Stupid reloading moments...

[Kevin Thomas]

Originally Posted by elkaholic

An example would be to have more than one powder on the bench and maybe load a magnum case full of 3031 instead of 4831. DISASTER! .....Rich

Funny that Rich mentions this particular example, since many years back I was retained on a lawsuit where I suspected (but wasn't able to conclusively prove) that this is exactly what happened. Guy blew up a 270 Wby Mag, and claimed he got a 7mm bullet in a box of .277's, and that caused the blow up. We duplicated the load, using 7mm bullets loaded with IMR4831 in an identical 270 Wby Mag rifle. We fired it several times (with a long lanyard!) and all we got was sticky bolt lift. When I'd examined the guys reloading set up and bench, he had exactly two (2) cans of powder on hand; IMR4831 and IMR3031. Never did try the IMR3031, but I have no doubt that it would have disassembled that rifle exactly like his load did.

Yeah, watch the powders you have within reach, and only one flavor at a time on the bench.

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by elkaholic

Mike.....I have been reloading for over 40 years now and have made plenty of mistakes so don't feel bad. The important thing is, you have learned a lesson early enough to spare yourself some REAL grief! Two things that you can not do in reloading is (1) get in a hurry (2) have any distractions while you are doing it. This includes other people standing around talking or??? So far you haven't done anything that will have lasting consequences so consider yourself fortunate. An example would be to have more than one powder on the bench and maybe load a magnum case full of 3031 instead of 4831. DISASTER! In reloading you need to be very deliberate with every step and think about what you are doing. As you have already discovered, load up to max SLOWLY and never assume that a max load in one case is good for another brand or even the same brand in some cases. One thing I would recommend you do right away is to carefully study your manual and pay attention to what it says. Reloading is "nothing more than controlled bomb making". Good luck and enjoy safely.....Rich

+1

Very good advice.

And in over 50 years of reloading I have made many mistakes "BUT" I check and re check each
step and have been fortunate to catch the error be for it showed it's ugly self.

Clear your reloading bench of everything but the components needed for one type of cartridge
(1 can powder, one box of primers, one weight of the correct size of bullets, the correct dies
and your tools to load with. Plus your loading data.

Be careful and good loading.

J E CUSTOM

[kstrick]

Don't beat yourself up to bad. Everyone who reloads has screwed up. You just have to lean from it.
When reloading I:
>do not have the radio on distracting me
>have only one kind of powder on the bench
>one type of primer on the bench
>let my daughters in if they want to help and learn.
>clean up after the session. Everything back in its place.

I find reloading to be very mind clearing. You must concentrate on the task at hand. Don't think about all the other crap of the day. When I am done I realize I haven't even thought about all the crap for quite awhile.
Just my .02
Ken

[elkaholic]

Originally Posted by Kevin Thomas

Funny that Rich mentions this particular example, since many years back I was retained on a lawsuit where I suspected (but wasn't able to conclusively prove) that this is exactly what happened. Guy blew up a 270 Wby Mag, and claimed he got a 7mm bullet in a box of .277's, and that caused the blow up. We duplicated the load, using 7mm bullets loaded with IMR4831 in an identical 270 Wby Mag rifle. We fired it several times (with a long lanyard!) and all we got was sticky bolt lift. When I'd examined the guys reloading set up and bench, he had exactly two (2) cans of powder on hand; IMR4831 and IMR3031. Never did try the IMR3031, but I have no doubt that it would have disassembled that rifle exactly like his load did.

Yeah, watch the powders you have within reach, and only one flavor at a time on the bench.

Kevin......It is also funny you mention the bullet thing! I REALLY did find a .284 bullet in an unopened bos of .264 bullets. And no, I wasn't the guy in the lawsuit

[Kevin Thomas]

Nope, you're definately not. Trust me, him, I'll remember. Talk about a poster child for factory ammo, he was it. There's more to the story there, but yeah, he should'a taken up golf and left the rifles alone. Some folks just shouldn't be allowed near powder and a reloading press!

[elkaholic]

Originally Posted by Kevin Thomas

Nope, you're definately not. Trust me, him, I'll remember. Talk about a poster child for factory ammo, he was it. There's more to the story there, but yeah, he should'a taken up golf and left the rifles alone. Some folks just shouldn't be allowed near powder and a reloading press!

My bullet thing wasn't a Lapua. I purposely didn't name the manufacturer, but they did have cute little GREEN ballistic tips

[Kevin Thomas]

Ah, Grasshopper, merely a reminder from the factory that we take nothing for granted!