Reloading Mistake

[Tidesloe]

I had an incident yesterday that needs telling.
I was loading for a 6mm GT. I loaded 100 rounds with 34.2 grains of Varget behind a Berger 109 gr. Hybrid. This was a proven load that I have been shooting for over a year with great results. The only difference was I opened a new 8 lb. can of powder with a difference lot number. First mistake. When I went to the range, the first 2 rounds pierced the primer. I stopped shooting and went back to the reloading bench to diagnose the problem. I pulled a few bullets to see if I had loaded the wrong powder charge. They all measured the correct powder charge, so I realized the new lot number powder was hotter than the old lot. I proceeded to pull the rest of the bullets with a hammer type bullet puller. I dumped the powder back into the RCBS Chargemaster with the intention of reloading the rounds with a lighter powder charge. With all the primed cases in loading blocks, I did something that I wouldn't normally do. I used a flashlight to inspect the inside of each case. This was probably my saving grace. One of the cases had powder lodged in the bottom of the case. Not a lot. Probably only 4-5 grains. But if I had loaded that case with the 33.3 gr. that i intended to use, I'm not sure what the outcome would have been.
So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, always double check everything. And when you change lots of powder, or primers or bullets, always reduce you loads to check for higher pressures. The same thing goes for big increases of temperature, even with the "temperature stable" powders. We should all remember that we are holding a controlled bomb in our hands.
Good luck, and stay vigilant.

I had the same thing happen with H100V. I had loaded 10-15 rounds before I noticed I had powder stuck in the bottom of the case. Not knowing if any of my already loaded rounds were then over charged, I pulled all bullets again, and now I make sure I have no powder still inside the case before I do anything else.
Not everyone is so lucky!! Good catch man!!

 

[Turpentine21]

This is what can happen when you use the wrong powder by mistake 28.5 gr of lever evolution VS 28.5 gr of LiL Gun

You are one lucky dude! I've only seen one other rifle blown apart like that in person. Guy put a 7mm-08 cartridge in a brand new Browning 270WSM chambered rifle. Blew it into four pieces with his 4 yr old daughter sitting beside him. Both were unharmed. I tore it down for him and sent it back to Browning to be inspected. They declared it good so I put it in another stock for him.
Also had a customer put a 308 cartridge in a Browning ABolt medallion 270win. Said he thought it was a 308. Writing on the barrel said otherwise. On firing it froze the bolt shut and broke a bolt lug. Brass had flowed into every crevice. Browning repaired that at a premium.
Both somehow killed the deer they were shooting at. Or so they said.

 

[slam2107]

This is what can happen when you use the wrong powder by mistake 28.5 gr of lever evolution VS 28.5 gr of LiL Gun

Wow glad you are okay

 

[Turpentine21]

I had an incident yesterday that needs telling.
I was loading for a 6mm GT. I loaded 100 rounds with 34.2 grains of Varget behind a Berger 109 gr. Hybrid. This was a proven load that I have been shooting for over a year with great results. The only difference was I opened a new 8 lb. can of powder with a difference lot number. First mistake. When I went to the range, the first 2 rounds pierced the primer. I stopped shooting and went back to the reloading bench to diagnose the problem. I pulled a few bullets to see if I had loaded the wrong powder charge. They all measured the correct powder charge, so I realized the new lot number powder was hotter than the old lot. I proceeded to pull the rest of the bullets with a hammer type bullet puller. I dumped the powder back into the RCBS Chargemaster with the intention of reloading the rounds with a lighter powder charge. With all the primed cases in loading blocks, I did something that I wouldn't normally do. I used a flashlight to inspect the inside of each case. This was probably my saving grace. One of the cases had powder lodged in the bottom of the case. Not a lot. Probably only 4-5 grains. But if I had loaded that case with the 33.3 gr. that i intended to use, I'm not sure what the outcome would have been.
So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, always double check everything. And when you change lots of powder, or primers or bullets, always reduce you loads to check for higher pressures. The same thing goes for big increases of temperature, even with the "temperature stable" powders. We should all remember that we are holding a controlled bomb in our hands.
Good luck, and stay vigilant.

I ran into a similar issue with a different lot of Clays shotgun powder. It was a full 2 grains less charge weight different. It was definitely hotter.

 

[Rosebud]

Thaaat right there is why I keep my H110 and H1000 at opposite sides of my loading room, I have to make a conscious decision on which one to grab. I couldn't imagine what 90gr of H110 would look like.

He was so distracted that he never changed the powder in the Hopper. Just changed the charge weight and went shooting.
That was one expensive mistake. Colt-Sauer in 1978 was a $1500.00 rifle. 4 or 5 k todays money.

 

[Victor3Ranger1]

This is what can happen when you use the wrong powder by mistake 28.5 gr of lever evolution VS 28.5 gr of LiL Gun

Ouch

 

[Turpentine21]

My usual mistake is wrong amount of the correct powder. So I start with my dispenser and its scale, then double check with the beam scale, then check that with my smaller digital scale. Redundant yes, but it helps me catch any errors. I also know visually that the majority of my loads finish with the powder just shy of the neck shoulder junction when settled. Any more or less than that I check things out.

 

[PApa Black]

This is what can happen when you use the wrong powder by mistake 28.5 gr of lever evolution VS 28.5 gr of LiL Gun

Glad you're ok!

 

[spladi]

This is what can happen when you use the wrong powder by mistake 28.5 gr of lever evolution VS 28.5 gr of LiL Gun

Another danger zone is imr 4198 and imr 4350, they look very similar until a close look reveals the difference in their diameter, seen this about blow up a .270 700, also the powder discharge tube on automatic dispensers (RCBS Chargemaster) can retain enough powder to create a dangerous mix unless the dumper is picked up and manually tilted to drain the previous powder.

 

[droptine]

I've been lucky and haven't had any major mishaps other than temperature related.

Back in the mid 90's I worked up a top of chart load with 7828 for my WBY Mark V, 270 Wby Mag one winter. Typical Houston winter 40-50 degrees. No signs or pressure what so ever. Head up my butt shot same batch of rounds late Sept on a hot day, 95 ish, maybe more and stuck the bolt on my 270 Wby Mag. Had to do the walk of shame and put my rifle in the truck with a stuck bolt. Tapped it open with a blubber mallet once I got home. No blown primer, but looked over pressure no doubt.

I recall sticking a bolt on a Remington 700, 25/06 back in my speed demon, quest for FPS days on a hot day. Might have been different lots of ball powder, to many years. If I recall it took a rubber mallet too. I leaned a few lessons 45-50 years I've been reloading lol.

 

[david205]

thanks for the head's up luckily you are okay.

 

[Turpentine21]

I've been lucky and haven't had any major mishaps other than temperature related.

Back in the mid 90's I worked up a top of chart load with 7828 for my WBY Mark V, 270 Wby Mag one winter. Typical Houston winter 40-50 degrees. No signs or pressure what so ever. Head up my butt shot same batch of rounds late Sept on a hot day, 95 ish, maybe more and stuck the bolt on my 270 Wby Mag. Had to do the walk of shame and put my rifle in the truck with a stuck bolt. Tapped it open with a blubber mallet once I got home. No blown primer, but looked over pressure no doubt.

I recall sticking a bolt on a Remington 700, 25/06 back in my speed demon, quest for FPS days on a hot day. Might have been different lots of ball powder, to many years. If I recall it took a rubber mallet too. I leaned a few lessons 45-50 years I've been reloading lol.

Absolute truth here! I have stuck more bolts with factory ammo and get a few in every year that need unsticking that were also shot with factory ammo. Brands: Hornady, Privi Partisan, Winchester, and Remington that I can recall. In 270, 270 WSM, 7mm REM Mag, and 6.5 Grendel so far. It gets hot here in the summer. I personally reload with summer in mind.

 

[MustangMike]

I load 200 grain bullets in my 348 Winchester with IMR 4350. Learned not to shoot them if the temp is 80* or more unless I put the ammo in a cooler. Did not get bad, but don't like the lever to stick at all on that gun!

It is a Deluxe Model made in 1940.

 

[crkckr]

The idea of only having one powder at a time on your bench is great... unless you grab the wrong powder out of your magazine! I wish I could say I follow that rule but I only have one powder at a time on the scale side of my reloading bench! The other side has about 25 cans of powder on it. My "magazine" is an old freezer with all the guts removed.

Checking and then double-checking is what can save the day. That and not having any distractions. One thing I do to keep myself safe is to never rely on memory. My memory isn't all that bad, but trying to keep all that data in your head (I reload for a lot of different cartridges) just isn't a good idea. So far, in 50+ years of reloading the worst thing I've done was loading some 250 gr bullets using 210gr data... that memory thing got in the way! I ruined just one cartridge out of my Ruger 77 .338 Win Mag, (blew the primer pocket out!) but it taught me a very valuable lesson!

Reloading isn't a dangerous proposition if you you keep your head on straight and follow the basic rules. Don't exceed the manual loads trying to get the baddest nuclear loads possible because eventually, something will give up and that can hurt, in more ways than one!
Cheers,
crkckr