Worst mistake you've made reloading?
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The Bushmaster
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Becoming adicted to this web site...
The Bushmaster
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Just think walkalong...Right now an umbrella is not a bad thing...
Valkman
Member
I loaded a tube of small rifle primers with the Vibra Prime to find the tube didn't have the clip on the other end. 100 primers all over the floor!
Loading .45 ACP on a Dillon 650.
I was on the up stroke and noticed something fell from the bench. I bent over to pick it up and accidentally let go of the handle. Said handle returned to the upright position right quick! Seated that primer with enough force to set it off along with about 5-6 others in the system.
Luckily, the detonation didn't extend to the primer tube where the remaining hundred were sitting.
Learned my lesson and I let things lie where they fall until done loading.
Speaking of lessons...I still have yet to retain this one: close the door on the electronic powder measure! Must be monthly that I clean a pile of powder from my bench.
Ed
I was on the up stroke and noticed something fell from the bench. I bent over to pick it up and accidentally let go of the handle. Said handle returned to the upright position right quick! Seated that primer with enough force to set it off along with about 5-6 others in the system.
Luckily, the detonation didn't extend to the primer tube where the remaining hundred were sitting.
Learned my lesson and I let things lie where they fall until done loading.
Speaking of lessons...I still have yet to retain this one: close the door on the electronic powder measure! Must be monthly that I clean a pile of powder from my bench.
Ed
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herohog
Member
Did you remove the flesh from the case or go ahead and leave it in as filler?
StuntHeavy
Member
I'm new to reloading, only reload 2 calibers, and heres some things I've ran into on my Lee Classic Turret:
Stuck a .223 die in the resizing die when I forgot to swap out the .40 shell holder, and pulled the extractor ring off the case. Took about 10minutes to get it out of the die, but I wont soon forget.
Somehow got a primer sideways in the lee safety prime, and tried to seat it sideways. Ruining two cases in the same week put a tear in my eye, with the way things are.
Buying pulldown projectiles, and not knowing the difference between light pull marks, and heavy ones. Locked my AR up twice before I realized what was going on, and then 3 more times in the same day, before I decided to through all 1000 projectiles and inspect them each one by one. Thankfully nothing bad happened, Just a little embarassing having to tug on the charging handle for all I was worth.
Stuck a .223 die in the resizing die when I forgot to swap out the .40 shell holder, and pulled the extractor ring off the case. Took about 10minutes to get it out of the die, but I wont soon forget.
Somehow got a primer sideways in the lee safety prime, and tried to seat it sideways. Ruining two cases in the same week put a tear in my eye, with the way things are.
Buying pulldown projectiles, and not knowing the difference between light pull marks, and heavy ones. Locked my AR up twice before I realized what was going on, and then 3 more times in the same day, before I decided to through all 1000 projectiles and inspect them each one by one. Thankfully nothing bad happened, Just a little embarassing having to tug on the charging handle for all I was worth.
Linear Thinker
Member
Made a few mistakes over 30 years of handloading, here are a few thoughts:
1. Don't even think of doing anything else while handloading. Lock the door so that the kids, the dog, the spouse, whatever don't disturb you. Double-charges, squibs and other exciting mistakes will happen if you multitask.
2. Don't clean guns where you reload. Most gun chemicals are harmful to reloading components. I use WD40 to loosen the dirt on the guns before cleaning them, the fine mist will kill primers and powder. Haven't had a dud handload since I moved my gun cleaning elsewhere.
3. Label everything, record your work. I had to toss a pound of powder that I left in a measure for a year, I couldn't figure out which it was. Many Olin/Winchester/St. Marks/military WC powders look same.
LT
1. Don't even think of doing anything else while handloading. Lock the door so that the kids, the dog, the spouse, whatever don't disturb you. Double-charges, squibs and other exciting mistakes will happen if you multitask.
2. Don't clean guns where you reload. Most gun chemicals are harmful to reloading components. I use WD40 to loosen the dirt on the guns before cleaning them, the fine mist will kill primers and powder. Haven't had a dud handload since I moved my gun cleaning elsewhere.
3. Label everything, record your work. I had to toss a pound of powder that I left in a measure for a year, I couldn't figure out which it was. Many Olin/Winchester/St. Marks/military WC powders look same.
LT
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sniper5
Member
The worst:
Getting into it to save money on ammo!
Like everyone else, I just shoot more.
Getting into it to save money on ammo!
Like everyone else, I just shoot more.
evan price
Member
I have multiple powder measures- usually that way I can have for example Magnum powder in one and Rifle in another and general pistol in a third.
One day I was running .44 Mag and finished the powder. Changed the press over to .38 specials and then remounted the wrong powder measure- was charging .38 special cases with a .44 magnum volume of powder. I had been loading both with Titegroup so a triple charge was not overflowing a .38. Luckily I noticed before I ran more than three.
One day I was running .44 Mag and finished the powder. Changed the press over to .38 specials and then remounted the wrong powder measure- was charging .38 special cases with a .44 magnum volume of powder. I had been loading both with Titegroup so a triple charge was not overflowing a .38. Luckily I noticed before I ran more than three.
chevyguyss350
Member
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- Apr 14, 2008
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I filled a primer pick up tube and turned it over to fill the press. After about 75 primers hit the floor I realized I forgot to put the little clip in the open end of the tube. Those little buggers roll everywhere!
Seedtick
Member
If you were to do that now, considering the current primer market, you could easily get somebody to pick them up for you on the halves.
ST
FlyinBryan
Member
i got paranoid when i first started about a batch of 45acp and pulled 100 bullets because i was worried i double charged one.
i hadnt.
the mistake was not paying attention enough to know i was ok with them.
i hadnt.
the mistake was not paying attention enough to know i was ok with them.
freakshow10mm
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- Apr 20, 2008
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Truth is your first handloads are probably the safest.
BK
Member
Worst mistakes were not begining sooner and not reloading enough.
Other than that, I haven't had any accidents at all.
Other than that, I haven't had any accidents at all.
Nighthawk0083
Member
When I first started loading, in fact the first batch I was going for super cheap fun. I went too cheap and didnt load enough powder in the 38's i was loading. When we shot them you could see them traveling down range. They worked ok in the 4 inch revolver but one with too light of a charge got stuck in the 6 inch barrel 38 and the person that was shooting them didnt notice and got 3 stuck in a row. It didnt buldge the barrel because the charge was way to light but the person that tried to remove the stuck bullets ended up ruining the barrel. Plus to top it off the brass was the crapy RP brass and some of the bullets would spin after they were seated. What a nightmare all that was and it almost made me stop reloading. After that all of my reloads have had a healthy load of powder and none have let me down since.
1SOW
Member
jcwit:
I wish I could say this happened YEEEaaars ago, but it didn't.
I deprimed a 9mm, seated the new primer, got sidetracked and then pushed a 124gr bullet completely into the case with no powder. That Lee deprimer is tough.
I wish I could say this happened YEEEaaars ago, but it didn't.
I deprimed a 9mm, seated the new primer, got sidetracked and then pushed a 124gr bullet completely into the case with no powder. That Lee deprimer is tough.
1858rem
Member
reloading a 45 colt case to the point of failure....or leaving a high primer....keep track of loadings on your cases and take your time!
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