASSING moments over 30 + years of rollin my own !!

 

[kamlooky]

Longwalkers got it. I clean all my brass in lots. Size them. Cut them and look at them again.
Clean out the primer pockets, check the flash hole for crumbs. Put in new primers and then the case is in the loading block primer up. Fill each one and put in a different block. Look at each case mouth with a bore light and then seat the bullet.
I find it easier to do one step at a time. To go from weighing powder over to the press just makes me confuse my steps. Not a biggee, but this works for me. Staying focused on one task at a time.
Glad you're not healing from something that could of turned out worse. Did you look up and
say "Thanks"?