gonoles_1980
Member
Reading 7.5 as the low end of a load when it was the barrel size. Loaded up some BE-86 starting at 7.6 to 8.2, with the max load at 11.5 for a 44mag. Lucky I didn't get a squib.
Wow Gamestalker. Tough to beat that one. Scary.
When I was 16 years old, my dad had a Mec 600jr shotshell press. This was around 1982. We had one reloading book. There was no You Tube. I started loading up shotshells. I had a lot of trouble with the shells dishing on me. The only way I could keep the shot from running out was to put melt a little wax and close up the top. I loaded up a couple boxes.
A couple weeks go by and my buddies are going to a trap range. Well I get out my Browning B80 that I saved for all summer. Full choke, small gas ports.
I bragged about loading my own shells all the way to the range.
When it was our turn to shoot, I warned my friends that my shotgun doesn't kick out 7.5 or 8 shot target rounds. Gas ports are small. This is a goose gun and can shoot 3" shells.
I called for the bird and shot. BOOM! And the shell ejected and flew out. Everyone looked at me. So it comes back around to me and I shoot again. BOOOOMMM! It was twice as loud as everyone else. The shell ejected. The guy who runs the place comes flying out of his little shack and asks what am I shooting? I told him target loads. He banned me from any more shooting and made me sit down.
So when I get home, I tell my dad what happened. We went downstairs and looked at the MEC. Oh he says. You have the shot and powder bottles reversed.
I have no idea how much powder I had in those things and how little shot. Maybe having a scale would have been a good idea.
The next time we went to the range, my friends made a special box to hold my shells with the words FLAMEOUT SPECIALS on the side.
I still have the press and the shotgun and I am lucky I didn't get me or someone else hurt.
Swanee
Starting with a max load of 4198 instead of the starting load. This was the dumbest, but not the most dangerous. The most dangerous was unwittingly loading cases with oversized flash holes designed for unleaded primers. WOW! Won't do that anymore, either.
Best I've had was forgetting to size 100 pieces of brass before I primed them. By comparison that was a very minor nuisance!
What happened when you used the cases with the oversized flash holes?
I was thinking that too!My biggest mistake was thinking I would save money. It seems like whenever I get close, I just shoot more, or buy more fancy reloading gadgets.