double charge a load? How??

[ScottsGT]

Seriously. I've just started reloading rifle ammo for the first time in my life this week. Been doing .45ACP and .45LC for a few years. I always read about double charges, accidents, blowing up a gun, etc....(Please don't ask me for links to what I have read over the past 5+ years!)
But with my first rifle experience being the .308 and wanting the same powder for my .30-06, I went with IMR4895 and for bullets I found some 168 gn. Seirra Match Kings. Reading up, I have settled on something like 40.6 grns. for a starting load. I'm using the Lee Perfect measure set up for this, and I have double checked the weight of the powder on my Lee scale. When I charge the brass, it is almost filled to the neck. If one was to accidently double charge it, there would be powder over their bench, right?
Does it sound like my powder is about right?? I'd much rather ask this "dumb" queston now instead of posting photos of my M1A blown apart on a range table!

 

[bullseye308]

Just for fun, try it and see. I mean, pour in a charge then while holding the case over a container, add another and see just how much will not fit. In rifles it would be pretty hard to do. I did this yesterday loading Bullseye in a 38 SPL and got 5 charges in a case just to see how many it would hold. You should not have to worry too much about a double charge in a rifle, most charges will fill a case up close to the neck. Pistols on the other hand....

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Use a powder like Unique, fills pistol cases because its bulky. Titegroup on the other hand, could probably fit 4 charges in a 40 S&W case. Two charges of 7 grains of Unique will overflow the case.

 

[MCMXI]

Does it sound like my powder is about right??

Sure!! I use 4895 and 168gr SMK bullets (with Lapua brass) and the powder is close to the bottom of the neck with loads in the low 40s. The powder will be compressed at around 45.0gr assuming a "standard" bullet seating depth.

 

[Dean Williams]

It's pretty hard to double charge most rifle cartridges with the slower burning powders as it just won't all go into the case, but you can still easily over charge them. It only takes a few grains to go from safe to dangerous.

If you're loading cast bullets in a rifle case and using the faster burning pistol and shotgun powders, you can easily fit a double (or triple!) charge in a case, and things can be very bad for you, and people around you.

 

[JimmAr]

Double charge is a bad idea.