Pulp
Member
A safety lesson I wanted to share with the group.
Last week a co-worker brought me a little sample of APP. He wanted me to chronograph it out of my T/C Hawken. So I gathered up some Goex FFg, FFFg, Pryo RS and P, and Triple 7, FFg and FFFg to do a bit of experimenting.
I was using a .490 round ball for all shots, and a 4.3cc Lee dipper for powder charges.
I don't have my notes with me, so the velocities are kinda from memory. These are two shot averages.
Goex FFg 1400fps
APP 900fps
777 FFg 2010fps, one shot WHAT? Chrono must have misread.
Pyro RS 1400
Pryo P 1500
777 FFFg 1600.
I go back to the 777FFg, there's no way it could be that much faster than anything else. Next shot is 1990fps. Something is bad wrong.
Here's the warning signs that I ignored:
1. when pouring the powder into the dipper, I noticed it had some shiny flecks in it. "I don't remember that from the last time"
2. extreme velocity on the first shot.
Both of these should have rang a warning bell, especially after the first shot, but I ignored them and shot it again.
OK, here's what I think happened. Last year I was reloading some .44-40 with Hodgdon's Tite Group. When I finished, I apparently dumped the Tite-Group into the 777 container.
1. I violated one of the prime rules of reloading safety.
2. I ignored the odd appearance of the powder
3. I ignored the extreme velocity of the first shot, chalked it up to a bad chrono reading.
So I reckon God does look out for idiots, and I have a new respect for my T/C Hawken rifle. I'm sure glad I was using small charges.
Last week a co-worker brought me a little sample of APP. He wanted me to chronograph it out of my T/C Hawken. So I gathered up some Goex FFg, FFFg, Pryo RS and P, and Triple 7, FFg and FFFg to do a bit of experimenting.
I was using a .490 round ball for all shots, and a 4.3cc Lee dipper for powder charges.
I don't have my notes with me, so the velocities are kinda from memory. These are two shot averages.
Goex FFg 1400fps
APP 900fps
777 FFg 2010fps, one shot WHAT? Chrono must have misread.
Pyro RS 1400
Pryo P 1500
777 FFFg 1600.
I go back to the 777FFg, there's no way it could be that much faster than anything else. Next shot is 1990fps. Something is bad wrong.
Here's the warning signs that I ignored:
1. when pouring the powder into the dipper, I noticed it had some shiny flecks in it. "I don't remember that from the last time"
2. extreme velocity on the first shot.
Both of these should have rang a warning bell, especially after the first shot, but I ignored them and shot it again.
OK, here's what I think happened. Last year I was reloading some .44-40 with Hodgdon's Tite Group. When I finished, I apparently dumped the Tite-Group into the 777 container.
1. I violated one of the prime rules of reloading safety.
2. I ignored the odd appearance of the powder
3. I ignored the extreme velocity of the first shot, chalked it up to a bad chrono reading.
So I reckon God does look out for idiots, and I have a new respect for my T/C Hawken rifle. I'm sure glad I was using small charges.