Loaded two .223 with no powder - nothing happened.

[IMtheNRA]

I had some sudden malfunctions with the Hornady LNL case activated powder measure linkage on my LNL press. After fixing the issue and catching a few empty rounds, I must have let these two slip by me.

When shooting, all I heard was the hammer fall, then - nothing. Upon ejecting the bad rounds, I saw that the firing pin indentation was huge. The bullets did not budge from their position in the case neck.

After pulling the bullets, I saw that the bases of the two bullets were black with soot, so obviously, I had good primers, but no powder.

I was using CCI small rifle bench-rest primers.

Anyway, I was surprised to see that an empty case did not cause a squib, and it was a nice reminder to keep a close eye on all the moving parts while using my LNL press.

 

[Josh45]

Glad nothing else happened. A Squib could ruin a good day at the range.
This is why I choose to weigh each charge with a beam scale and a Powder Dribbler/Trickler.
Time consuming? Yes.
All rounds have powder and easy to make sure? Yes.
Safe? ( For me ) I think so.

 

[Mal H]

That is odd. A primer usually has enough oomph to at least unseat the bullet, and often enough to push it a short way into the riflings.

 

[Mike 27]

I just got my LNL AP a few weeks ago and I have not had an issue yet but doing some research I think I want to pick up a powder cop or a RCBS lock out die. From the little research that I have done they look like a great safety measure for such issues. All this at this point is speculation, but I saw the mod for the dillon on THR but do not want to drill my new press. Just my thoughts after moving from my trusty single stage.

 

[helotaxi]

The case capacity of a .223 round is large enough that a primer alone won't build enough pressure to unseat the bullet if there is no powder and neck tension is adequate. Pistol rounds are a different story.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Mike27 - I use a RCBS lockout die whenever I load pistol rounds. I don't think there is a similar safety device for rifle rounds. I wish there was.

 

[777TRUTH]

Glad everything worked out ok.

I also use the RCBS lockout die for pistol. As noted above the RCBS will not work on rifle which is leading me to retrofit the Dillon powder check to my LNL AP.

I have some Ford red paint for the Dillon powder check since blue will clash with all my red .

 

[Tom488]

I never load anything on my progressive press without either an RCBS lockout die (for pistol) or an RCBS powder check die (for rifle). Both have saved me from making a few squib rounds, as one time I ran out of powder and didn't realize it - the other I had a powder bridge with some stick powder.

 

[Blue68f100]

A powder cop will do the trick on Rifle rounds. Some use RCBS Lock out on Pistol. I only use the Powder Cop in my LNL-AP.

 

[Fisherdave10]

My friend who also loads .223 on a Hornady LnL also had a near-squib with his Colt 6920 a few years ago but like yours, the bullet did not budge. The primer fired, but there must not have been any powder in the case.

 

[mmay1]

I made a similar mistake with a 223 round, fortunately with the same result - primer did not unseat the bullet. I knew I had a misfire but did not know I had a squib until I got home and pulled the bullet and found no powder. I changed my procedure to lessen the liklihood of that happening again.