Guys,
Have been reloading for about 9 yrs now and just had my 2nd squib. Was shooting 38 Special +P out of my S&W 686, and the squib entered the cone, but didn't clear the brass, so the cylinder was completely locked up. Required a gunsmith's skill, and he returned the squib and the unfired rounds for comparison. Pic is enclosed, with the squib on the left, and the unfired round on the right-note the difference in length. Squib round had a firing pin dent in the primer.
Here's the reloading data-
The gunsmith seemed to think it was a light powder load, so I started by determining what the loaded bullet should weigh. Took several empty brass cases (with spent primers in them) and weighed them-range of weights was 69.3-69.8gr. Then added the projectile weight (158 gr), and the powder weight (5.7gr) and found the bullet weight to range between 233.0 and 233.5 gr.
Since I had fired about 20 rounds from the 50 round box of reloads, went back and checked the unfired rounds. All except 4 were at least 232.5 gr-the 4 were approximately 231 gr each (2 gr light).
Now-my main question, since I loaded about 200 rounds like this is-"Are the remaining rounds (after checking that total weight is 233 gr or higher), safe to fire?" Or do I pull the bullets, and rebuild with new powder drops?
According to my Speer reloading guide, 158 gr RN (lead) minimum powder weight using Power Pistol is 5.4 gr-so if I was light 2gr in some of he bullets I loaded, the 5.7 gr disk would still have me above the minimum weight recommended.
Appreciate all your help on this, and I will rebuild the rounds already loaded if any of you think I'm running a risk of another squib and gunsmith repair firing those I already loaded.
Thanks,
Gerry
Have been reloading for about 9 yrs now and just had my 2nd squib. Was shooting 38 Special +P out of my S&W 686, and the squib entered the cone, but didn't clear the brass, so the cylinder was completely locked up. Required a gunsmith's skill, and he returned the squib and the unfired rounds for comparison. Pic is enclosed, with the squib on the left, and the unfired round on the right-note the difference in length. Squib round had a firing pin dent in the primer.
Here's the reloading data-
- Primer CCI 500 (small pistol)
- Everglades Ammo 158gr RN
- Power Pistol 5.7gr (using a Lee Pro Auto Disk powder drop on a turret press-used single stage, not progressive)
- COL 1.50
- Medium crimp (Lee Factory Crimp Die)
The gunsmith seemed to think it was a light powder load, so I started by determining what the loaded bullet should weigh. Took several empty brass cases (with spent primers in them) and weighed them-range of weights was 69.3-69.8gr. Then added the projectile weight (158 gr), and the powder weight (5.7gr) and found the bullet weight to range between 233.0 and 233.5 gr.
Since I had fired about 20 rounds from the 50 round box of reloads, went back and checked the unfired rounds. All except 4 were at least 232.5 gr-the 4 were approximately 231 gr each (2 gr light).
Now-my main question, since I loaded about 200 rounds like this is-"Are the remaining rounds (after checking that total weight is 233 gr or higher), safe to fire?" Or do I pull the bullets, and rebuild with new powder drops?
According to my Speer reloading guide, 158 gr RN (lead) minimum powder weight using Power Pistol is 5.4 gr-so if I was light 2gr in some of he bullets I loaded, the 5.7 gr disk would still have me above the minimum weight recommended.
Appreciate all your help on this, and I will rebuild the rounds already loaded if any of you think I'm running a risk of another squib and gunsmith repair firing those I already loaded.
Thanks,
Gerry