Is this possible/practical?

[mhdishere]

Let me start by saying I've never hand-loaded (except for muzzle loaders), but I've read a few things about the process so I understand the concepts involved.

My short list of Christmas presents includes a rifle. Rifle ammo being the price it is, I'll probably someday get into handloading. I'm somewhat frightened about the kaboom pictures I see here and elsewhere, and was thinking along these lines to prevent such a thing from happening to me:

Suppose, for your given cartridge, you chose a powder whose burning characteristics are such that a double-maximum charge just wouldn't fit in the case? You might squeeze in a somewhat over-charge, but that shouldn't cause a KB. If you end up with powder all over your bench you know you already loaded that case.

Is this practical? Yes, I know I should be careful, I intend to, but sometimes excrement occurs.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I do it all the time. Rifles can use powders that you can`t get enought in without compressing it to reach max let alone get too much in, and in my 44 and dads old 357 useing H110 and 2400 double charges spill over.
These are not always the best powder for the job but usually you can find one to work.

 

[Jeeper]

It is hard to double charge most rifle rounds. Pistol is a different story. If you are careful then it wont happen. It is possible to use bulky powders that make it obvious if you have done it. There are some pistol loads that you can literally get 3 charges in depending on the powder.

 

[callgood]

I use a single stage press and have no experience with turret/progressives. I use a loading block when I charge the cases. I pick out a case from a box of primed brass, look in it to make sure it's empty and put it in the block. Put the funnel on and dump in the powder. Remove th funnel. Weigh another charge. Repeat the above. When all 50 cases are loaded I visually inspect them in good light to make sure all are loaded to the same level. This works for me and I've never seated a bullet over a double charge.

I also don't undertake this step when I might be interrupted. I don't have a radio/TV etc. on in the background. The maximum I reload at any one time is 200, so I don't get fatigued, etc. Use some common sense and develop a method you don't deviate from.

 

[USSR]

mhdishere,

Using a suitable powder for your rifle, you will not be able to double charge the case. That being said, you still have to use the correct amount of whatever powder you will be using. It requires you to pay attention to details, and if you don't/can't, you should buy factory ammo.

Don

 

[1911 guy]

Case capacity and accuracy

Not always, but quite often, better accuracy is had with powders that use the most case capacity. So if you XYZ caliber does well with ABC powder at or near case capacity, a double charge would spill over big time. An example is my .308 loads with Varget powder. A double charge will absolutely not fit as a max. safe load is compressed.

 

[Backfired]

I have a single stage reloader. When I have all my cases filled with powder I double check powder level and then I ask my wife to triple check before seating the bullets.

 

[Berek]

Using a suitable powder for your rifle, you will not be able to double charge the case. That being said, you still have to use the correct amount of whatever powder you will be using. It requires you to pay attention to details, and if you don't/can't, you should buy factory ammo.

The only powder I've been able to "double charge" my cases with was Accurate 5744 for the .45-70. Of course, at that point, if you load 33 grains and the case looks full on a .45-70, you'll notice it.

Berek

 

[caz223]

I'm sure that if you mentioned the caliber you're working with, and your intended projectile, someone here could come up with a powder that meets your needs.
There is nothing new under the sun.

 

[USSR]

Berek,

Yeah, you might be able to double load a .30 Carbine cartridge as well, but with most all high power rimless rifle cartridges it is not possible.

Don

 

[mhdishere]

Thanks for the advice folks. I don't have a cartridge yet, I'll hopefully be going shopping this weekend and see what's available. It'll be a military surplus, bolt action rifle in the 30ish caliber range. Right now a K31 in 7.5 Swiss is the front runner, but I wouldn't be upset with a Mauser in 8mm, a Swede in 6.5mm or a Mosin in 7.62x54R.

USSR,
I know I need to be careful, a big part of this is my personal anal-ness when it comes to safety. Powder all over the bench if I double charge is one more safety check among many. I don't think it's possible to have too many safety checks.

 

[USSR]

mhdishere,

You might want to check around and see if you can find an experienced rifle reloader locally who could help you thru the first time. Reading about how to do something is fine, but there's no substitute for having someone experienced helping you find your way. Good luck.

Don

 

[HankB]

Note that when loading rifle ammo, sometimes a charge that's too low can get you into trouble, too, and generate either a squib round (which can stick a bullet in the barrel) or, in some cases, an anomalous pressure excursion which can damage both gun and shooter.

 

[MNgoldenbear]

I know I need to be careful, a big part of this is my personal anal-ness when it comes to safety. Powder all over the bench if I double charge is one more safety check among many. I don't think it's possible to have too many safety checks.

Don't worry about being that way. Being certain on safety may just save that part of your anatomy, as well as several others!

If you're going single-stage, many have already mentioned simply viewing the cases (individually/in loading blocks). In progressives, using a powder check die of some sort will let you identify loads with under/over charges. If you're already muzzleloading, you're engaged in an activity that requires you to concentrate with many other things going on around you -- you can't always get a quiet, controlled environment like handloaders usually set up. Take advantage of the extra opportunity to avoid distraction.