Valuable lesson and lived to tell the tale.

i hade a friend who reloaded several different rounds and almost used a different powder for each one, he made the same mistake as aubrey and blew his rifle apart lucky he didnt get too hurt a couple stitches later a missing tooth and a fat lip . i learned to always mark my container in bright orange marker the manf, type and date of production . cause im very fond of the way my face looks
 
I was in AB and acquired a full RCBS kit last year. Wife won't let me reload until I take a course or someone teaches me. On the net I found a place on PA, Trot gun shop who offer 2-3 hour one on one course. Anyone know if in Ontario someone offers this type of course?
 
gn4am said:
I was in AB and acquired a full RCBS kit last year. Wife won't let me reload until I take a course or someone teaches me. On the net I found a place on PA, Trot gun shop who offer 2-3 hour one on one course. Anyone know if in Ontario someone offers this type of course?
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The people at milcun training offer reloading class I think is two days long: I've taken and thoroughly enjoyed other training classes from them and am very happy with what I came home with.
http://milcun.com/
 
Where possible it would be great to see pictures of the fumbles and mistakes people have made. It really drives home a lesson about checking for a clear bore when people see a banana peeled barrel. The thought terrifies me...
 
I'm new to reloading and just perusing these boards. Stories like this are great, thanks for putting it up there. From a process point of view, I will probably develop some checklists for myself with simple steps, before starting a session and after completion. In my professional life (software development), I find making myself check against a well-thought out list can be extremely helpful.

And my father was commercial pilot; they use a lot of checklists.

/t
 
ThurnYTaxis said:
I'm new to reloading and just perusing these boards. Stories like this are great, thanks for putting it up there. From a process point of view, I will probably develop some checklists for myself with simple steps, before starting a session and after completion. In my professional life (software development), I find making myself check against a well-thought out list can be extremely helpful.

And my father was commercial pilot; they use a lot of checklists.

/t
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I was thinking the same thing as I was reading through this. I am a private pilot. I figure a good checklist for each type of loading with prep and cleanup procedures should be the way to go.
 
Only one powder out at a time, when you are done put it back.

Reloading is like driving. If you get in the habit of not stopping at the stop signs you will eventually have an accident. The most important tool a reloader has is self discipline.
 
jethunter said:
Only one powder out at a time, when you are done put it back.

Reloading is like driving. If you get in the habit of not stopping at the stop signs you will eventually have an accident. The most important tool a reloader has is self discipline.
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I 100% agree! So so true. That was the first piece of advice my brother gave me when I started reloading.
 
One of the problems with reloading and shooting Cartridges is, People know there is pressure but they cant really see or touch it so it becomes an abstract. When a Rifle Cartridge exerts 58000 PSI this is a extreme amount of pressure the Chamber-Bolt-Barrel has to deal with.

I worked for many years in the Oilfields pumping among other things Nitrogen often under very high Pressures right up to 69 Mpa = "only" 10000 Psi.

One day an young but exceptionally bright and attentive Coworker working under the Supervision of an extremely capable Supervisor working in the Yard in preparation of an upcoming Job planed to Pressure test their Rig to the Max of 69 Mpa. (10000 Psi). As anyone in this field know you apply pressure slowly, however for some reason the young Guy applied pressure almost instantly and a big Bang (we all thought the Roof of the Shop had collapsed) was heard.

Pressure was released and the line checked and there it was. One of the straight 10 Ft. long Pipes called "Irons" a Pipe with 2.5" OD, inside Diameter 1" OD was bent 90 degree from the pressure.

A person which can picture this should be able to picture what 58000 Psi could do.

Having another Powder on the Reloading Bench then the one you want to use is a recipe for Disaster.

Cheers
 
This testimonial from Aubrey White is the exact reason why I never have more than one powder on my bench at any given time. And when I’m changing powders, I remove all of the powder and container from the bench that I was last using, before I bring another one down. It’s worked for me so far but one can never be too cautious. (BTW I bought a 338 Imp Mag fr Aubrey at a gun show in Calgary back in about 05-07. It’s a Sako AV, shoots .5” and have gotten it down to .25 a couple times.)
 
Can also help to have pistol and rifle reloading happen on different benches with different powder measures etc. Initially this was because I'm cranking out the revolver loads on one side and doing precision handloads for the rifle on the other, but I've always been paranoid about powder cross-contamination too.
 
old303 said:
Can also help to have pistol and rifle reloading happen on different benches with different powder measures etc. Initially this was because I'm cranking out the revolver loads on one side and doing precision handloads for the rifle on the other, but I've always been paranoid about powder cross-contamination too.
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Not everybody has space for multiple reloading stations. So easier just to do one at a time. Reloading is one of those things you need to keep your eye on at all times. Watching movies or other distractions is what causes these Oops.
 
jethunter said:
Only one powder out at a time, when you are done put it back.

Reloading is like driving. If you get in the habit of not stopping at the stop signs you will eventually have an accident. The most important tool a reloader has is self discipline.
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Agreed, I only pull out the powder/primers I’m using at that specific moment for that cartridge. If I’m loading the same caliber and doing separate batches with different powders I completely finish the one batch and put away that powder, then pull the second powder out and start again.

While I trim, size, flare case mouths, prime I will listen to music. As soon as I start dropping powder charges, seating and crimping, my music or other distractions are shut off. I visually inspect cases as a lot after powder is dropped and before I seat bullets.

I’m relatively new to reloading so I don’t mind taking my time and double checking things as I go, I keep a note in front of me with the specific’s of that cartridge I’m loading.
 
Here’s my mistake: I was loading some 8x57 for my Zastava M70, using new Gevelot brass, cast bullets, and 10 grains of 700X. I have loaded hundreds and hundreds of similar loads in several different calibres, for use in various rifles, over many years.

Took the rifle to the “range” and fired off the first two or three. Next one, the report was considerably louder, and the floor plate, spring and follower were blown out. I couldn’t get the bolt open, so I took it home and tapped it open with a plastic tipped hammer. The case head was smeared over the bolt face but came off quite easily. The primer fell out of the case. The floor plate wasn’t damaged, nor the follower or spring.

It pretty much had to be a double charge. First time this has ever happened to me with a rifle. I have since taken the rifle out and fired the same load, no trouble opening the action. Luck played an important part.

I am pretty sure I fired a double charge reloaded 12 ga. Out of my dear old Beretta 301 years back. My friend and I were shooting gophers in a vacant farmyard. One heck of a bang! No apparent damage and I kept on shooting.
 
Because I'm a POC FF, I never know when I might get a call and have to abandon my reloading. For this reason when charging cases, I prime everything. Once primed, I add my powder, then seat my bullet. Then back to add powder to the next case, then seat that bullet. Rinse, repeat. I never add powder to more than one case before seating the bullet. It's not the most efficient system, but it ensures I don't accidentally double charge or miss charging a case
 
I have been reloading now for about twenty years and thankfully none of my errors made at the bench have made their way out to the field or range. Slow and steady wins the race in this line of work. My rifle cartridge reloading has been without mishap but its in the pistol cartridge arena that I have stumbled a few times. I usually load fifty pistol rounds at a time and after throwing the powder for those cases I visually inspect the batch. On at least three occasions I have found empty cases that could have led to squib loads. This visual inspection is greatly aided with very bright over head lighting and I would recommend making this upgrade to your reloading bench. You can’t find a mistake that you can’t see.
 
Butcherbill said:
Agreed, I only pull out the powder/primers I’m using at that specific moment for that cartridge. If I’m loading the same caliber and doing separate batches with different powders I completely finish the one batch and put away that powder, then pull the second powder out and start again.

While I trim, size, flare case mouths, prime I will listen to music. As soon as I start dropping powder charges, seating and crimping, my music or other distractions are shut off. I visually inspect cases as a lot after powder is dropped and before I seat bullets.

I’m relatively new to reloading so I don’t mind taking my time and double checking things as I go, I keep a note in front of me with the specific’s of that cartridge I’m loading.
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This is basically how I've kept at it for 15-16? years and still have all the important parts attached.
 
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