A Moment's Inattention...Check Yourself 3 times

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berettaprofessor

berettaprofessor

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The other night, I was loading a few trial loads for 62 grain 223 to chrony; 10 rounds each of several CFE223 and H4895 loads I had determined off ladder tests. I'm always careful to have one powder out at a time on the bench so I started with the CFE223. Noting that I had a partial bottle of CFE sitting outside my "powder magazine," I thought, "great, I can use it up." Proceeded to load 10 loads of 25.2 grains and seated 62 grain Hornady match bullets. After I cleaned up the leftover powder, I was placing the almost empty container of CFE back onto the shelf when I realized I was holding a green-labeled bottle; CFEPistol, not CFE223! :what: Inches away from catastrophe. If I hadn't caught it, I could have blown up a pretty good rifle....and me.

Needless to say, I pulled 10 rounds and reloaded them with CFE223 this time.

Curses on Hodgdon for naming them with similar names and labels that are nearly identical save the light blue or green color. I knew it could be an easy error to make, and now I've made it. I may look over my loads and eliminate keeping one of the two around so I can't make that error again. Of course, I also use CFEBlk so there's that to consider as well:rofl:
 
Good post. I've come close to that sort of catastrophic mistake, and while I take complete responsibility for it, it would be nice if corporate would give every powder a totally distinct name.
 
I've got several instances where labels are so similar (or writing so small) *
that I've put a wide cover strip of masking tape on a powder can with the
name of the powder inside written in BIG RED SHARPIE

Vihtavuori's been a classic case of that the past. Likewise "Clays" powders
are notorious for "hiding" the real powder type w/ bad labeling.
 
Last edited:
berettaprofessor said:
The other night, I was loading a few trial loads for 62 grain 223 to chrony; 10 rounds each of several CFE223 and H4895 loads I had determined off ladder tests. I'm always careful to have one powder out at a time on the bench so I started with the CFE223. Noting that I had a partial bottle of CFE sitting outside my "powder magazine," I thought, "great, I can use it up." Proceeded to load 10 loads of 25.2 grains and seated 62 grain Hornady match bullets. After I cleaned up the leftover powder, I was placing the almost empty container of CFE back onto the shelf when I realized I was holding a green-labeled bottle; CFEPistol, not CFE223! :what: Inches away from catastrophe. If I hadn't caught it, I could have blown up a pretty good rifle....and me.

Needless to say, I pulled 10 rounds and reloaded them with CFE223 this time.

Curses on Hodgdon for naming them with similar names and labels that are nearly identical save the light blue or green color. I knew it could be an easy error to make, and now I've made it. I may look over my loads and eliminate keeping one of the two around so I can't make that error again. Of course, I also use CFEBlk so there's that to consider as well:rofl:
Click to expand...
Your guardian angel deserves a raise.
 
I did the same thing but in reverse, I was loading 9mm cases which I use cfe pistol but instead used cfe223. Notice it after filling 30 cases n good thing. It's a good habit to check, double check and continue to check through the whole process.
 
berettaprofessor said:
The other night, I was loading a few trial loads for 62 grain 223 to chrony; 10 rounds each of several CFE223 and H4895 loads I had determined off ladder tests. I'm always careful to have one powder out at a time on the bench so I started with the CFE223. Noting that I had a partial bottle of CFE sitting outside my "powder magazine," I thought, "great, I can use it up." Proceeded to load 10 loads of 25.2 grains and seated 62 grain Hornady match bullets. After I cleaned up the leftover powder, I was placing the almost empty container of CFE back onto the shelf when I realized I was holding a green-labeled bottle; CFEPistol, not CFE223! :what: Inches away from catastrophe. If I hadn't caught it, I could have blown up a pretty good rifle....and me.

Needless to say, I pulled 10 rounds and reloaded them with CFE223 this time.

Curses on Hodgdon for naming them with similar names and labels that are nearly identical save the light blue or green color. I knew it could be an easy error to make, and now I've made it. I may look over my loads and eliminate keeping one of the two around so I can't make that error again. Of course, I also use CFEBlk so there's that to consider as well:rofl:
Click to expand...

Eventually a color blind reloader nicknamed "Stumpy" will sue them.........
 
Whistling through the graveyard there! Good catch!

I go out of my way to not keep similar powders where a substitution would have catastrophic consequences on hand. Normally the only potential problem is H110 vs a couple fast-medium handgun powders. The ones I do have presently, are a necessary evil in these times. The danger is in my fleet of Hodgdon/Win ball powders found in various 1 lb containers, some with same color labels. I've instituted a system to add a second level of security. Those cheap orange target spots...I place one on top of the lid with the powder name and general application (I.E pistol fast, pistol med, pistol mag, RIFLE all caps) and name/number. While in use, I place the cap on my bench under the powder measure and cap the can with a blank cap, reducing the odds of mixing back into the wrong container or having to waste powder or live dangerously if I forget what's in the measure.
 
Almost happened to me once....

upload_2021-8-28_20-51-39.jpeg

Bought a bottle of H110 at a gun show a few years back, (to load 460 S & W ), went to put it away and it turned into H1000. :eek:
To this day, I still do not know how that happened.....

If you are ever up my way, you can have it.
I have no use for it.......................:(
 
Because I know I can be a fallible dunce at times;
Powder stays in its own separate room, and I bring out only one at a time, and the dispenser gets labeled with what’s in it every time... even if I’m just making a few test loads.
It’s only mildly inconvenient, and the steps are priceless for peace of mind.
 
No matter how careful, no matter how practiced, eventually we all mess up or die before we have a chance. I will never say it can’t happen to me. Glad you’re okay.
 
I was watching a gunblue490 video where he labels his powder with masking tape and the number from the burn rate chart. Might not help but putting a number less than 50 in a rifle case should trigger a *** moment.
 
We all make mistakes, at least you caught it. Sometimes when doing small batches I'll change up my order of operations. Typically I prime all the brass then charge, when doing just a few I'll prime and charge at the sametime, can't tell you how many times I'm like "Why is there powder all over my feet.?" Doh forgot to prime.
 
It IS very easy to make mistakes when reloading, some may be more problematic than others, but it's going to happen to every handloader at some point. I only reload when I have free time with no distractions and my mind is not occupied by other thoughts. I go slow, double-check, and re-check myself as much as possible. If I can't complete all the reloading steps in a single setting, I leave myself copious notes as to what has been done to the cases and the next step when I resume. Things like charging cases and seating bullets are only done when I have time to do BOTH in a single setting. Leaving cases "in process" primer end up helps provide a visible reminder (in addition to the notes I leave myself) when all reloading steps can't be completed in a single setting. I agree, the labeling, color, and design of newer generation powder containers leaves a lot to be desired. It seems that the powder containers of yesteryear were much more distinctive in this regard.
 
Good to remind us OOPS! happen. Last week I was loading some 38 Specials with small charges of Universal (deep case, small charge of powder). After charging, my habit next step was looking inside each case with a bright flashlight. I caught a double charge, first double charge in many years. If visually checking powder charges before bullet seating wasn't a hard and fast habit with me, my double charge would have been a big surprise in my 2" 38 (8+ gr of Universal under a 135 gr cast bullet may have gotten my attention!)...
 
There was a new member that posted here a couple of years ago looking for answers as to why his rifle had blown to pieces.

Along with pictures of his destroyed rifle he posted some pics of the powder from cartridges of the batch that he had made. You could clearly see flakes of pistol powder mixed in with the stick powder.

He was unconvinced that he could ever do something like that and was sure it was the powder manufacturers fault. If I recall correctly he stopped posting after failing to get anyone here to support his theory of manufactures liability. Most of us know how easy it is to make that mistake
 
Nature Boy said:
There was a new member that posted here a couple of years ago looking for answers as to why his rifle had blown to pieces.

Along with pictures of his destroyed rifle he posted some pics of the powder from cartridges of the batch that he had made. You could clearly see flakes of pistol powder mixed in with the stick powder.

He was unconvinced that he could ever do something like that and was sure it was the powder manufacturers fault. If I recall correctly he stopped posting after failing to get anyone here to support his theory of manufactures liability. Most of us know how easy it is to make that mistake
Click to expand...
Anybody who thinks they cannot make a mistake like that should probably give up handloading. In 99.999% of the situations where something goes terribly wrong in the handloading endeavor, one only needs to look in the mirror to identify the culprit.
 
Along with pictures of his destroyed rifle he posted some pics of the powder from cartridges of the batch that he had made. You could clearly see flakes of pistol powder mixed in with the stick powder
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's another problem with keeping both CFEPistol and CFE223 around. Visually they are much the same. It's not like one is a stick powder and the other a ball.
 
Ironicaintit said:
Because I know I can be a fallible dunce at times;
Powder stays in its own separate room, and I bring out only one at a time, and the dispenser gets labeled with what’s in it every time... even if I’m just making a few test loads.
It’s only mildly inconvenient, and the steps are priceless for peace of mind.
Click to expand...

Something like ^ ^ that is one of the
better solutions. Or at least make it
inconvenient to have 2 different powders
out on the bench at any one time.
Complete all the tasks you have with the
powder you have out. Make sure your
powder measure(s) are empty, then
seal up that particular powder and
store it away. I'll go ahead and add this
at the risk of flaming ( because there
are always those who disagree)
REMOVE ALL DISTRACTIONS FROM YOUR
LOADING BENCH/AREA. ANY RADIOS
TELEVISIONS OR TELEPHONES
ANY READING MATERIAL OTHER THAN
LOAD DATA OR RELATED MATTER.
DON'T EAT AND DRINK AT THE LOADING
BENCH
 
Good thing you caught that - buy a lottery ticket.

Ranger99 said:
Or at least make it
inconvenient to have 2 different powders
out on the bench at any one time.
Click to expand...
I expand that to all reloading components. Bullets can look very similar, as do primers. Large rifle primers will fit in .45ACP, but they most likely will stand proud. Don’t ask how I know.
 
I'm glad you caught that.
I made a powder mistake once. It was not noticing that my scales had bumped 5 grains. I was in the process of setting my volumetric measure.
One super Blackhawk later. I continuously check where my 5 grain marker is.
I'm thankful I was attempting to run a starting load.
 
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