I use the progressive for pistol, single load rifle. I charge powder and put the case into a block that holds 50 rounds. When the block is full I take a flashlight and look to see if all the cases have an even amount of powder in them. Then seat the bullets. This not only tells you that there is powder in the case but the amount is the same with all of them.
Error Example — No Powder in Case, Primer Pushed Bullet, Locked Revolver
- Thread starter cw308
- Start date
Chester
When loading 308 I fill all the cases in the block , loading everything on a single stage RCBS RockChucker , 45acp and 38spl I charge and seat , using a low charge so even a double may not be picked up , seating a empty case I have no excuse for , just got distracted and instead of removing the case from the block and adding the powder , I must of grabbed the case and placed it in the shell holder. 38 spl is a long way down when loading a mild charge , a double may look the came , these were cases that sat for years so the inside of the cases were dark , I switched to wet tumbling a few years ago , my cases look like new inside and out , making it easier to see a screw up. Be Well Chester.
Chris
When loading 308 I fill all the cases in the block , loading everything on a single stage RCBS RockChucker , 45acp and 38spl I charge and seat , using a low charge so even a double may not be picked up , seating a empty case I have no excuse for , just got distracted and instead of removing the case from the block and adding the powder , I must of grabbed the case and placed it in the shell holder. 38 spl is a long way down when loading a mild charge , a double may look the came , these were cases that sat for years so the inside of the cases were dark , I switched to wet tumbling a few years ago , my cases look like new inside and out , making it easier to see a screw up. Be Well Chester.
Chris
james
Gold $$ Contributor
Lots of good ideas, I use a single stage press for all my reloading rifle and pistol. I especially like the method where you place your primed cases in a loading block primer up then charge all of them with powder. Then seat all the bullets - this would focus on one step at a time. Think I'm going to start doing this.
Had a similar situation to the OP a while back shooting some reloads I had done when I first started reloading, using my dad's equipment. I heard the primer detonate, but the sound was definitely an indication of a problem and it did not have the expected recoil. All my loading is on a single stage press, so no excuses about the equipment, simply a "senior" moment.
No powder in the one case, but the bullet was in the barrel entirely, making it fairly easy to remove.
I took the rest of those rounds apart and reloaded every one of them on my own equipment. This time, without any distractions.
I make it a habit to have no interruptions or distractions when loading these days. Every round is double checked for the right charge, before seating bullets to reduce the possibility of future squibs.
One step at a time has served me well since this experience.
No powder in the one case, but the bullet was in the barrel entirely, making it fairly easy to remove.
I took the rest of those rounds apart and reloaded every one of them on my own equipment. This time, without any distractions.
I make it a habit to have no interruptions or distractions when loading these days. Every round is double checked for the right charge, before seating bullets to reduce the possibility of future squibs.
One step at a time has served me well since this experience.
Nick
I didn't even hear the primer go off only a click, my powder scale listed one round less then I had loaded, I did weigh each bullet , opened up the lightest one. I did rezero the scale in between loading and thought that could have screwed up my count in some way . Was definitely from being distracted. A lesson well learned. Hopefully sharing things like this will help others from doing the same thing.
Chris
I didn't even hear the primer go off only a click, my powder scale listed one round less then I had loaded, I did weigh each bullet , opened up the lightest one. I did rezero the scale in between loading and thought that could have screwed up my count in some way . Was definitely from being distracted. A lesson well learned. Hopefully sharing things like this will help others from doing the same thing.
Chris
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
I wear a Browning head band light with my new Dillon. Tip the case and check at the powder station.
I load single stage because I don't shoot enough to warrant a progressive machine and also because I load a lot more precision rifle stuff than pistol or run of the mill rifle ammo.I count primers out to get the same number of them as the brass I'm priming.When I charge the powder,I use a light and look into the cases to make sure they're all filled to about the same level.
I recently had a problem with my M700 in 223.I was shooting it and on the third shot out of five,it went click.I waited a minute or so and extracted the round.Primer hit looked ok,and the bullet never moved.I resumed shooting and all was well,or so I thought.When I got back to the loading bench,I pulled the bullet to see what went wrong.The primer didn't ignite.I thought to myself bad primer,but I've never in thousands of rounds had a CCI Benchrest primer not go bang.The next trip to the range(a 100 foot walk out my back door)I had another one.Maybe a bad batch of primers?I was 101% certain they had powder in them,so I ruled that out.Tried another one and it went bang.Next one went click.I took the bolt out and took it apart.There was a piece of brass in the bolt body that was almost identical to a small rifle primer and there was a brass mark on the side of the firing pin,so it was obvious this was the problem.I picked the brass out and went back out to shoot some more.I had 20 rounds loaded and I had another FTF,and I was saying WTF.Took the bolt apart again and found the firing pin was slightly bent.I was wanting to try a Tubb Speedlock setup anyway,so I ordered one.In the meantime,I discovered what was contributing to the problem,and that was a shell holder for my Lee priming tool wasn't machined right and was actually seating primers a little bit crooked.Finally with a new firing pin,new dual springs,and an RCBS priming tool,it goes bang once again.I still have no idea how that thin piece of brass wound up inside the bolt.I look at the primer of every round I shoot at the bench,and none were missing anything.
I recently had a problem with my M700 in 223.I was shooting it and on the third shot out of five,it went click.I waited a minute or so and extracted the round.Primer hit looked ok,and the bullet never moved.I resumed shooting and all was well,or so I thought.When I got back to the loading bench,I pulled the bullet to see what went wrong.The primer didn't ignite.I thought to myself bad primer,but I've never in thousands of rounds had a CCI Benchrest primer not go bang.The next trip to the range(a 100 foot walk out my back door)I had another one.Maybe a bad batch of primers?I was 101% certain they had powder in them,so I ruled that out.Tried another one and it went bang.Next one went click.I took the bolt out and took it apart.There was a piece of brass in the bolt body that was almost identical to a small rifle primer and there was a brass mark on the side of the firing pin,so it was obvious this was the problem.I picked the brass out and went back out to shoot some more.I had 20 rounds loaded and I had another FTF,and I was saying WTF.Took the bolt apart again and found the firing pin was slightly bent.I was wanting to try a Tubb Speedlock setup anyway,so I ordered one.In the meantime,I discovered what was contributing to the problem,and that was a shell holder for my Lee priming tool wasn't machined right and was actually seating primers a little bit crooked.Finally with a new firing pin,new dual springs,and an RCBS priming tool,it goes bang once again.I still have no idea how that thin piece of brass wound up inside the bolt.I look at the primer of every round I shoot at the bench,and none were missing anything.
WVRJ
I love my Rem.700 , mine is a 308. Started out as the 700 LTR , after firing 4000+ through the barrel , turned it into a benchrest only , changed the stock , trigger , barrel and completely blueprinted. I tried the speed lock firing pin and spring , didn't care for it m. Use the nstandard spring and the standard weight spring. If I could constantly shoot that one hole 5 shot group the lock time may make a difference , I can shoot .5 groups at 200 yards but that's about the best this 74 year old can expect. .
The brass piece in the bolt body is a mystery, I also use a single stage , load 30 308 at a time , hand gun 50 at a time , never loaded volume. This empty case that caused my problem was all on me . My system on reloading is safe , l made a mistake in placing the case in the shell holder , without charging , I was distracted for a few seconds , placed the bullet on the case and seated . The scale let me know I was one round off . Instead of pulling all the loaded cases , maybe 30 , I weighed all and pulled the lightest charge , when that case was charged I thought is could have been because I zeroed the scale in the middle of my loading session and screwed up the count by one . Luckily it reared its head on the 5th shot , after clearing all other rounds fired fine . Will not happen again I can assure you. Good luck with your 700 , it's my one and only benchrest rifle , love the rifle , not even thinking of another. Changed the trigger to a Jewell made the biggest difference in my groups.
Chris
PS : the last 50 cases that were primed over 5 years ago , all fired well , or should I say exited the barrel , T G.
I love my Rem.700 , mine is a 308. Started out as the 700 LTR , after firing 4000+ through the barrel , turned it into a benchrest only , changed the stock , trigger , barrel and completely blueprinted. I tried the speed lock firing pin and spring , didn't care for it m. Use the nstandard spring and the standard weight spring. If I could constantly shoot that one hole 5 shot group the lock time may make a difference , I can shoot .5 groups at 200 yards but that's about the best this 74 year old can expect. .
The brass piece in the bolt body is a mystery, I also use a single stage , load 30 308 at a time , hand gun 50 at a time , never loaded volume. This empty case that caused my problem was all on me . My system on reloading is safe , l made a mistake in placing the case in the shell holder , without charging , I was distracted for a few seconds , placed the bullet on the case and seated . The scale let me know I was one round off . Instead of pulling all the loaded cases , maybe 30 , I weighed all and pulled the lightest charge , when that case was charged I thought is could have been because I zeroed the scale in the middle of my loading session and screwed up the count by one . Luckily it reared its head on the 5th shot , after clearing all other rounds fired fine . Will not happen again I can assure you. Good luck with your 700 , it's my one and only benchrest rifle , love the rifle , not even thinking of another. Changed the trigger to a Jewell made the biggest difference in my groups.
Chris
PS : the last 50 cases that were primed over 5 years ago , all fired well , or should I say exited the barrel , T G.
rwj
Gold $$ Contributor
When loading in progressive mode, do most intermittently remove a case to weigh/verify the powder charge weight? If yes, what process do you use to place it back on the shell plate? I never do until the primer supply is empty, then the primed empty cases are manually placed into the powder charge station to ensure they pass thru the powder check station. I never place a case directly into the bullet seating station... trouble awaits!
RWJ
Never used a progressive presses , I'm not loading volume so in so cases I first prime all my cases , may charge all cases as in 308 then seat all or in 45 & 38 I'll charge , seat then go back in a separate steps and crimp all. All our systems we use in reloading are fine , no one better then the other . Just what one feels more comfortable in doing . Just as long as it's safe and accurate.
Chris
Never used a progressive presses , I'm not loading volume so in so cases I first prime all my cases , may charge all cases as in 308 then seat all or in 45 & 38 I'll charge , seat then go back in a separate steps and crimp all. All our systems we use in reloading are fine , no one better then the other . Just what one feels more comfortable in doing . Just as long as it's safe and accurate.
Chris
centershot
Silver $$ Contributor
I never did either. I was able to get a good price on one so I bought it. As a new item to fiddle with. With the caution that I take, it is probably not much faster then one at a time.
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