What would you do if you loaded too much powder??

[Just_Having_Fun]

I had a situation the other day where I was putting in a new powder drop, measured everything out with test rounds and then started to load live rounds. After about 10 live rounds, I rechecked the powder and no clue why but was dropping almost 3 extra grains. I do not load hot to start with but this put me over the max recommendation. So, I ask you, how much is too much powder? Here the data:
I am loading for .223, using Accurate 2200. Their site for the FMJ BT has it at starting 20.4 to max 22.7 and the 10 were coming out at 24.1.

If you were going to shoot them from an AR, would you shoot them or not?

I then ask, in your opinion, at what point would be too much powder that it would cause the gun to explode, as in the upper cracks and the BCG is toast like I have seen on some Youtube vids.

No, I didn't shoot them, I pulled them but the question has always been in my head at what point will too much powder cause a catastrophic event to happen?

 

[Falfan2017]

Always better safe than sorry. It only takes once to have a really bad day.

In a side note some powders such as western brands like ramshot tac list higher pressure 5.56 loads in addition to 223. This is often 1-2 grains over max from 223. However in my experience the lower pressure stuff is more accurate and easier on brass and very little is gained by going hotter.

 

[Rsadams]

No , I wouldn't shoot them... What's ok in a bolt gun can be way too hot in the AR platform in my opinion , especially if you have a .223 chamber instead of a 5.56.... There is no way to give you an opinion on what your gun will handle... Is it worth destroying a $800 to $1000 rifle over ten rounds..?
Either pull them or throw them away... Then before loading any more make sure your equipment is working properly... Check every 5th round after that to be sure... If your new to reloading , proper Safety protocols like checking every 5th round are in play , well for safety... Reloading is a safe hobby but your are the Q/C and Safety official now... Don't play around with it , I have seen middle of the list charges flying as fast as factory ammo , that's why we work up to what we want.... As stated above , a smoking fast round is not normally an accurate one....

 

[Milo 2.0]

Being as though you are on top of the situation and in control. I would pull the bullets.
When I got into the mining industry in 1979, we had to watch a video, it was called, "You can only break even", it concerned your eyes and safety glasses. In 30 yrs it was the only safety vid that did not make me want to wretch.
I look at pulling the trigger the same way, you cannot win, you can only break even or lose, not including winning some shoot. Every shot you take you lose more hearing, the chance of losing eyesight scares me more.

 

[Just_Having_Fun]

No , I wouldn't shoot them... What's ok in a bolt gun can be way too hot in the AR platform in my opinion , especially if you have a .223 chamber instead of a 5.56.... There is no way to give you an opinion on what your gun will handle... Is it worth destroying a $800 to $1000 rifle over ten rounds..?
Either pull them or throw them away... Then before loading any more make sure your equipment is working properly... Check every 5th round after that to be sure... If your new to reloading , proper Safety protocols like checking every 5th round are in play , well for safety... Reloading is a safe hobby but your are the Q/C and Safety official now... Don't play around with it , I have seen middle of the list charges flying as fast as factory ammo , that's why we work up to what we want.... As stated above , a smoking fast round is not normally an accurate one....

Very not new to reloading and I do check, but after 10. I did pull them as I stated, it took what, less than 5 minutes vs blowing up, not worth it, this is just a hypothetical question and I would hope that no one that loads would say, eh, I'd shoot em..
It didn't take long to make my adjustments to correct everything.

 

[pirate ammo]

I don't use a auto powder drop on any of my stuff, I weigh it all, even when doing a 1000 handgun loads,

 

[Twoboxer]

No, I would never shoot them. Not because there were only 10 to pull. Not because I was afraid for my safety.

It's enough for me that they didn't have the load I wanted. Not even close.

 

[Sniper338]

I don't use a auto powder drop on any of my stuff, I weigh it all, even when doing a 1000 handgun loads,

Same here, but now that dillon powder check alarm keeps me ok with it going...

 

[Rsadams]

Very not new to reloading and I do check, but after 10. I did pull them as I stated, it took what, less than 5 minutes vs blowing up, not worth it, this is just a hypothetical question and I would hope that no one that loads would say, eh, I'd shoot em..
It didn't take long to make my adjustments to correct everything.

Good , your new here and this place gets new reloaders regularly... So to give the answers to some of the questions you asked would not only be dangerous it would be irresponsible , I am sure you can understand... I do use powder droppers for pistol loads but I weigh ten then check every fifth for accuracy... I am loading under max so a 1/10 either way won't hurt if it gets off a little during the five...For rifle I use the trickle up method , which once again isn't max but shoots well... One thing I have found over the years is to keep the powder in the dropper at about the same level and it's more consistent , also keeping the drum clean helps...

 

[Ringostar]

Also think of it in percentages. 3-4 grains in a little case vs in a large magnum. I still wouldn’t shoot them in either, but in your 223 case. That a big change.

 

[Fotheringill]

Fun-

Welcome.

We are talking about 105 grains of powder at a cost of what? 30 cents? If you are in doubt, which you are, toss the rounds safely or pull the bullets, empty the cases and deprime carefully.

It ain't worth the worry, rifle, an eye and or frigging up your life.

If this is most expensive error in your reloading experiences, consider yourself lucky.

I shoot target recreational. There used to be a guy at the range before he moved back to the Midwest, who shot competitively nationally...... before he lost his eye to a bolt blowing back. Whatever problem caused it was never repeated. Everyone makes mistakes, but PLEASE be safer than sorry.

 

[CaptainMal]

They would not impact the same anyhow. No reason to waste good trigger time with mis-matched ammo.

Pull and fix. Simple as that.

 

[Just_Having_Fun]

Fun-

Welcome.

We are talking about 105 grains of powder at a cost of what? 30 cents? If you are in doubt, which you are, toss the rounds safely or pull the bullets, empty the cases and deprime carefully.

It ain't worth the worry, rifle, an eye and or frigging up your life.

If this is most expensive error in your reloading experiences, consider yourself lucky.

I shoot target recreational. There used to be a guy at the range before he moved back to the Midwest, who shot competitively nationally...... before he lost his eye to a bolt blowing back. Whatever problem caused it was never repeated. Everyone makes mistakes, but PLEASE be safer than sorry.

So wondering why you would say to deprime?
I just pulled the bullets, dumped the powder and reloaded the correct amount.

 

[Fotheringill]

If you are going for minute of squirrel, probably not an issue, but you don't know how much powder is sticking to the inside of the primer. If you doing benchrest, use them as foulers. Better practice is to get rid of them lest there is an error in seating the next bullets and you have an "incident" at your press. If you have a pet, you are going to scare the dog/cat poop out of it if the primer goes off.
I may be overabundant in my caution, but I am a bit anal about that and safety issues. When I go to a range, I am acutely interested in leaving with the same number of openings in my body as when i came in.

 

[walker2713]

It's not even close....pull the bullets and correct your errors.....and move on.

I can't even imagine why there'd be discussion about it.

George

 

[alinwa]

............, even when doing a 1000 handgun loads,

HOleee KOWWW!! We got us another Miculek!!

I ain't NEVER done handgun loads for 1000, in fact about a hunnerd yards is all I'm good for with a pissle....

 

[pirate ammo]

HOleee KOWWW!! We got us another Miculek!!

I ain't NEVER done handgun loads for 1000, in fact about a hunnerd yards is all I'm good for with a pissle....

that's just 1 caliber, I do about 8,,

 

[Uncle Ed]

If you used the accurate load data it is for a rifle with a 1in12 twist and a short throat and 55,000 max pressure.

Your AR15 has a longer throat and can shoot M885 ammo loaded to 58,700 psi.

My Savage 223 has a longer throat than my AR15 rifles and has a 1in9 twist and can be loaded warmer than short throated rifles.

And my Ruger American Ranch rifle bolt action 5.56 has a longer throat and a 1in8 twist to shoot heavier bullets.

Bottom line load data for .223 rifles with 1in14 or 1in12 twist normally have a short throat. And can not be loaded as hot as long throated rifles. And there are two different loading data for the AR15 and short throated bolt actions.

And Quickload has two separate load data for the short throated .223 and longer throated AR15 rifles.

Example the Hornady manual lists a max load with a 55 grain bullet with a 1in12 twist with a short throat as 23.2 grains of H335. And a max load in a AR15 is 27.0 of H335 with the same bullet with its longer throat. And why the reloading manuals tell you to work up from the suggested start looking for signs of pressure. And my load with the 55 grain Hornady FMJ bullet is 55 grains of H355 at 50,000 psi according to Quickload.

Below look at the throat lengths (N) and throat diameter (G) and differences in chambers and the lengths. And the length of the PTG match throat and the Wylde throat.

 

[BoydAllen]

IMO one should never use a top load without working up to it carefully, and I certainly would never do that with an over book load, no matter what. Frankly I am surprised that you even asked. I have shot loads that were not over pressure, even though they were over book, but I worked up to them carefully.

 

[Uncle Ed]

I agree with BoydAllen 100% and making a work up load.

But you need the correct load data for your AR15 rifle

Western Accurate load data for the AR15 rifle
5.56 X 45MM NATO CIP COMMERCIAL AND NATO/MIL SPECIFICATION (62,350 PSI)
My note here, above is 58,700 psi American SAAMI tranducer standards taken at mid case.
ACCURATE 2200
55 HDY BT-FMJ 21.7 3,088 24.1 3,372 61,614 2.200

Also the case capacity can effect chamber pressure below. The difference between the top Lake City case at 30.6 and the bottom old Lapua brass of 28.0 case capacity is 6,000 psi with the same charge of 25.0 grains of H335.

One reason I use 55.0 grains of H355 is Quickload predicts the chamber pressure to be 50,000 psi with Lake City brass. And if using mixed brass for blasting ammo in my AR15 rifles it will still not exceed max chamber pressure for the AR15 rifle.

And your port pressure for the type gas system in your AR15 will also effect how much pounding your rifle will be subjected to.