Serious Distraction: Just say no.

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Zaydok Allen

Zaydok Allen

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I decided to load some 10mm yesterday and I switched to a new load. I was starting low with 12.1 gr of Accurate #9 under a 180 gr JFP.

I zeroed my beam scale, and then set it to 12.1 gr. I started tweaking my powder throw on my Dillon to get the proper amount of powder dispensed. As I was continuing to have to increase the throw to even get the scale to move, I started to wonder what was going on. I looked in the case and it looked like it would be a compressed load. WTH? The data I was using went up to 13.5 grains, so where exactly would more powder be going? :scrutiny:

Then I looked at my scale to see what was going on. The largest slide was just slightly left of where it should have been and somehow was not sitting in the 10 grain notch. Uh oh. So I decided to see how much powder I was actually dispensing. It weighed in at 15.4 grains. :eek:

Considering that was almost 2 grains more than the max load data I was working with, it spooked me pretty good. I fixed the issue and started throwing powder correctly. I had a few other bobbles though.

I realized I was really distracted and made a few other mistakes. I caught the edge of a case on the powder funnel, and it wrecked the case, and then sent powder all over. Great. Then I managed to put a bullet on the powder throw station! Dammit man, pay attention! :cuss: Get the vacuum out AGAIN.

The bottom line was I had to re-center myself and focus to even finish. Three major errors in 100 rounds, and obvious and avoidable ones too? Ok, I'm done. Finished the 100 and put everything away. I had planned on loading 300 rounds or more, but clearly I wasn't in it.

I learned................
 
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BT, DT. Found my scale had moved from the level spot on my bench, to a less-than-level spot, which had me charging a magnum rifle over max. Didn't realize it until I had fired 3 and could see the ejector impression on the brass. Reset everything, and stayed away for a while, until I had forgotten what I "knew", and could go back to paying attention.
 
Thanks for posting this. I too have found myself making mistakes when distracted especially by my grandchildren. So, when they come if I'm reloading I find a stopping point and just pick it up later.
 
Yep, scales do some really weird things. My Lyman/Ohaus .1 poise will jump a notch or two if not watched carefully (actually, when I allow the beam to drop when I remove the pan, sometimes the poise will bounce "heavier").
 
mdi said:
Yep, scales do some really weird things. My Lyman/Ohaus .1 poise will jump a notch or two if not watched carefully (actually, when I allow the beam to drop when I remove the pan, sometimes the poise will bounce "heavier").
Click to expand...
I had not thought about that. I wonder if that's how mine ended up how it did.

However, I am just going to assume it was my fault and be more careful.
 
There are times when you just have to step away, and come back later. I have had times when something didn't feel right, so I just would walk away, reread my logs, my load manuals, the online manuals. Then come back and start over.
 
Lots of people bash on digital scales but in my experiences they are simpler to operate and just as accurate for reloading purposes. Nothing is foolproof, but this thread shows that there are plenty of ways a manual scale can go wrong.
 
gonoles_1980 said:
There are times when you just have to step away, and come back later. I have had times when something didn't feel right, so I just would walk away, reread my logs, my load manuals, the online manuals. Then come back and start over.
Click to expand...

BTDT on more than one occasion...:( There's even been times when I dumped the powder back in the jug, put tools away and shut down for the rest of the day...
 
Very commendable!

Shutting down rather than trying to "power through" may not be the easiest decision to make, but it is the wise thing to do.
 
In my early days of reloading I did something similar. 15.3 grains of 231 instead of 5.3. Blew up my treasured P220. I now ALWAYS use at least two scales to verify weights. Helluva learning experience.
 
Mmmmm, the first time I know I made a mistake, it was too late!
The data called for 7 gr of TiteGroup.
I think there was 14.

Luckily for me, Ruger offered a new gun at no charge.

I just LOVES me some Ruger :):):) :rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
I have an RCBS Chargemaster Dispenser and Scale - It is always my primary measuring device. I also have a secondary device a RCBS beam scale.
I calibrate the Chargemaster, throw the powder, adjust throw etc. Once I get the desired weight - I cross check with the beam.

Then I throw into cases...and still eyeball case levels once I have thrown 20-50 cases.
Double check powder.

Before I had the Chargemaster the powder end of the beam got hung up on some stuff on my bech - same issue as the OP described. (Time to go to bed :))
 
Yes, there have been times when things just didn't seem to be working right. A crooked primer here or a spilled powder throw there is one thing, but when a loading session has a series of errors or small mishaps I consider it a signal that I should go find something else to do.
 
reddog81 said:
Lots of people bash on digital scales but in my experiences they are simpler to operate and just as accurate for reloading purposes. Nothing is foolproof, but this thread shows that there are plenty of ways a manual scale can go wrong.
Click to expand...
Agree 100%.
 
460 Shooter, we've all had days like that at the reloading bench where sometimes it doesn't pay to continue. Best to just get up and walk away like you did!
 
It was a good learning experience. When you're pissed at your other half, reloading is not a good idea.

Yeah, I'm glad I had the sense not to keep pushing it.

I rather like my Sig P220. I would have been really sad had I blown it up. I'm rather fond of my fingers too.
 
460Shooter said:
I decided to load some 10mm yesterday and I switched to a new load. I was starting low with 12.1 gr of Accurate #9 under a 180 gr JFP.

I zeroed my beam scale, and then set it to 12.1 gr. I started tweaking my powder throw on my Dillon to get the proper amount of powder dispensed. As I was continuing to have to increase the throw to even get the scale to move, I started to wonder what was going on. I looked in the case and it looked like it would be a compressed load. WTH? The data I was using went up to 13.5 grains, so where exactly would more powder be going? :scrutiny:

Then I looked at my scale to see what was going on. The largest slide was just slightly left of where it should have been and somehow was not sitting in the 10 grain notch. Uh oh. So I decided to see how much powder I was actually dispensing. It weighed in at 15.4 grains. :eek:

Considering that was almost 2 grains more than the max load data I was working with, it spooked me pretty good. I fixed the issue and started throwing powder correctly. I had a few other bobbles though.

I realized I was really distracted and made a few other mistakes. I caught the edge of a case on the powder funnel, and it wrecked the case, and then sent powder all over. Great. Then I managed to put a bullet on the powder throw station! Dammit man, pay attention! :cuss: Get the vacuum out AGAIN.

The bottom line was I had to re-center myself and focus to even finish. Three major errors in 100 rounds, and obvious and avoidable ones too? Ok, I'm done. Finished the 100 and put everything away. I had planned on loading 300 rounds or more, but clearly I wasn't in it.

I learned................
Click to expand...
I had that issue with a 44mag. Unfortunately it was well below half full. Cost $500 and I am even more careful than I used to be.
 
Sometimes you just gotta walk away. Last week I headed out into the shed to load up some 6.5x47 Lapua, only fifty rounds to get me through the weekend. Boy, if it could have gone wrong, it went wrong! I dropped my tray of primers over the bench, when I went to seat the last one I didn't seat the case properly, which fell onto the floor and rolled all the way underneath the bench. The primer also fell out and rolled under the bench. I poured powder into my Lyman Gen6 which promptly spat the powder out at the bottom since I didn't fully close the chute. When seating the bullets, I was adjusting my die for seating depth and the set screw rounded, so I couldn't tighten it down.

I've been loading for 7 years, and I've never had so many things go wrong at any one time! I'm lucky if I just have the one thing go wrong every month or so.
 
I don't enjoy reloading if I feel rushed or interrupted. Since I reload for enjoyment and relaxation, I just wait for the right time when I won't be bothered.
 
460Shooter said: ↑
Get the vacuum out AGAIN.
No, please use a bench brush and dustpan.BTDT.
As Pat Benatar may say
"We live and learn by our mistakes..........."

Care to elaborate? I see no problem with using a vacuum to clean up spilled powder.
 
When I load shotgun shells I can sit and watch tv while doing it. When I'm loading for my rifles or handguns, I resent the sound of a mouse f**t. There have been times I've been reloading and the phone rings. I stop and answer then try and figure out where I left off. Other distractions happen. And yes, I've walked away from the bench just to get my head straight. So far, I've been lucky and haven't had any really hard lessons self-taught. One 'squib' load in a .357 and a few times I've tried to double-charge a rifle case.
My garden appreciates my mistakes though.
 
If I am doing somewhat mindless tasks, like decapping brass, or resizing rifle brass, I don't mind music or TV. But when I am dropping powder, I want it quiet so there are no distractions.
 
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