first time I've ever done this..

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JLDickmon

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expanding on Hondo's thread from earlier,

I was so paranoid about a double charged case, I forgot to run about ten over the expander ball..

finally buckled one..
 

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Welcome to the club.

Put it where you can see it every time you sit at the bench.

I keep all my "boo-boo's" on a shelf right in front of me when I'm at the press as reminders to check, check, and re-check all my processes.
 
Made a few boo boos. Boo boos will be made, but as long as you can learn from your mistakes your good. The one radio station was having a "hair band" weekend, didn't realize what I was doing and double charged 125 cases. Was rocking out to Ozzy, Pantera, Skynard a little to hard!!!! Haha.
 
Hey folks,

I have to politely take exception to 45lcshooter's comments above:

"Made a few boo boos. Boo boos will be made, but as long as you can learn from your mistakes your good. The one radio station was having a "hair band" weekend, didn't realize what I was doing and double charged 125 cases. Was rocking out to Ozzy, Pantera, Skynard a little to hard!!!! Haha."

Yes, mistakes will be made, but there are some mistakes you simply cannot afford to make because you may not have the opportunity to learn from that particular mistake. Some mistakes can be rather benign and we learn to avoid them: making a case lube dent and getting a case stuck in a sizer die are the type of mistakes from which we can afford to learn. Double charging cases or just over charging cases are mistakes we cannot afford to tolerate. Absolutely no tolerance allowed when it comes to making mistakes charging cases.

I have absolutely no idea what a "hair band" weekend is, but 45lcshooter seems to have allowed it to distract his work and result in 125 double charged cases. Sorry, 45lcshooter, but when you say you were "rocking out to Ozzy, Pantera, Skynard a little to hard!!!! Haha", I think you are not taking your "mistake" seriously enough. It really is not a Haha thing when it comes to charging cases.

Over 50 years ago, I stopped choosing any powder charge that did not fill the case at least over the half way level. That way, you cannot possible double charge a case. This has not been a bad SOP, and it has worked very well for a long time.

When loading single stage, I charge all cases in a wood block, and before I seat a bullet in these charged cases, I visually inspect each case in the block to see all powder levels look like they were properly charged and that none is empty. It is a very simple thing to do, but really necessary to keep from making that kind of mistake that may have disastrous results.

When loading on my L&L progressive press, I do not rely on any powder cop die. Instead, I rely on my long practice of visually inspecting each case after it is charged and before seating the bullet. With pistol cases, this is real easy. With bottleneck cases, it is a bit more demanding, but I use a small goose neck light mounted to the press and aimed down the case to see the powder level in each case. This can even be done easily with little .223 cases.

Make a lube dent. Get a case stuck. Make other benign mistakes, but do not ever allow yourself to make a mistake charging a case, and never take making such mistakes lightly.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile
 
I have to totally agree with the above poster! I don't have a radio in my reload room just for that exact reason. Hair band out with Ozzy while on the crapper, or someplace else, keep your mind on the subject at hand, you might keep both of them!!
 
Unfortunately, this is a very exacting hobby. There is precious little room for mistakes. I have made a few, and was extremely lucky to have not had anything major go bad because of it. Every time you make a mistake, it has the possibility of making it your last. The biggest thing i have learned from this is never, ever load while tired, or distracted. If your concentration is not at 100%, it is far better to wait until it can be.
 
I just posted this somewhere within the last few days, but, as a nearly 50 year CPA I am used to utilizing every checkpoint available. For powder charging on my LnL AP I check that I have the proper disk/setting on my measure, preset my beam scale to the intended load and throw several loads and weigh each. Adjust my lock-out die and test for both no charge and double charge. Look into every case after it comes out of the lock-out die and as I set a bullet. A flexible neck LED light lets me easily see into the case.
These checkpoints are all available and I use every one, every time.
 
I don't see where a radio would hurt anything unless you are jumping on the counter and break dancing. I've been listening to a radio while I reload for over 40 yr's and if you think a radio would be too distracting, you are either too old to be doing this stuff or just plain paranoid. ;)
 
I don't see where a radio would hurt anything unless you are jumping on the counter and break dancing. I've been listening to a radio while I reload for over 40 yr's and if you think a radio would be too distracting, you are either too old to be doing this stuff or just plain paranoid. ;)


While I will handprime cases while watching TV, and will listen to football/baseball games while resizing, decapping and belling, when it comes to charging cases, I shut the door and turn off the radio. I feel any distractions at this stage of the game is an accident waiting to happen. Am I paranoid? Yes....and rightfully so. Not only do I shoot my ammo, but so do my sons, DILs and wife. Others can do as they please, it is their gun.
 
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