Close Call

[clovishound]

The problem with weighing loaded cases is that unless you weigh and sort the components, you may find the differences in the weights of say, cases, may be as much or more than the powder weight.

In my opinion, for what little it may be worth, is there are two good ways to do a gross check on powder throws. Either eyeball the powder level, or use a powder check die on a turret or progressive press. Eyeballing can be done either on the press with a good light, or in a loading block. The loading block method is easier to spot a significant over/under charge as you have other cases nearby to compare. A powder check die can allow you to check with excellent precision.

Whatever method you use, you must check every throw. Even the best powder measures malfunction.

I once had a nearly double charge that I discovered with my powder check die. I had been loading .38 spcl and got a .357 case in by mistake. I discovered it after throwing a charge. I dumped the powder, decapped it and dumped it in with the .357 case. Later I was loading .357 and had an obvious overcharge. I dumped the charge and discovered there was a bunch of powder compressed into a pellet in the bottom of the case. I hadn't dumped the powder and the decapping pin compressed the powder into the bottom of the case. The powder check die paid for itself that day. I use it every time, even when weighing powder. A carefully weighed charge would still have pushed me way over the top on this load. Eyeballing the load should have caught this one as well.

[Squatch]

You make a valid point.

But I use like headstamp cases when loading. I have weighed a few empty and my bullets also and found them very consistent within a couple of tenths of a grain.

I load small quantities at a time and I'm loading for accuracy. The powder I've been using doesn't meter that well. So I have my powder dispenser set a tad light. I have a powder trickler set up over my scale and weigh every charge. I load one case at a time. I weight the powder and put it in the case. Give it an eyeball and then place a bullet in the case. When I get about 10 to this point I seat and crimp the bullets.

But It's still possible to make a mistake. So I like the idea of weighing my loaded cases afterward just as a precaution. Can't hurt. Might keep me from getting hurt. I haven't been back to the bench to try it yet but intend to before I shoot next week. I've been busy with other projects.

[Squatch]

I figure if a factory load takes my head off, at least I can haunt somebody at Winchester...

You too! If you are not familiar with the "Winchester house story" It's worth checking out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Mystery_House


Ditto that was my thinking too though I haven't tried it yet.

[RanchRoper]

Spooky.

[Squatch]

OK folks today I weighed all my recent loadings post loading. As in I weighed the complete cartridges.

I found for the most part with 44 mags and 240 grain bullets. The swing was about 1.5 grs either way of center. So a total swing of about 3 grs. My lightest load was 7 grs. So I figured all were safe. Except one. I found one that was just a touch too light. Right about enough to be an empty case and it was a matching headstamp case. So I will pull that apart and check it.

With the 45/70's it gets a little harder just because I figure the heavier the bullet the more variation there will be in bullet weight. My swing between low and high increased to about 5-6 grs with 405 grain bullets. But that is still only 1/2 of my lightest load weight. I found one that I felt should be pulled as it was too heavy. It was a Starline case vs the rest were WW. But it was still 20 grs heavy. That's enough to be a different case and a double load using a 12gr load. So I will pull that one apart and check it as well.

I weighed 4 different 44 mag loadings and 3 different 45/70 loadings and only found 2 cartridges that varied enough to give me pause. Those 2 might actually be fine. We'll see when I take them apart. The point is I think this is a valid extra safety check. Using like cases and bullets the differences are close enough to show an empty or double load and I'm using heavy bullets with light charges.

I figure I'll do this from here on out. It only takes a few minutes with the digital scale. Sure beats a squib or a blown up gun. Just one more step towards being safe.

[ditto1958]

Mine usually end up with a swing of about 3 grains either way, too. I have weighed a sampling of the bullets I am using, and they seem to vary by a grain or so. Also, I have mixed .357 magnum brass, and some brands weigh a grain or so more than others.

I'm loading 10.8 grains of Accurate No. 9, so a double charge or no charge at all will result in a round that weighs 10-11 grains too much or too little.

[adirondack]

All the reading I have done on reloading mistakes and blown up weapons it seems the two most likely are double charging and having more than one powder on the bench at the time of reloading. Causing the right powder charge with the WRONG powder! I only load for rifles so for safety reasons I always use a powder that is more than 50% usually 85-95%. I have had several over flows and even skipped casings but all have been caught before bullet seating. Check and recheck, keeping a log book of all rounds loaded all stats and date it. Thankfully our friend Ditto only got a scare. If we load thousands of rounds the odds of a single mistake is almost inevitable. Catching it before it causes a problem is the key. Load safe..shoot happy!