How bad would it be..

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So I was reloading some 45 colt yesterday and looked into the charged case at all the leftover room inside; which got me to thinking about the very real possibility of double charging larger cases. Then I had a thought that piqued my interest.

How bad would it be to double charge or even triple charge a 50BMG? My initial thoughts were catastrophic-mushroom-cloud causing explosion, but then I took into consideration how much pressure the .50 operates at normally. Which means that the gun and the casrtridge itself must be built to much higher standards.

Anyone ever witness this firsthand or heard about it happening? I know it sounds kind of morbid, but that would be a sight to behold :what:
 
then I took into consideration how much pressure the .50 operates at normally. Which means that the gun and the casrtridge itself must be built to much higher standards.
Click to expand...

The 50 BMG operates at a standard maximum pressure of 54K psi which is less than the 30-06 at 59K or the .308 at 60K psi CIP standard. So 50 BMG guns are not exceptional in their pressures when compared to common sporting ammo. Many sporting rounds have significantly higher maximum pressure than the 50 BMG.

The pressure increase due to additional powder increases geometrically and not in a straight line, thus 2x the powder may produce many times the pressure of a appropriate charge. This is specially true for fast powders and a double charge will often ruin the gun depending upon the powder and the final charge amount while a tripple charge of a near maximum load will normally result in a catastrophic disassembly of the gun and sometimes the shooter.

I was in a gun store this weekend when another customer brought in a .45 LC Ruger Black Hawk with 3 cylinders blow out and the top strap bent upwards. He said his son and friend was shooting it and he didn't know anything about what caused it or what ammo they where using. Not sure if he was just playing dumb or not. But a double, maybe triple charge certainly destroyed his Ruger.
 
50 BMG basic cartridge dimensions. All sizes in inches (in). The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 1 in 15 in (381 mm), with 8 lands and grooves. The primer type specified for this ammunition is Boxer primer that has a single centralized ignition point (US and NATO countries). However, some other countries produce the ammunition with Berdan primers that have two flash holes.,[4] the U.S. Army Ammunition Data Sheets — Small Caliber Ammunition, not including plastic practice, short cased spotter, or proof/test loads, is 54,923 PSI (378 MPa or 3,787 bar). The proof/test pressure is listed as 65,000 psi (448 MPa or 4,482 bar). As a note these are the military machine gun standards and not ideal for use as guidelines in reloading or personal use.


but then I took into consideration how much pressure the .50 operates at normally.
Click to expand...

Doesn't run any higher than many hunting rounds.
 
so nothing out of the ordinary then huh? That story about the blackhawk is impressive! Exactly why I charge and seat at the same time.
 
Efficiency dictates using a powder that fills the case, which eliminates the possibility of a double charge. Economics demand the exact oppisite.

This is why reloading is so much fun.......:D

While it's true that you could double charge your 45 Colt, it's not just limited to any certain caliber, almost all pistol(and some rifle) rounds will list powder combonations that leave the physical space needed for a double(or more) charge. I do note that the number of rifle charge weights that leave enough room for a double charge is very small, and usually limited to "reduced load" data.

Regardless of caliber or normal operating pressures, that's BAD irrespective of the exact caliber in question.

Moral of the story:

Be careful out there.
 
Last edited:
"How bad would it be to double charge or even triple charge a 50BMG? "

That would not be possible with any normal powder for the cartridge.
 
Zactly!

The .50 BMG case is full to the bullet with a standard load of any normal powder used in it.

Like all bottleneck rifle calibers, a double or triple charge is impossible because it won't fit in the case.

Even a case full of powder won't work, because then the bullet won't fit.

rc
 
If you are really worried about double charging then I would suggest using the Trailboss powder, it seems to fill the cases better.
 
Me:
Exactly why I charge and seat at the same time.
Click to expand...

I'm not worried about double charging, just got to thinking about the possibility of overcharging a large caliber cartridge. Read the entire thread please. ;)

BTW, Trailboss rocks!
 
Double and triple charges are a very real possibility with the cavernous .45 Colt cases and small charge weights. Obviously we just have to be careful with it. No surprise there.

As already posted, there are very few rifle calibers that would allow a double charge. The .50 BMG is a huge case, but uses huge quantities of slow burning powder as well.
 
Exactly why I charge and seat at the same time.
Click to expand...
Exactly why I don't charge & seat at the same time.
It's way to easy to make a mistake doing it one by one.

I charge in 50-round loading blocks, inspect each charge with a pin-light, and then press the bullets into the cases.
(or set spitzer rifle bullets in the case mouths up-side down to plug the holes.)

Then I seat them all.

Absolutely zero chance of missing a charge or double charging one.
You can even spot a tiny difference in powder level when you compare them to the 49 others in the loading block.

rc
 
I'm anal. I weigh every powder charge. Then dump the charge into the case right from the scale. Then seat (and crimp if required) the bullet.
 
45 Colt was designed as a black powder round so the case is roomy enough to accept a double charge.

.50 BMG was designed as a smokeless powder round, so I doubt if there is room for a double charge. Some smokeless rounds when loaded with a standard charge of appropriate powder actually have no room left: like a standard BP charge for a 45 LC, the powder charge fills the case or nearly fills the case.

.38 Special is another original black powder case that will take a double or triple charge of smokeless powder with unwanted results. I usually charge ten rounds in a row and eyeball the powder level with a maglite before seating bullets.
 
I put my primed cases in a loading block headstamp up. Take a case, put it upside down into the powder funnel, logic being anything inside falls out. Put my powder in the scale pan (I use a powder measure and still weigh every charge. Redundant huh?) and weigh it (duh). Pick up the funnel and the definitely empty case as a unit, turn it over and pour the charge into the case. Set down the funnel next to the empty scale pan, pick up a bullet, and seat. Freshly made round goes back in its respective hole in the loading block, bullet side up for inspection. Almost no way to screw that up.

From Hodgdon's site:

Bullet: 650 GR. M-33
Powder: Hodgdon US 869
Bullet Diamter: .510"
OAL: 5.425"
Charge Weight: 265.0
Vel: 3155

265 grains!! :what:
 
Yep!

26 rounds per pound of powder!

Them .50 cal shooters must all be drug dealers to be able to afford it!
Or should I say "Undocumented Pharmacists"?

rc
 
The Bushmaster......it's okay..I too am 'anal' when it comes to 'my bacon' and being safe. Might as well, as I am there..I weight each and every charge on electronic scale....to the 'natts' arse.
Besides, I will teach my step kids..and i want them doin it correctly/safely as well.
 
I viusally check every pistol charge 3 times. First, I check it when I through it before I place it in the charging tray. Then, I inspect all 50 under a strong light. As I pick up each charged case, I look at the amount of powder.
For rifle rounds, I weigh each charge,dump it into the case,look at it under a strong light, then immediately seat the bullet.
BushMaster, I'm old, grumpy, and anal,too. However, after 35 years of reloading, I've still got all my guns and fingers. We had a saying in the Air Force:"There are old pilots. There are bold pilots. But there are no old and bold pilots."
 
I load on a progressive, but I lean my old bones over and see every single charge I seat a bullet over. And I do mean every single one. :scrutiny:

I never get in a hurry loading. It's too important.
 
"If you are really worried about double charging then I would suggest using the Trailboss powder, it seems to fill the cases better. "

Anyone trying to fill a .50BMG with Trailboss is going to have an interesting - if brief - range session1
 
Exactly why I don't charge & seat at the same time.
It's way to easy to make a mistake doing it one by one.

I charge in 50-round loading blocks, inspect each charge with a pin-light, and then press the bullets into the cases.
(or set spitzer rifle bullets in the case mouths up-side down to plug the holes.)

Then I seat them all.

Absolutely zero chance of missing a charge or double charging one.
You can even spot a tiny difference in powder level when you compare them to the 49 others in the loading block.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more... I've been using single stage more and more these days, even for pistol. Just finished 100 rounds of 30-30 Winchester.

LGB



LGB
 
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