Telling on myself

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Nature Boy

Nature Boy

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I was working up a batch of .30-06 last night to find the best distance to the lands for the Berger 168g VLDs. I guess I had too much going on the bench and in my mind. I had just completed loading some 150g Nosler BTs that used 61g of RL19. Even though I looked at the data for the 168's (twice) and noted that I wanted to use 57g of IMR 4350, somewhere in my mind from swapping out powders and setting up the machine I conflated the powder weights and proceeded to load 61g per round. It dawned on my at round 15 what I had done, thank God. That would have been 2-3g over max.

Time to get out the whacker............
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Had a similar experience with the Lee dippers. Had one filed down for 4.3gr HP-38 for my .40 and .45. After charging about 15 cases, cussing every time at why, all of a sudden, I had so much static with my dipper, did I realize that I was using the new .7 CC dipper that had come with the .45, equating to about 6.5gr. Definitely an eye opener as to how easy it is to make a mistake, no matter how careful you think you are being...
 
Yep, ill admit to having done similar. Changed the charge weight, and powder in my top off bowl, but failed to swap powder in my powder measurer. Wasted a couple boxes of rounds woth of powder cause i throw low and then top up to weight.
 
It happens. Catching that one so early is a good thing as that would be a really tough one to figure out if you had not caught it in the operation. It's either really good luck, or a testament to the process checking weights regularly.
 
Done that myself but my scale was off. I had to pull a lot more than 15. That isn't so bad.
Glad you caught it!
 
What do you think 2-3g of IMR4350 over max would have done given this caliber and bullet weight?
 
Depending on the number of reloads on the brass, strength of the action, neck tension, headspace, etc., possibly nothing. But I would consider myself thankful that I would be asking what could happen, rather than explaining what did happen...
 
In a good modern gun? Kicked harder.

If you arnt seeing any pressure signs then most likely nothing major, flate primers, extrusion maybe, possible hard bolt lift.
This is all dependent on your gun and how close your loads are to ITS comfortable maximum. Number of usages on brass etc would also play a factor.

One of my loads is 3grn over one book max, even with another. *Edit* nope i was wrong im .5 over on the other.
 
Rifle is a sporterized 03A3, so not modern. Headspace is good (checked by gunsmith and verified by minimal brass stretch). Brass is once fired Hornady.

I've run this load at 57g with no sign of pressure for what that's worth.

I realize it's all speculation and the fact is it will stay that way as I have no intention of testing it.
 
BTDT! I don't do that anymore 'cause I write the load down on a sticky note and stick it on my powder measure. After I'm set up and before I reload any, I refer back to the note, check components, and check scale setting and powder measure setting. Then proceed...
 
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Id consider the later 03s modern enough. I doubt you would have had an issue. Again tho, this is all conjecture, and none of us ever really know when a gun or case WILL let go untill it does....so lets just keep wondering lol.
 
I was working with a new reloader and assembling some 243 rounds and we did not set the weight on the measure a final time after he was fiddlin with it. When I checked it after loading 20 rounds the charge of 2015 was 3.5 grains over max. He learned how to use the collet puller shortly after.:(
 
I have a stainless steel bench adjacent to my reloading bench. On that I'll write with a sharpie, whatever recipe it is I'm currently building. I also jot down on a piece of masking tape, the powder I'm using and stick it to the Uniflow.
That way I don't have to rely on my memory! My memory is pretty good, but it can get kinda busy up there. I'd rather not leave room for any doubt.

Nice catch, though! Pulling 15 isn't too bad
 
I had a box of unfired test loads. They were one of fives, 2 of 3's, and didn't have the foggiest idea of what was in them.

I'm sure some shot poorly and some were too hot. I just got a box and labeled do not use that way I could pull them later.

Anyway, I'm ashamed it took me so long to deal with them.
 
"...2-3g of IMR4350 over max would have done..." Probably nothing horrible. Key word is 'probably' though.
58 of IMR4350 is max at 57,200 PSI(not even close to a blue pill load. That's 70,000 to 75,000 PSI, as I recall.) and it's a compressed load. Kind of surprised you got 61 in there.
 
Sunray said:
"...2-3g of IMR4350 over max would have done..." Probably nothing horrible. Key word is 'probably' though.
58 of IMR4350 is max at 57,200 PSI(not even close to a blue pill load. That's 70,000 to 75,000 PSI, as I recall.) and it's a compressed load. Kind of surprised you got 61 in there.
Click to expand...
I'm surprised you g it 61gr in there too. I think I would have notices the powder at tge top of the neck long before the 15th round but better you did find it than not. I agree nothing bad would have happened. It's not like you loaded 61gr of 4198...
 
Yes. 61g is a compressed load that fills the case and works great with 150g Nosler BTs.....and RL19

I also have some RL22 that I want to try with Nolser 180g BTs. The accuracy load in Nosler's book lists it at 62g, which must be at the tippy top of the case
 
Ive noticed nosler really likes filling cases all the way. Ive never had an issue with on of their loads tho, so i cant complain lol.
 
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