Mark_Mark
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- Jan 9, 2021
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- 17,854
Good God! .380 has that much power?!?!?! ouch!
Every New Loader Needs to Read This
- Thread starter sisyphus
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Waterboy3313
Member
I've been reloading for about 3 years. Around the beginning of summer I upgraded to a turret press. My first batch on the turret press I had a squib in my 357 mag. The bullet was cleared from the barrel and had unburned powder on it. If doesn't feel or sound right stop and figure it before continuing.
I went home with a lot of thoughts about what happened and what caused it. I looked at my press and found that there was powder around the base of the ram. I came to the conclusion after expanding the face mouth and adding the powder the case must of jerked rough enough to spill the powder out of the case before seating the bullet.
I've changed my method quite a bit since this happened. I tend to batch my priming and case mount expanding in one session leaving primed cases primer side up in a loading block. I use a Hornady auto charger and fill one case at a time and when that filled case leaves my hand it gets a bullet set on it and goes into the press. I manually rotate the turret from seating die to crimp die and when done I have a complete round. It goes back into the block bullet side up. When all 50 rounds are complete they get wiped off and given a final check before going into a plastic ammo box with a detailed label.
I spend a lot of time measuring everything multiple times throughout the process. I don't care how long it takes as I'm never in a hurry. My loads are accurate and consistent.
I went home with a lot of thoughts about what happened and what caused it. I looked at my press and found that there was powder around the base of the ram. I came to the conclusion after expanding the face mouth and adding the powder the case must of jerked rough enough to spill the powder out of the case before seating the bullet.
I've changed my method quite a bit since this happened. I tend to batch my priming and case mount expanding in one session leaving primed cases primer side up in a loading block. I use a Hornady auto charger and fill one case at a time and when that filled case leaves my hand it gets a bullet set on it and goes into the press. I manually rotate the turret from seating die to crimp die and when done I have a complete round. It goes back into the block bullet side up. When all 50 rounds are complete they get wiped off and given a final check before going into a plastic ammo box with a detailed label.
I spend a lot of time measuring everything multiple times throughout the process. I don't care how long it takes as I'm never in a hurry. My loads are accurate and consistent.
eyeshot
Member
Same people that think they can text while driving. They are good at it until they aren't.
QUOTE="Ranger99, post: 12094945, member: 274370"]All of this ^ ^ ^ ^ so far
Everyone reading this thread may or may not believe at the times I've been flamed
online for suggesting that one devote their utmost attention to the loading chore, and
eliminate each and every distraction around
themselves while loading.
I always get " you're just FOS !
I can load and watch ( whatever show) on
television at the same time ! Just because
you can't doesn't mean everyone else can't!"
Or the " I don't need to look at what I'm
doing ! That's why I bought a progressive
so I wouldn't have to pay attention and I
can load ten times faster than you can ! "
All you can do is to tell somebody.
You can't make them do what they don't
want to, and there's no loading police
to call
Oh well. . . It's not my face and eyes[/QUOTE]
QUOTE="Ranger99, post: 12094945, member: 274370"]All of this ^ ^ ^ ^ so far
Everyone reading this thread may or may not believe at the times I've been flamed
online for suggesting that one devote their utmost attention to the loading chore, and
eliminate each and every distraction around
themselves while loading.
I always get " you're just FOS !
I can load and watch ( whatever show) on
television at the same time ! Just because
you can't doesn't mean everyone else can't!"
Or the " I don't need to look at what I'm
doing ! That's why I bought a progressive
so I wouldn't have to pay attention and I
can load ten times faster than you can ! "
All you can do is to tell somebody.
You can't make them do what they don't
want to, and there's no loading police
to call
Oh well. . . It's not my face and eyes[/QUOTE]
stonebuster
Member
I started reloading 38/357 last December on a Lee Classic 4 die turret press. My system is to prime single stage, put into loading block primer up, label block with type/brand of primer. I prime 100-200 at a time and load another day. Next sitting zero scale, set it and after 5 consistant drops start loading. I visually inspect each case after powder drop before seating bullet then advance to seating then crimp. I check the COAL with calipers before crimping the first round. I check every tenth powder drop on the scale and keep an eye on the COAL. All ammo boxes labeled with all data and dated and recorded in my notebook.
Bazoo
Member
My technique is to use bowls with brass up until the powder charging. Then I charge a loading blocks worth. Inspect it with a light, seat bullets on those. Then charge another blocks worth and so on.
I usually take a break before charging cases, sometimes before priming. So when I charge cases I'm fresh, or have only primed, which didn't tire my mind much.
I usually take a break before charging cases, sometimes before priming. So when I charge cases I'm fresh, or have only primed, which didn't tire my mind much.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,331
I am another who loads primarily on a single stage these days, by choice. When I really need a bunch of ammo I still use the old progressive, but that just doesn't come up much any more.
With the single stage, I always work in batches, and most of it is kind of brainless. You really don't have to have laser-sharp focus to resize or flare. I pay more attention when priming - I always wear glasses and make sure the case mouth is pointed away from me - and of course charging and seating do get my full attention. I've whiled away many pleasant hours, though, performing the more basic chores of handloading while listening to music or watching TV - and even enjoying a good glass of whiskey or gin - and I doubt there is any reasonable argument against it.
With the single stage, I always work in batches, and most of it is kind of brainless. You really don't have to have laser-sharp focus to resize or flare. I pay more attention when priming - I always wear glasses and make sure the case mouth is pointed away from me - and of course charging and seating do get my full attention. I've whiled away many pleasant hours, though, performing the more basic chores of handloading while listening to music or watching TV - and even enjoying a good glass of whiskey or gin - and I doubt there is any reasonable argument against it.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
My lesson was no disturbances while loading. Every time i had a squib load. Was because someone was talking to me while loading. Now i lock the door and no phone. Im fine with the radio playing.
I like to resize deprime and expand case mouth on my a.p. get two things done with each pull. Then wet tumble. Then prime with my F.A. hand priming tool while watching Fox news. Then bag em up until I load.have hundreds of cases ready to go when I find load I want to try. Then I finish 50 or 100 with pacific pistol powder measure seat and crimp on lee classic turret. I have used the a.p. for 38 and 45 target loads with powder cop several hundred at a time but like to load smaller batches of trying different components so the prepped brass and turret press is my normal way.
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