Overheard some TERRIBLE reloading advice today

[bsctov]

I was at my local sporting goods store trying to see if they had any unique or bullseye in stock, after the clerk informed me that he did not have any, and that it might be years before it was his turn to get some, I overheard another customer asking about reloading dies and how to figure out if your using the correct amount of powder...the clerk who he was speaking too said "well, you just fill the cases until they're just about full, you don't want too much so that the bullet wont seat... then when the guy asked what kind of powder he should use to reload .380acp, the same clerk replied "you can use rifle powder if you can't find the pistol stuff, just make sure you use a little less."


I caught up with the guy before he left and told him to please not follow any of that advice, and to buy a reloading manual and do some research. Also had a little chat with the manager, but WOW!

 

[THe Dove]

May I ask,,,,,, where did this happen? (Store, City, State)

 

[JO JO]

terrible advise, that's one thing I have noticed that so many of the gun counter
folks are all self proclaimed tactical pro mall ninja experts just ask them they tell you so
nice of you to do the right thing and tell the person that is was poor advice

 

[bsctov]

I'd rather not ID the store by name, it's a smaller chain not any of the big names, but I addressed the problem with the manager and his eyes went


I thought they were joking at first, but no......no they were not

 

[notaglockfanboy]

WOW, just WOW. This is exactly why I don't ask advice from gun stores.

 

[joem1945]

The local know it all at the club was touting the Elmer keith 240 gr .44 cast lead bullet. I mentioned that I didn't have very good luck and had better groups with a SWC flat nose. He asked me how much powder I used 9.1 gr. Oh, he said that's your problem you need to use 16 to 17 grains of powder. I replied that since 10 gr of AA # 2 was max that would blow the gun up. I asked if he ever used AA#2 and he said no. He left and never talked to me again.

 

[LeonCarr]

Think of all the times that they gave advice and nobody corrected them.

Rule Number One - Read The Manual.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Officers'Wife]

I'm guessing that guy wasn't interested in having repeat customers or had a monetary interest in a funeral home or crematorium.Then again, he could be an undercover terrorist plot sent over here to reduce the number of civilian shooters.

It's stories like this that make me appreciate the care an unnamed idiot that shall remain my brother takes in his reloading.

 

[HankC]

Must be a Trail Boss outlet store!

 

[moxie]

What is the difference between an Elmer Keith 240 gr. cast lead bullet and a SWC flat nose? Cast vs. swaged?

 

[ljnowell]

What is the difference between an Elmer Keith 240 gr. cast lead bullet and a SWC flat nose? Cast vs. swaged?

The Keith bullet is a SWC, and it has a flat nose. It has a different shape and lube groove/crimp groove configuration than many others.

 

[GLOOB]

When I was completely green I brought a list of suitable pistol powders to the store. The only one I found was Universal Clays. The expert at the store told me it was only for shotgun. I was already confused enough by the different kinds of clays and I passed. If it weren't for that I would probably be using universal rather than unique.

It seems the main reason I have preferences in my powder at all is I don't want to have to work up new loads.

 

[WestKentucky]

I hear bad advice a lot, but usually it's from one customer to another. I once heard a gentleman tell another that you load .308 the same as 30-06 because it's the same thing just shorter. Also once heard that 357 mag can't be overloaded to blow the gun up because the bullet would get so far down the barrel and the cylinder gap would release any excess pressure.

 

[geist262]

That is insane.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

That is unbelievable,
I'm glad you talked to the manager. I feel bad for the people who are trying to learn to reload with idiots like that around.

They just never cease to amaze me.

 

[oneounceload]

In the OLD days before Al invented the net, I knew a few folks who reloaded for their deer/elk rifles. While they at least used a decent rifle powder, (like IMR 4350 or similar), their method was to dip the case in and fill it to the base of the neck (talking basic 270/'06 type cartridges). No scale, no "dippers" nothing; killed their deer or elk after firing one or two "sighting" in shots and then the rifle went back in the cabinet - anyone remember Morton Booth?

In this day and age of the Net and all of its misinformation, there still is a lot more good stuff than bad. If that person is that stupid or ignorant, then maybe it is time for a new Darwin Award winner,..........
just sayin'

 

[fatal wound]

Thank God you were there to correct the advice the clerk gave him. Thanks for helping that new re-loader out.

 

[gamestalker]

That's the second time I've heard of someone giving that same exact advice, except the first time it was someone giving me that advice more than 30 yrs. ago.

Also had a store clerk tell me that IMR-7828 SSC isn't at all the same thing as the standard cut 7828. OK, thanks for the heads up, give me 5 lbs. please.

GS

 

[blue32]

People that give idiot reloading advice are just asking to get attacked by a helper dog.

 

[readyeddy]

Not surprised about the guy behind the counter. Lots of folks don't know what they're talking about but don't let that stop them. That's why I like coming here where there's usually at least one person that knows the answer.

 

[Dudedog]

I heard the powder they use for 16" naval guns is just the ticket for .223 long range loads..

NO just kidding, wonder if the grains are even small grains to fit thru the case neck on .223.

Glad you were there. One would think they would be reluctant to give "reloading advice" due to liability issues.

 

[Ex]

Good gun store advice.

Years before the insanity, when I was ready to build my first 10mm, I went to my local store.
Asked the owner if he had ever loaded 10mm and what powder did he have that he might suggest.

He replied that he he thought about building some 10mm but never gotten around to it. He said "Lets just pull out the big Lyman manual and see waht it says". We looked at all the 180 gn 10mm loads, saw that LongShot gave a tad better velocity than 800x but that 800x had substantially lower pressure at maximum book. He added that he had never personally used 800x so he couldn't tell me what it metered like but at it's lower pressure, he recommended that I start with that. I felt that to be a very prudent answer and bought a pound of the 800x.

Now, I prefer Longshot hands down. Cleaner, faster, and I have enough experience to be safe with it. But it was good advice.

 

[TexasDon]

One big problem is that a lot of guys can't say " I don't know!!"

Who can know or remember everything.....I know I can't.
I live in a very small town and use to go to a small country store/restaurant for morning coffee and sit and talk to the local guys.

There is a lot of Deer and Hog hunting around here.

I've heard more lies and BAD INFORMATION that I care to mention.
BAD INFORMATION usually came from guys with a few fingers cut off and a bad limp..!!!!

Go Figure......

TxDoN

 

[MtnCreek]

their method was to dip the case in and fill it to the base of the neck

Works for .223 / 55gr bullet / Varget loads too.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Also once heard that 357 mag can't be overloaded to blow the gun up because the bullet would get so far down the barrel and the cylinder gap would release any excess pressure.

I thought that was common knowledge