Some people shouldn't reload

[markm87]

Maybe, but that likely means the case was contaminated with something at least. So a mistake was still made and refusing to accept that is going to cause more problems in the future.

Totally agree. Something went wrong for sure.

 

[KMart]

Well, this was done by me when I first started loading.
View attachment 1442684

From then on I double checked every primer.
Then two years later I had my crosshairs on a doe....click, no recoil. You guessed it, another backwards primer. I guess they go in easier backwards, lol.

I've seen that happen before while I was shooting.

 

[KMart]

Some people shouldn't vote..............

There was a time that you had to be a property owner to vote. And, a literacy test was required. The literacy test was abolished in 1965.
These requirements need to be reconstituted.

 

[Old Navy]

Some people shouldn't vote..............

Or breed.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Or breed.

And some shouldn’t be breathing air.

 

[BigBolt]

I have learned that fast is never a good thing when it comes to reloading. In my 40 years of reloading, I have seen it all so far. Regardless of type of press either progressive or a single load type inattentiveness is the largest issue. Many have gotten too comfortable pulling down the handle and not double checking. I use an adjustable measured powder dispenser. Once I get it set to the grains, I need I check the actual weight after every dump before I load it into the case. The other thing I have found is loading at the minimum load could screw you up unless you measure each load precisely. Without checking and being consistent you can easily load below the minimum and end up with squibs and blow up your gun. Using auto powder feeders either in progressive presses or standalone presses are our worst enemy. Regardless of the manufacturer you can easily load too much or too little check and double check.

 

[OMW57]

I have read posts in the past about what folks listen to, radio etc, while they reload, I ALWAYS have it quiet in my reloading room while doing ANY process that involves primers or powder!
I figure Ill live longer so I can continue to bug my wife longer!

 

[Murray Brook]

@Homerange
Primer up in a proper loading block is a great idea. Will be adopted by reloader Brook

 

[Rocketvapor]

Loading for a 60 round (plus sighters) match I use neck up/neck down for various steps.
All primer up before charging

 

[60723]

I have an acquaintance that owns 2 really nice target rifles. Has owned them for 4 years. Only has 20 rounds on his Wheeler 6BRA. Has shot his Dasher tactical about 200 times. During that time I have seen him have several hangfires(cases wet from cleaning) and 2 misfires from no powder in his only PRS match. He was trying to force another cartridge in when the stage spotter blew a fuse! He seems to be the expert where he is employed. Went to his shop and watched him teach a new reloader the ropes. He had a 3 person assembly line with a steady conversation going and a blaring radio. A disaster in the making!

 

[Bill Norris]

I have an acquaintance that owns 2 really nice target rifles. Has owned them for 4 years. Only has 20 rounds on his Wheeler 6BRA. Has shot his Dasher tactical about 200 times. During that time I have seen him have several hangfires(cases wet from cleaning) and 2 misfires from no powder in his only PRS match. He was trying to force another cartridge in when the stage spotter blew a fuse! He seems to be the expert where he is employed. Went to his shop and watched him teach a new reloader the ropes. He had a 3 person assembly line with a steady conversation going and a blaring radio. A disaster in the making!

With results as you have described your friend should go back to class as well. Will certainly have a disaster if that type of process continues.

 

[JackWagon]

Maybe I am just anal retentive. After making one or two mistakes that were not dangerous I made load cards for each step and two loading trays for each caliber.

Never ever more than one powder out of the safe at a time.

I have not made any since I started doing that just like a pilot has a checklist they go over before every flight I do the same.

 

[Homerange]

@Homerange
Primer up in a proper loading block is a great idea. Will be adopted by reloader Brook

Thanks.
Although simple it took a while for it to become best safe practice then ensuring you always have one free row between processed and waiting to be.
At one time I used 2 small plastic dessert bowls but even a reasonable size loading block takes less space on the bench however the bowls still get used for brass prep for which mistakes are not as dangerous .
As primarily a hunter/varminter I don't process a lot of ammo so don't spend lots of time at the bench and only required a process that was simple and mostly failsafe.
I hope it also serves you well.

 

[BigBolt]

I have an acquaintance that owns 2 really nice target rifles. Has owned them for 4 years. Only has 20 rounds on his Wheeler 6BRA. Has shot his Dasher tactical about 200 times. During that time I have seen him have several hangfires(cases wet from cleaning) and 2 misfires from no powder in his only PRS match. He was trying to force another cartridge in when the stage spotter blew a fuse! He seems to be the expert where he is employed. Went to his shop and watched him teach a new reloader the ropes. He had a 3 person assembly line with a steady conversation going and a blaring radio. A disaster in the making!

A cheap toaster oven is your friend for drying cases. Air drying can have some issues as there still maybe some water in them even after several days.

 

[pirate ammo]

A cheap toaster oven is your friend for drying cases. Air drying can have some issues as there still maybe some water in them even after several days.

Not in central Texas in the summer, 100 degrees plus for a lot of days.

 

[DShortt]

I clean brass during the summer months. If they're hot enough they're uncomfortable to hold in a bare hand they'll be dry in an hour easily.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My 15 yo nephew is staying with me Thursday- Sunday. Saturday we will be shooting his first 100 yard rimfire matches(open and scope). Loading 223 is on HIS list of skills he wants to explore. Also he will see/use the shotgun loader, as he pheasant hunts. Guess I will know where he's at in the bell curve after a couple hours at the bench.

 

[JSH]

Makes me recall what one of the Sierra techs told me over lunch years ago.
A fellow called and told them their load data was wrong and totally incorrect.
The listed a cartridge and a max compressed load, and he could get a substantial amount more powder in the case than they listed. The conversation went on and on. The fellow finally told them that he had take the big stick powder, and took a rolling pin to it and crushed it up! The. To top that used a drop tube.
You can’t make crap like this up.
The inside joke was, they knew the state and city the fellow was from and kept an eye on the obituaries and front page news on a daily basis.

 

[Carl Edwards]

I don't think one is inherently safer than the other. Distractions and inattention will screw things up no matter which way you load. Took a few years to train the missus, she would always tell me not to stop what I'm doing when she would come to ask me something, as I would stop completely in the middle of whatever I was doing and put everything down. Back up to the previous case to check off where I'm at, then proceed once she's done asking me about whatever.

Now, she just shoots me a text if she knows I'm downstairs loading, which I can respond to at an appropriate time in my process. Usually for a sip of water, too.

I have my reloading/gun maintenance area in my cabinet/furniture maker's shop. Whenever anyone, usually my wife, enters the shop, I immediately stop what I'm doing. Experience has taught me that I am prone to making mistakes while trying to hold a conversation. If a cut a board too short, that's one thing; but installing bullet in a case with no powder has the potential for catastrophe.

I have a very specific procedure for loading powder, then pressing the bullets home:

1. I place nine primed cases into the loading block.
2. Place nine bullets beside the loading block.
3. Place nine loaded powder capsules beside the loading block.
4. Load the powder into the cases.
5. Visually inspect each case to insure that they contain powder.
6. Place the nine "set'aside" bullets on top of the case mouths.
7. Press the bullets home.

The most critical part of this whole operation is studiously observing steps 2, 3 and 5. It's sort of a 'fail-safe' system.

Only one time did I ever have a remaining powder capsule. I tried weighing a cartridge on my RCBS 505 scale, but that didn't work very well. I ended up using a twenty-dollar Hornady electronic scale, and was able to find the culprit. Sure enough, when I pulled the bullet, the case was empty.

I hope my mini-tutorial will be of use to someone. Happy shooting.

 

[DShortt]

When I had a dedicated reloading room I locked the door and my family knew that meant unless there was a true emergency to leave me alone.

Unfortunately I no longer have such a space and I definitely miss it.