Don't just read the numbers!

[dmanwarren]

Hey all, I'm going to tell a little story on myself in hopes anyone else out there that is just getting started in realoading doesn't make the same mistake that I did. Up until 2 weeks ago I knew nothing of all the various powders that are available out there, the only reloading I've done was shotshells 35 years ago and at that time I was young and my father did the component shopping. I decided to reload the .41 mag and started researching load data and come up with my first starting loads. Now that I had that I needed to go buy powder and primers, already had bullets purchased online. I knew getting certain powders could be a crap shoot so I wrote down 4 different powders that would work for what I wanted to do. In my haste I wrote down #7 as one of the powders that would work. Well I picked up some #7 not knowing there was a Alliant reloader 7 and a Accurate Arms #7. You guessed it I got the wrong one.
Eager to get started I loaded up 10 and had to wait a couple days to test them because of high winds. When I was able to shoot I gripped my pistol tight not knowing what to expect compared to a factory load and squeezed the trigger. The pistol go pew instead of pow! I have never had a squib before but I knew something was wrong sat there for a couple minutes trying to figure out what it was. I'm a pretty cautious person and went down range to see where it hit. No hole within two foot of the bulleye! Ok go back and inspect pistol and sure enough can't see through barrel. I go back home and research Reloader 7 and nothing, nadda on use in pistol cartridges. Then it dawns on me what I did. Lucky for me it produced an under powered round that couldn't make it out the barrel instead of blowing up on me.
Two things, always always right down all information and why would two different powder company's use the same number for two completely different powders. On the bright side I got to test out my bullet puller. You just can't be careful enough with this reloading stuff that is for sure! Thanks for looking, Dave

[Squatch]

Great reminder!

[tractortad]

I'm thinking about getting into reloading in the near future - great story and lesson learned - thanks for putting it out there...

[CT_Shooter]

Thanks for sharing this story.

The one squib I've had was from a cartridge to which I failed to add any powder at all. When I pulled the trigger, nothing happened. I thought it was a failed primer, so I waited a bit, then tried to eject it, but the SPM primer pushed it out of the case so that the next round wouldn't chamber. I was lucky. Ever since, I carefully inspect each case for powder before topping it with a bullet.

[JEBar]

The one squib I've had was from a cartridge to which I failed to add any powder at all.

been there, done that .... over time I've gotten pretty paranoid about it so when I pull the trigger and for any reason something doesn't seem right, I won't fire another round until I've looked down the barrel .... sometimes it pays to be paranoid ..

[dmanwarren]

Pretty embarrassing but thought it was worth posting in hopes someone else doesn't make the same mistake.

[JEBar]

Pretty embarrassing but thought it was worth posting in hopes someone else doesn't make the same mistake.

my Dad was a Navy carrier pilot during WWII .... he used to tell me that any landing you could walk away from was a good landing .... I believe that any mistake with a firearm that does no damage or harms no one is actually a learning opportunity and that is a good thing

[clovishound]

Pretty embarrassing but thought it was worth posting in hopes someone else doesn't make the same mistake.

Glad your mistake was a small one, and that you caught it before trying to put another one down the pipe. I carry a dowel with me to the range for just this reason. I've had a squib. Caught it before shooting another.

I've even got Clovispup into the mindset. She called me over this week to check the Mark. One round just didn't sound right to her. OK, yes it was a factory .22lr. Even the factory stuff can have issues. Everything was good, but I was glad she takes it seriously and is paying attention. She shoots my reloads in the Henry and the model 10. Oh, and soon to be in the new 1911!

[RanchRoper]

Good info, I am looking into reloading as well. Thanks for sharing.

[DWD445]

Pretty good "wake up call" there. Coulda been ugly !!
It's crazy how many different powders there are out there
NEVER can be too careful, glad you learned the easy way

[bradf]

A few things I do to keep bad things from happening.

Only ONE---1 can of powder, the one you are using, is on the bench or any where near the powder dump. All others should be shelved.

I use 1" masking tape and write down the load and tape it to the bench. This makes it a no-brainer for powder charge if I'm interrupted. I've heard a load of 25.3 8208 get changed to 23.5 gr. right after lunch break. It wasn't me but I heard about it.

Always do at least two checks on powder level in case before putting bullet on. This means you have to have good lighting. Use a clamp on LED.

If you use a powder dump, depending on how the powder flows out of the dump, verify every load on a scale for the poor (rifle) flowing powders. Verify every 10th load for excellent flowing (pistol) powders. For precision you weigh every load, period.

Beam scales need to be viewed straight from the front. Tap the table with finger to allow beam to settle. The leveling adjuster will screw itself in when you tap the surface it's on. I tape the leg to the table so it can never turn.

Reset to ZERO and double check beam scale level every use.

Digital scales; use the calibration weight before each use. I also have a cheap AMAZON scale weight calibration kit with much lighter weights.

Get a set of digital calipers for COAL

Clean and de-burr all primer pocket holes.

NEVER EVER do anything while you are interrupted or distracted. STOP! Once you are alone, proceed.

There are more, but these are my obvious items.

[DAVIDF]

Dave,

No one here noticed the Alliant Reloader 7 in the photo of your loading bench in your other post. Or at least if they did, they didn't question it. We can all make mistakes and the best way to avoid them is to establish good safe habits. Glad everything was OK. Reloading is great, especially in calibers like .41 Mag.

[Mgderf]

I have no idea how they stack up to one another, but IMR just came out with a bunch of new powders and I can see confusion in some hand loaders future.
IMR has recently released a Red, a Blue, and a Green powder which are similar enough in name to Alliants Red Dot, Blue Dot, and Green Dot that someone will try to substitute one for the other.
They may very well be intended to be a direct replacement, but I think powder companies should do all they can to distinguish one powder from another.

[DWD445]

Is it just me, or does this look a lot like a bottle of gunpowder ???
That could be a BIG problem

[Squatch]

Is it just me, or does this look a lot like a bottle of gunpowder ???
That could be a BIG problem

Seems the Testosterone supplements are more deadly these days than gunpowder!

[clovishound]

I have no idea how they stack up to one another, but IMR just came out with a bunch of new powders and I can see confusion in some hand loaders future.
IMR has recently released a Red, a Blue, and a Green powder which are similar enough in name to Alliants Red Dot, Blue Dot, and Green Dot that someone will try to substitute one for the other.
They may very well be intended to be a direct replacement, but I think powder companies should do all they can to distinguish one powder from another.

I wish they would put some kind of colorant in the powder so you could identify the powder by itself. Or at least easily distinguish between a couple of powders. Probably too many powders out there to get an easily identifiable color.