Overcharged load by .03. How bad is that?

[7even6ix2wo]

I loaded some .44 magnum recently with 13.1 grains of unique. During this process my friend was helping me measure powder and didn't inform me until later that he thought he might have accidentally loaded one with 13.4. Is this a cause for concern? I know tolerances are tight and the loading manual said 13.1 was a max load for unique. These are being shot from a desert eagle. Many people have told me it shouldn't be a problem since .44 cases can handle a lot (these are once fired) but I just wanted to gather some more opinions before I decide to disassemble them all.

 

[243winxb]

Have you already fired 13.1gr in your 44mag. ? What bullet? Alliant does not list that much Unique with any of there load data. In some of your other post, you are having problems getting the gun to cycle. Being that you have a Gas-operated action, trying a slower burn rate of powder may work better. W296 or H110?

 

[PreMod70]

You're overcharged 0.30 grains, not 0.03 grains as posted. The liability factors will keep most from responding but being a .44 shooter you should be able to figure out what to do own your own, good shooting.

 

[T Bran]

No offense to your friend intended but break em down. Personally I wont fire reloads made by anyone but me and being anywhere near max loads just makes it much more dangerous. It is just not worth the risk to you your friend or the gun. Not having heard about the problem untill after the fact would make even more nervous.
STAY SAFE
T

 

[coosbaycreep]

I doubt 13.4 grains would hurt anything, but if your friend is accident prone enough to over charge by .3 grains, what makes you think he knows well enough that that's all he over charged it by?

I'd pull 'em if you're unsure. That's an expensive gun to mess up because someone was careless.

 

[beatledog7]

Pull them. That's enough over the recommended max to be potentially unsafe. Until you get that done, mark them clearly so you don't shoot them by mistake.

 

[Scott_R]

How do the 13.1 loads shoot? Are the cases sticking? You could load some .2, and .3 and see how they do if each shows no pressure signs.

Of course I'm not recommending you do that. That would be stupid.

 

[Snowbandit]

That load is over max at 13.1 grains. I say pull them down and salvage whatever components you can.

Unique is okay powder for mild and medium .44 Magnum loads. It's not a good choice for the full power loads needed to operate the Desert Eagle. Find someone that knows what they're doing to help you and use a powder along the lines of H-110.

 

[7even6ix2wo]

Thanks for the help, I think I will pull them to be on the safe side.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

Pull them apart ! Not worth the risk ! Kevin

 

[Arkansas Paul]

You're making the correct call by pulling them. If it was in a Ruger, a Freedom Arms, or a T/C Contender I'd say just shoot em. I don't think I would in anything else, especially an auto.

This is precisely why I don't usually load max loads. I try and load as close to the middle as I can get, that way if something like that happened and you didn't catch it in time, it's no big deal. At least with most powders it's not. Some, like H110 have a pretty narrow window, but most don't have that problem.

Just my 0.02

 

[jmorris]

How did you get 1 round .3 grains heavy? Are you using a powder measure? In any case it's one round, chunk it in the trash and move on.

 

[jmorris]

FWIW you should never start loading with a Max load or they would change the name. Always start low and work up.