What would happen?

[Ruger44mag]

I was loading up some .45 ACP with cast bullets today. I was using 5.5gr of Unique under a 230gr bullet. I always double and triple check everything before I seat the bullet. Well on my triple check I noticed a case that I had double charged . So I poured it out and recharged it with the right amount of powder. I got to thinking about weather or not I missed one and somewhere in my box of bullets there is a round waiting to explode when I go out to the range. So what would happen if 11gr of Unique went off in my Springfield XD? Would it blow the gun up? Or would it just bend up the barrel? I don't really think I double charged another one but it kinda eats at you in the back of your mind :banghead:.

 

[GLOOB]

With 11 gr Unique out of a stock 1911? I'd imagine a case head rupture. Mag blown out the bottom. Hands stinging. Hopefully no brass bits and gas blown into your face/eyes. Extractor might be broken. This based on actual experiences I've read about.

So hopefully, you'd just change out the extractor and your shorts and be back in business.

A faster powder might crack the chamber or even split the barrel on a double charge.

I charge up a bunch of cases at a time and inspect them on a loading block. It's easier to tell if a charge is off when it's directly compared to a bunch of other cases! I look in each one with a flashlight.

 

[chris in va]

I do that too...loading block and flashlight. No double charges yet, at least none that got past that stage.

 

[Foto Joe]

Been there done that. Have fun sitting down with an inertia puller thumping out boolits. Or....you could play crash test dummy.

 

[Steel185]

If it's a true double charge, meaning it's 5.5 grains more you might be able to put them on an electronic scale and see if one is 4-5 grains heavy compared to all the others. There are always differences in total weight because the brass might be a few grains different that others and the bullet and it all adds up. But you would be narrowing down the possible double charges.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I did that sorta, I always do a double check with the flashlight and a final check before seating the bullet. After doing the first five bullets one time, I realized I hadn't done the flightlight check. Finished up 50 rounds, but the first five were still eating at me for missing the flashlight check. I ended up pulling two of them just to check, both were fine, I reloaded them and figured a 40% "random" check was sufficient. Especially since I check the bullets before seating them.

 

[BYJO4]

If I was worried about a double charge, I would pull the bullets and start over. I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[rcmodel]

Better worry about the other round that did't get the powder in the over-carged case too!

That can turn out just as bad.

rc

 

[grubbylabs]

Yup best to spend some time with a puller and make sure, nothing like blowing up a nice pistol or going to the ER to get the shrapnel removed from your eye.

 

[gamestalker]

Oh boy. If your that concerned, and also considering you already confirmed one DC, I wouldn't hesitate to pull them down and start over. But it's your gun, your eyes, and your fingers.

This is one of those situations that can be easily avoided by simply slowing down between charging and seating, at least long enough to give each case a thorough inspection before proceeding. I can't even begin to count the number of times I have caught what would have been dangerous error, by incorporating close inspection into the process.

GS

 

[rogerstg]

No need to pull all the bullets, just weigh them. On an electric scale, tare a known good round, then weigh the others from there. There is some variation in weight, but not close to +/- 5.5gr

 

[grubbylabs]

If the are his own cast I would bet that their is close to 5 grains difference is some.

Now if they were commercial cast or he was casting a known alloy I would still be surprised if they were not at least 2-3 grains difference.

And to further complicate it, is he using mixed brass? Theirs more difference their as well.

 

[Steve C]

I always double and triple check everything before I seat the bullet.

As long as you checked all the other bullets with the same diligence I wouldn't worry about a double charge in the others. The thing is your QC worked and you detected the overcharge. Don't know what your loading procedure is but if sound all other rounds will be fine with the proper charge.

When using a single stage press I batch the powder drops in a loading block, do both a sample weight check and a visual powder level check before seating the bullet. Comparing .45 and other pistol cartridges with a relatively case filling powder like Unique I've found that one can detect a 1/2 grain difference between 2 charged cases with the visual check.

I think its more important to figure out why you had the double charge. Was it a problem caused by the powder measure changing its drop or something else? In a progressive press a double can be caused by short stroking the ram, for example to clear problem, and then proceeding without checking if there was more than one charge dropped in a case in process. If it was simply caused by an interruption or distraction where you charged the case and then charged it a 2nd time I wouldn't worry about it because the procedure you where following found the error.

 

[WVRJ]

I only load single stage,so I can't say anything about progressive loading.I flip each case neck down before going under the measure and put the loadeds on a separate loading block.Then before seating bullets do a quick visual check of the powder level.That seems to me to be the most I can do to prevent a deadly double.

 

[rg1]

Didn't know you could get 11 grains of Unique in a .45ACP case. Must have been running over the top and could you have even seated a bullet? Don't know your procedures but is there a chance you didn't put ANY powder in the case you seated a bullet in before the double charge?

 

[buck460XVR]

Didn't know you could get 11 grains of Unique in a .45ACP case.

You can, but it is very close to the top. Very evident of an overcharge compared to a correct charge. One reason I like Unique in low volume charges is being able to look into the charged cases and see it and being able to see even slight differences in powder charges. Hard to believe it took till the "triple check" to see it. Like RC, I'd be concerned about the possible undercharged load.

 

[Rule3]

PULL THEM. What's the worst that can happen? You spend some time

Shoot them. What's the worst that can happen?? A lot!

Your choice

 

[Ruger44mag]

I cant weight them with certainty because of the variation in some of the bullets since they are cast. I think what Steve said is probably true. I load on a single stage and I probably would have noticed if I had double charged another one. Thanks for all the help!

 

[rogerstg]

If the are his own cast I would bet that their is close to 5 grains difference is some.

IMO, it's still a heck of a lot better to weigh and pull a few suspected bullets than to pull all of them.

 

[Lost Sheep]

It's a fine way to play "Russian Roulette" with a magazine-fed gun.

Lost Sheep

 

[Metal Tiger]

YUP a squib load could be as bad or possibly worse. As someone who has shot a hand loaded squib load, I am supper careful with checking powder. Yes, for that run of bullets use the impact bullet unloader and rest easy my friend. Its not worth the sleeplessness. BTW, the squib load in the S&W 29 was easily discovered and remedied.