Henry Rifle Forums

Headhog...glad you survived that incident and that the Henry had a good strong bolt in it!

I use the Dillon 550 and have had no issues yet but you have to be careful if stop in the middle of a load sequence and make sure to recheck the powder load in the powder dump station. What load were you using in the .357 Magnum?

Grunt67 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:21 pm

Another example of how things can go bad ( wasn't me ).

10422427_10152705376684091_3665239229202699174_n.jpg

Looks like somebody shot you with the wrong end of the cartridge or was that something from one of them VC booby traps.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:06 pm

Grunt67 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:21 pm

Another example of how things can go bad ( wasn't me ).

10422427_10152705376684091_3665239229202699174_n.jpg

What the heck happened there? Primer looks like it hasn't fired??

Have no idea, Forty. Saw that on another forum a few yrs. ago & saved it. This topic made me think of it. Had to get caught in a press looks like.

Subjects like these always remind us to be diligent in our handloading. Glad everything worked out for the positive. Wow!

Im like Forty. Never had an issue with my Dillon Square Deals. But I stand up while loading and always am able to look down in that 3rd station where I can see if there is a double powder charge. Glad you and the gun are ok.

Team Roper wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:39 pm

Grunt67 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:21 pm

Another example of how things can go bad ( wasn't me ).

10422427_10152705376684091_3665239229202699174_n.jpg

Looks like somebody shot you with the wrong end of the cartridge or was that something from one of them VC booby traps.

Yep! The VC had some nasty booby traps. We ran across one now & then. Kept you on your toes, 24/7.

Grunt67 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 6:21 pm

Another example of how things can go bad ( wasn't me ).

10422427_10152705376684091_3665239229202699174_n.jpg

Just curious, were you trying to center up the bullet on the mouth of the case and then inadvertently pulled on the handle with the slip? Because I have done that and each time it was a close call. I have since learned to slow waaaay dooown.
BTW, one of my primary jobs over there on my first tour was Point Man. Right off the bat, they put a machete and compass in my hands and told me to drive on. I was replacing the old PM who was just days short. He tried to tell me all about the booby traps. Those little black pajamas were a crafty bunch.

Well, glad you stay safe out of that !
This is one of the major risks of reloading, it can happen even to experienced and skilled reloader.
This is also why I chose to work with a single stage press, at least for a few years...
This reassures me, with a systematic visual check of the 50 brass loaded, with a led lamp, before sitting on the bullet.
your story is very important, for newbies.
Lucky you don't use a handgun ...

BruniX

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:11 pm

Headhog...glad you survived that incident and that the Henry had a good strong bolt in it!

I use the Dillon 550 and have had no issues yet but you have to be careful if stop in the middle of a load sequence and make sure to recheck the powder load in the powder dump station. What load were you using in the .357 Magnum?

Forty - The load I was using was a 158 gr. Nosler jacketed hollow point bullet over 6.0 gr of TiteGroup. From the results there was something more than 6.0 gr. in that case. Last night I pulled apart the remaining 7 rounds from that batch and all were up to spec. So it appears that only the one round was over charged. Again my best guess was i did this when I was trying to resolve the inconsistent overall length issue. At the point I did this I already had the press full with cartridges in each station and there in is the problem. In hindsight I should have cleared the press of all but the one cartridge and proceeded to troubleshoot the problem. I've done that many time before, but was just too lazy and almost paid a very big price.

I have now resurrected my Hornady Powder Cop die, which has been in my die draw. This will be in the press and working for my future loads especially for the deep 357 Mag cases.

Paul

Powder cop - Yup !, Low and Slow - Yup! Easy to get distracted - Yup !

I use the Hornady LNL progressive with case feeder, etc. I never liked the primer system, so I prime separately, load the primed cases in the feeder and it allows me to re-arrange my dies to include the powder cop.

I also have had to stop mid stroke and learned after double charging a case (that I fortunately caught at the time). From that point forward, if I have to stop to adjust, check, etc, I always remove the case under the powder drop and the case that was just charged, deal with whatever the distraction was, then proceed on.

Its easy to just pump out rounds without paying attention with a progressive press, so slower is faster. I always watch the powder drop and powder cop with each stroke and take my time. For me its therapy so I am in no hurry.