A short lesson on carelessness.

[Japle]

A short lesson on getting careless:
I wanted to load some ammo for my custom .280AI. I’ve been a competitive shooter for over 60 years and have loaded well over 200,000 rounds of ammo, so this should be no problem, right?
R-P brass, 162gr Hornady ELD-X over H4831SC powder, 20 rounds. Easy-peasy.
As I weighed each load, I noticed that I was having to re-set the powder measure often. A lot. After 9 rounds, I stopped and engaged my brain, something I had neglected to do up until then.
There was a can of N350 pistol powder on the bench that I’d been using last week to load .38 Special ammo.
Well, crap!
I hadn’t emptied the powder measure. I was having to re-set the measure, because the loading density was changing as the fast pistol powder mixed with the much slower rifle powder.
Much swearing ensued. Loss of powder resulted, including the powder in my trickler.
So, one more time for everyone who’s even dumber than me:
Only one can of powder on the bench at a time! And make sure it’s the right damn powder!!

 

[BreechFace]

Well that would have been interesting if you had pulled the trigger on a few of those first drops out of that powder measure!

Glad you caught it, and I wouldn't sweat the loss of powder and time, and be thankful it was caught when it was!

 

[lightman]

Glad you caught the mistake before too late! Thats what I call "powder management" and I have a couple rules;
1. One powder and only one powder on the bench at a time.
2. Never leave powder in the measure unless you will only be away for a few minutes. (bathroom break)

 

[FROGO207]

I also take a sticky note and put what I am loading for, weight, and propellant on it. Then attach it to the measure. When done dump the measure back in the container, move the sticky to the pile of loaded ammo.
Sure helps me look smarter LOL.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

REAL glad you didn't accidentally get even distribution of the pistol powder. You might not have caught it until the action blew.
Great lesson, even for those of us who don't use a dropper/meter.

 

[splattergun]

Good catch! It could have been a much, much more expensive error.

 

[Blue68f100]

Glad you caught your mistake. I have a rule that I return the powder back to the bottle when done. I never keep powder in a dispenser even if I'm going to use it the next day.

 

[Y-T71]

That's one mistake I haven't made yet but, I've made enough others to know that the possibility is always there.

These threads are good reminders to help others avoid these types of mistakes but also shows that they could happen to any one of us.

Glad you caught it and no harm was done!

 

[Ironicaintit]

Whew! Glad you caught that! You won't do that again.

I'm a compulsive labeler. Always, always there's a label on the hopper with what powders in it... and only one powder on the bench at a time.

To fight complacency as I gain experience, I try to always think like a newb and verify verify verify.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

That's one mistake I haven't made yet but, I've made enough others to know that the possibility is always there.

Everyone who reads this forum needs to have that on a sign in their reloading room.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Good you caught it when you did. Especially a small batch of 20; the chances you wouldn't have caught it are pretty high.

Having to toss all that powder is well worth it compared to the other alternative.

It seems most of us also follow the rule of never have more than 1 powder jar in the reloading bench at a time. If I'm doing a certain caliber, thats the powder I have open until I'm done loading. Then unto the next one.

 

[gwpercle]

You might have made a mistake ... But ... wisdom and experience tipped you off that something wasn't right ... the changing density ... ATTABOY ! ! !
Good Catch ... And ... if you catch the Boo-Boo , before doing any harm , you didn't realy Screw Up ...
New Reloaders , this is why you store powders away from the bench .
Keep only the powder you are loading on the bench . And ... empty the measure back into the powder container from which it came .
Never leave any powder in your measure ... never !

Be careful , load safe and THINK !

Idiot's and fools don't do well in the reloading hobby .
Gary

 

[jdsingleshot]

Oops, didn't mean to post

 

[tominboise]

Glad you caught your mistake. I have a rule that I return the powder back to the bottle when done. I never keep powder in a dispenser even if I'm going to use it the next day.

Matches what I do. It goes back to when I read Dean Grennell's ABC's of Reloading back around 1975. There was a picture of a powder measure with the plastic deteriorated from extended contact with powder. Turns out it is also the safest thing to do.

 

[cfullgraf]

I take the “one powder on the bench at a time” a step farther. To get another container of powder, I have to walk across my reloading room to the powder storage cabinet. It adds a bit more to the thought process when changing powders.

I also write the recipe I am loading on a small pad of paper I keep next to the press. I have a written reminder of what I am loading and it provides the basic information for labeling the boxes of completed ammunition.

It is good to hear what others are doing to help prevent reloading mistakes. I always get some ideas to tweak my safety procedures.

 

[hdwhit]

This is why my father long ago insisted that I formulate formal reloading procedures and a checklist to make sure they were followed.

 

[adcoch1]

Talk about fireforming! Glad you didn't touch one of those off.

I haven't made that mistake, yet. I do write down the entire load on a paper tablet, coal and bullet weight, primer, and charge of what powder. It helps me stay consistent, and never picking info from the wrong column or bullet weight from the manual.

 

[sparkyv]

I detest wasting powder and primers! BUT I'm glad you caught your error, Japle. When reloading, always question anomalous readings!

 

[Riomouse911]

Good catch!

One thing I might add is to be sure you cycle through the powder measure numerous times after dumping the remaining powder back into the container to be sure there is no residual powder left in the measuring chamber. (I use a Lee measure.)

I have emptied the hopper and seen several cycles still spit out powder flakes before the internals are all clear.

Stay safe.