Arkansas Paul
Member
You didn't call yourself any durogatory names after that did you icanthitabarn?
reloading dangers - have you ever had an accident?
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icanthitabarn
Member
If I didn't, I probably should have. No doubt that I was thanking the Lord above, as he watches out for umm what type does he watch out for?
Jim Watson
Member
Heaven protect me from experts with a couple years experience.
The only gun I know to have blown up on the range here was almost certainly a double charge.
Shooter: "I'm done, out of ammo."
Helpful Harry: "Here, take some of mine."
[KaBoom!]
Lessons learned:
1. Don't use ammunition loaded by somebody else. Let him blow up HIS gun.
2. Don't use Bullseye for max load .357 Magnum.
jhansman
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I've been at it for about 3 yrs. now, with no mishaps (except almost puncturing my thumb with a decapping/resizing die). In a former life I was a dental technician, and as such learned daily safety and awareness (open flame, torches, 1800 degree ovens, surgical blades, etc.). I have my 10 rules posted right over my bench, and every so often take a moment to re-read them.
The other night I was tired enough to neglect to visually check my charges when the cases were in the loading block; I dismantled all the bullet-seated rounds, and just to be sure, dumped all the charged cases back into the bottle and started over.
It's not the "experts" I have to be careful of—it's me.
The other night I was tired enough to neglect to visually check my charges when the cases were in the loading block; I dismantled all the bullet-seated rounds, and just to be sure, dumped all the charged cases back into the bottle and started over.
It's not the "experts" I have to be careful of—it's me.
Win1892
Member
15 years reloading. 8 with a Dillon 650. First batch on the Dillon I loaded a pair of squibs in 9mm. Stuck one in my M16 and the other in my Beretta 92. Knew I had a problem instantly with both guns and did not rack the followup shot.
No further squibs. Developed a very specific "rhythm" that I do not deviate from or stop in the middle of. It works.
Did detonate a primer once on my workbench, but not while reloading. Just about blew my finger off.
I dispose of any questionable components, regardless of cost. Turning a firearm into a hand grenade is not on my to-do list.
No further squibs. Developed a very specific "rhythm" that I do not deviate from or stop in the middle of. It works.
Did detonate a primer once on my workbench, but not while reloading. Just about blew my finger off.
I dispose of any questionable components, regardless of cost. Turning a firearm into a hand grenade is not on my to-do list.
accident.
I started reloading shotgun shells back in 72. Got into metallic back in 84. I have had one painful mistake that lasted for years and was due to my own stubborness. I was reloading 38spl. and did not use enough lube. Well the case became stuck in the die no problem I will just knock it out like I did with the last one.
I had been using a 22 cal. cleaning rod to remove the stuck cases. Stick it in the die and give it a good hard wack with the palm of my hand. It worked like a champ up to this point. So when the next case got stuck no problem grab the rod and wack. This time case refuse's to move,wack again with more force, no luck get mad hit rod hard this time. Results plastic handle explodes
rod bulges skin on the back of my hand and i stare at it for a few seconds say a few choice words and remove the rod.
A cyst forms that grows in the palm of my hand for years. It gets so big that I can't use my hand. I now have a 3 inch scar in the palm of my right hand where I had to have surgery. But all turned out well.
Simple things can happen to anyone that is why they are called accidents.
But my stubbornes can't be called an accident.
I started reloading shotgun shells back in 72. Got into metallic back in 84. I have had one painful mistake that lasted for years and was due to my own stubborness. I was reloading 38spl. and did not use enough lube. Well the case became stuck in the die no problem I will just knock it out like I did with the last one.
I had been using a 22 cal. cleaning rod to remove the stuck cases. Stick it in the die and give it a good hard wack with the palm of my hand. It worked like a champ up to this point. So when the next case got stuck no problem grab the rod and wack. This time case refuse's to move,wack again with more force, no luck get mad hit rod hard this time. Results plastic handle explodes
rod bulges skin on the back of my hand and i stare at it for a few seconds say a few choice words and remove the rod.
A cyst forms that grows in the palm of my hand for years. It gets so big that I can't use my hand. I now have a 3 inch scar in the palm of my right hand where I had to have surgery. But all turned out well.
Simple things can happen to anyone that is why they are called accidents.
But my stubbornes can't be called an accident.
Ignition Override
Member
No, but luckily the 'squibs' barely launched two .303 (.311) bullets, which blocked the next rounds from going into the chambers.
My solution (unless there is a better one): after the powder is in each case, slowly move a flashlight over each one, primarily to check that they have powder, and are at the same height.
Then do it a second time.
My solution (unless there is a better one): after the powder is in each case, slowly move a flashlight over each one, primarily to check that they have powder, and are at the same height.
Then do it a second time.
Twiki357
Member
I've been reloading for 50+ years and the worst mishap I've ever had was hitting my head on something chasing a wayward primer around the floor. Listen to Cosmoline in post #6 and you'll be okay. I load my powder as a separate operation and set the case in the loading tray. Then look to see that the powder level is the same in all. Never had a double charge or squib. And I've never had a primer go off, even when I've crushed them when I missed one of those darn crimped primer pockets.
I know the conventional wisdom is to begin your reloading career on a single stage press and I do agree, although....
After 10+ years of shotshell reloading on a progressive I got tired of shotgunning and switched to pistols. I started with a "Whack-A-Load" which I think is about the worst way you can imagine to seat primers and yes a large pistol primer in a 45 Colt case will make your ears ring for a prolonged period of time!!
After a year of using a Lee Single Stage I recently switched to a Classic Turret. What I have discovered is that the consistancy is much better. As stated in a previous post, you'd really have to NOT have your head in the game to double charge using this press.
Learn the basics first and the best way is on a single stage press. Limit your distractions, no radio, no TV and no smoking. The no smoking is more to prevent you from having to experience lead poisoning that blowing yourself up but both are an issue. If you enjoy the occasional "Adult Beverage", the loading bench really isn't the place. Spilling your beer on the bench can and will result in ruined components. Did I mention that you should limit your distractions?? Have a beer when you're boxing your finished rounds, not when you're making them. Valuable body parts are not something you want to attempt to re-grow.
After 10+ years of shotshell reloading on a progressive I got tired of shotgunning and switched to pistols. I started with a "Whack-A-Load" which I think is about the worst way you can imagine to seat primers and yes a large pistol primer in a 45 Colt case will make your ears ring for a prolonged period of time!!
After a year of using a Lee Single Stage I recently switched to a Classic Turret. What I have discovered is that the consistancy is much better. As stated in a previous post, you'd really have to NOT have your head in the game to double charge using this press.
Learn the basics first and the best way is on a single stage press. Limit your distractions, no radio, no TV and no smoking. The no smoking is more to prevent you from having to experience lead poisoning that blowing yourself up but both are an issue. If you enjoy the occasional "Adult Beverage", the loading bench really isn't the place. Spilling your beer on the bench can and will result in ruined components. Did I mention that you should limit your distractions?? Have a beer when you're boxing your finished rounds, not when you're making them. Valuable body parts are not something you want to attempt to re-grow.
Sawblade
Member
I've been using a Lee Challenger since my dad bought it in the late 80s, and I got more interested in reloading than he did. I got a nice dented fingernail once with the decapper and a .223 case, but nothing bad. I've always used a ram primer in the press and haven't blown one, but I have smashed one in sideways and another upside-down. I got a Mec 9000g last year, and the worst I've done with it is to flip the shot bottle holder over while the red cap was off of the bottle. Luckily it was running low on shot, so I only dumped about 2 lbs. (calculated out to about 15000 BBs)
I have been reloading for only a few months now and although I have not had a problems but I also do not take anything for granted.
I purchased some 9mm used brass that was "once fired, cleaned and lightly polished from an indoor range". When I received the brass I was impress on how nice it was until I started counting out groups of 100 and putting them in zip lock bags for later reloading. I noticed a size difference on the cases and meticulously sorted out 119 pieces of .38 cases and one 9mm case that was fatigued and split on the side.
The point I am getting too is that you need to pay attention to every detail even before you sit down to your reloading machine and once you do that you should have no problems with being a safe re-loader.
I purchased some 9mm used brass that was "once fired, cleaned and lightly polished from an indoor range". When I received the brass I was impress on how nice it was until I started counting out groups of 100 and putting them in zip lock bags for later reloading. I noticed a size difference on the cases and meticulously sorted out 119 pieces of .38 cases and one 9mm case that was fatigued and split on the side.
The point I am getting too is that you need to pay attention to every detail even before you sit down to your reloading machine and once you do that you should have no problems with being a safe re-loader.
mgmorden
Member
Been reloading for 7 years - never had an accident. Have had some questionable things where I decided the risk wasn't worth it. IE, when loading up a batch of rifle rounds a few years back (probably about 50 rounds) I did as I always do: balance the scale, then set it to my desired charge. Add powder until it balances. Did that, finished the rounds. Came back out to the shed where I load the next day and the scale was 10 grains higher than what I was loading at. Now, the door had been left open and there's a good chance one of the cats or a chicken had been in there and bumped it (wouldn't be the first time), but I decided that it wasn't worth the risk. I didn't have a bullet puller at the time so I threw away the whole batch.
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