Complacency can cost you time and $

[Lennyjoe]

Moved my FA electronic powder measure and forgot to recalibrate it until I was 80 rounds in with a 10MM 800x load. Dropped .2 tenths higher than my favorite 800x under 180 gr XTP’s so now I have to pull them down and start over. The load is over the published max so I won’t divulge its weight here. Just know that I’ve gone up to that weight in my G20 without any signs of over pressure.

I realized it when I rechecked a powder load with another scale but it was late in the game.

Yea I know, even though I’ve been loading for 21 years I should of known better. Just remember to check and recheck....

 

[Charlie98]

I talk myself through the process when I start and go through a mental checklist. So far so good...

 

[NMexJim]

Been reloading nearly 50-years, and have seen a goof or two. I finally developed a system that I do not deviate from.

My reloading process is to gather up and lay out everything I'm going to need. Manuals, logs and notes, dies, scales, tools, bullets, brass, powder. Inspect and clean the dies if needed. Test run the press.

Once I decide on the bullet/powder/primer/OAL combination, I write it all down on masking tape and stick it to the side of the hopper before I even start setting up. When I get to setting the powder drop, everything not needed goes out of the way except for the scale and a clear path to it. My full attention is on the scale. Once I've got the drop metering to my charge, I repeat the drop and weigh at least 5 times before I go into production. I leave the scale set up and running so I can check a few more times while reloading just to be sure. I check and recheck overall lengh, and crimp diameter.

The masking tape notes have saved my bacon a few times when something happened, and I was unexpectedly called away. There's been a couple of times when I didn't get back to it for several days. I just then read those notes, recheck all the die and meter sets, and get right back at it.

It took me a long time to change over to electronic scales. They make me nervous. I still keep an Ohaus 10-10 close by, and I'll bring it out in a heartbeat if something feels off.
We all reload a bit differently from each other. But, having a system has worked for me.

 

[bullseye308]

What’s important is that you caught the mistake before it got you. Thanks for the reminder to develop a work flow and stick with it every time.

 

[Lennyjoe]

What’s important is that you caught the mistake before it got you. Thanks for the reminder to develop a work flow and stick with it every time.

I agree. Since I’m using 800X to load ~1000 10MM I moved the powder dumper/scale closer to my progressive press. Normally it sits by my single stage press for rifle loading but I wanted to maximize my access to it and I skipped a step by mistake.

 

[Skgreen]

A poise inadvertently set 1 notch 'heavy' (+5 gr) resulted in me pulling (600) 223 cartridges a while back.
My Hornady cam-lock made it far more bearable than it sounds,,,

 

[Lennyjoe]

A poise inadvertently set 1 notch 'heavy' (+5 gr) resulted in me pulling (600) 223 cartridges a while back.
My Hornady cam-lock made it far more bearable than it sounds,,,

Imagine doing that with a kinetic puller?

 

[BigBlue 94]

Dropped .2 tenths higher than my favorite 800x

.2 tenths? Whats the worry? Thats only 2 hundredths...

Now 2 tenths I could see

 

[NMexJim]

2 tenths in a fast powder like AA2 can drive you to Boston .......
Not in a 10, but maybe a .380.
Anyway, YOU don't want BIG Bubba driving you to Boston! Nope, not ever, never.

 

[mdi]

I have a set process I go through every session. (not bragging but I learned from experience after having a squib after 4 shots, locking up my revolver and had to drive 1+ hrs back home). Since I keep powder and primers in cabinets away from my bench I have to purposely gather components and bring them to the bench. First step is setting up the power measure and to do this I need to weigh charges so my scales are zeroed (RCBS 5-10) and calibrated (FA digital). One way to make this part easier is my beam scale has a cover over it and my digital is in a case so I can't just start weighing, I need to make the scales usable and zeroing/calibrating is easy to remember. I'm never in a hurry and I've been doing this for many years and it's habit. I try to impress on new reloaders I speak to to set a system of "set up" and make safety a hard habit, right from the start and to practice them diligently...

.2 = two tenths, 2/10ths
.02 = two hundredths, 2/100ths
Big difference...

 

[Lennyjoe]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

10.5 to 10.7 grains. My G20 shoots 10.5 all day long with no over pressure signs out of the KKM barrel. Wouldn’t use it in the factory one that’s for sure.

 

[gyrene]

>I agree. Since I’m using 800X to load ~1000 10MM I moved the powder dumper/scale closer to my progressive press. Normally it sits by my single stage press for rifle loading but I wanted to maximize my access to it and I skipped a step by mistake.<

Wait.... what? You're joking!!! You're actually able to get a powder dumper to measure 800X with consistency? Years ago I learned that 800X was the most accurate powder for me in 10mm, and simultaneously I discovered it was just impossible to get those damn tiny little cornflakes to drop consistently from my Uniflow. Good news was 800X shot very accurately; bad news was each individual round needed to be weighed separately for consistency. No thanks! Moved on to Longshot and BE-86. Stuck with a couple of pounds of 800X I'll probably never use.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Yes. The Frankford Arsenal Intellidropper does a great job on light loads. I had a Hornady dispenser and it wouldn’t do light loads for crap. The FA is much better
https://www.frankfordarsenal.com/re...ropper-electronic-powder-measure/1082250.html

 

[jeffreybehr]

Here's a method of checking calibration of an electronic scale that works EXCELLENTLY for me because it's EASY to do and also because I'm fussy about these things.. Buy (Amazon?) an inexpensive set of calibraton weights and be use the set includes a 2-GRAM weight.. A 2gm. weight weighs 30.865 grains, which rounds to 30.9 grains.. Weigh it often during the reloading process to verify that your your scale/dispenser is still calibrated correctly.

 

[Soonerpesek]

.2 tenths? Whats the worry? Thats only 2 hundredths...

Now 2 tenths I could see

..........I see what you did there............

 

[Swampman]

He didn't DID nuthin 'cept notice!