Reloading EverythingRepackboxLoad DataMidSouth Shooters Supply
Inline FabricationWidenersRotoMetals2Lee Precision
Titan Reloading
Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Lemmee tell ya about my Birthday visit to the range: A cautionary tale!

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    UTAH!
    Posts
    680

    Lemmee tell ya about my Birthday visit to the range: A cautionary tale!

    After a long absence due to Covid and other roadblocks, I finally decided to to make a range trip! My wife had bought me a 10-visit range pass for Father's day.

    The .22s were running about thumbnail size groups at 50 yards, no matter what I stuffed in them, so I decided to go to the Pistol range.

    My 357 Match Champion had smoothly run about a half-box of my reloads, when I decided to try some loads I had made up using full Wadcutters. A couple went off like they were supposed to, but when I pulled the trigger on the new batch, nothing! The Revolver was locked tighter than a Frog's Fanny! (That is a southern thing!)
    The barrel-cylinder gap was clear, but neither I nor any of the range officers had ever seen anything like it. Needless to say, I was upset!

    I packed up and went home, with a fully-loaded, totally locked up 357 Magnum in the back seat! I called a local business' Gunsmith and explained the situation.
    I figured this is gonna cost me something, so I pulled a Benjamin from my stash and was on my way. My wife saw I was really upset, so she volunteered to drive me. She was right!

    I walked into the shop. He looked about 17, but was probably a Marine Corps Armorer, and in 30 seconds he had it unlocked, and showed me how to do it, should it happen again.

    He explained that the primer had backed out, jamming the gun. I asked "What do I owe you?" He said "Nothing." I was relieved, amazed, astonished and overwhelmed! When any of my guns ever need repair, I know where to send them!

    Later that evening, I pulled some bullets and discovered the cartridge didn't have any powder in it! 5 out of the 12 I had loaded for testing the new load didn't either. Really, REALLY angry with myself! Then I broke my Bullet Puller!

    Soooo...even after 40+ years of reloading, stuff can still happen. Check, re-check, and check again. Never assume NUTTIN!

    Thanks for letting me rant a bit!
    Last edited by sniper; 09-03-2021 at 07:19 PM.
    IT IS A FINE AND PLEASANT MADNESS !

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Central Illinois
    Posts
    4,490
    Glad it turned out so well.

    Another southern saying I heard as a kid was in reply to a sentence starting with if was

    " If a frog had a pocket he would carry a pistol to keep the snakes shot off him"

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Wild Bill 7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    S.W. Florida
    Posts
    315
    If a frog had wings they wouldn’t bump their tush every time they jumped!!!!

  4. #4
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    83
    If your puller is an RCBS impact puller, call them. They might replace for free. They had an issue a few years back with the neck breaking.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    jcren's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    South, Central Ok
    Posts
    2,173
    Backed out primers are a pain. Was shooting some light 38 spl loads with a friend that was interested in reloading and had one back out and lock the gun up tight. Combination of loose primer pocket and too light of a load to reseat the primer when fired. Scared him off from reloading and had to use a dowel down the barrel to pound the case back onto the primer to get the gun free.
    "In God we trust, in all others, check the manual!"

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Atlanta, NY 14808
    Posts
    2,163
    Well spill. What is the solution he shared with you? Inquiring minds want to know.
    Micah 6:8
    He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

    "I don't have hobbies - I'm developing a robust post-apocalyptic skill set"
    I may be discharged and retired but I'm sure I did not renounce the oath that I solemnly swore!

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy memtb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Winchester,Wy.
    Posts
    495
    Yes....it can happen at any time to anyone! No one can escape the curse of Murphy!

    Oh, by the way.....birthdays suck beyond a certain age! memtb
    You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel

    “LETS GO BRANDON”

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Plymouth County, IA
    Posts
    708
    5 of 12 you loaded for testing had NO POWDER! What? I tend to be extra precise when loading for testing...you should really consider what you're doing and pay just a small bit of attention. If those "missing" charges were in the remaining 7 rounds, you haved a improvised game of Russian roulette going on. Might want to be more careful.
    Take a kid to the range, you'll both be glad you did.

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Orange, VA NOW
    Posts
    6,492
    I caught my self once skipping a row in the loading block so that there would have been FIVE powderless cartridges in that batch. I have since changed my reloading technique so that cases in the loading block start facing neck down and then are inverted and placed back in the block neck up after charging and checking the powder charge.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    OKC , Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,384
    Quote Originally Posted by rintinglen View Post
    I caught my self once skipping a row in the loading block so that there would have been FIVE powderless cartridges in that batch. I have since changed my reloading technique so that cases in the loading block start facing neck down and then are inverted and placed back in the block neck up after charging and checking the powder charge.
    Good practice the mouth down after priming in the block also gives us a chance make sure all the primers are seated properly .

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Bryson City, NC
    Posts
    333
    I no longer use a loading block. Just a small bowl. Pick up case, charge with powder, seat bullet. No tv, no radio, no computer in gun room, no distractions.
    CF
    Vote Independent, vote Republican, vote Democratic, just don’t vote Incumbent!
    I believe in the Bible, Freedom, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and personal responsibility. My government believes I am narrow minded, intolerant and dangerous.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy dimaprok's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Evergreen state
    Posts
    424
    When I find myself doubting if the powder is there I shake it next to my ear, of course if you're running compressed load it won't work. Works better with stick powders and if you have good hearing.

    Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
    Last edited by dimaprok; 09-12-2021 at 09:19 PM.

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master
    rintinglen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Orange, VA NOW
    Posts
    6,492
    Quote Originally Posted by Chihuahua Floyd View Post
    I no longer use a loading block. Just a small bowl. Pick up case, charge with powder, seat bullet. No tv, no radio, no computer in gun room, no distractions.
    CF
    This is a good way, but I prefer to use a loading block so that I can visually compare each charge with its neighbors. (Which is how I found the afore mentioned empties.) Any case that has a tall or short seeming powder column gets dumped and recharged.
    _________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Posts
    812
    I always use a loading block when charging cases. Before I seat the bullets, I hold the block under a light, to make sure the cases are all equally charged. I never have had any issues using this method. This is a good system for keeping things straight.
    Last edited by GBertolet; 09-05-2021 at 08:26 PM. Reason: spelling

  15. #15
    Boolit Master


    Burnt Fingers's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Tejas
    Posts
    1,938
    I'll bet those 12 rounds weren't loaded on a progressive press.

    So much for a single-stage press being safer.
    NRA Benefactor.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy engineer401's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Tri-Cities, WA
    Posts
    462
    Quote Originally Posted by Wild Bill 7 View Post
    If a frog had wings they wouldn’t bump their tush every time they jumped!!!!
    My Belgian grand father used to say that.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master

    Plate plinker's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    2,297
    I had that happen too. A locked up cylinder, if I recall I think it was the screw that keeps the crane in place had backed out. It was frustrating for me but a simple fix.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master Handloader109's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    NW Arkansas
    Posts
    2,505
    Quote Originally Posted by Burnt Fingers View Post
    I'll bet those 12 rounds weren't loaded on a progressive press.

    So much for a single-stage press being safer.
    Yep, loading blocks are no better. It still takes work to screw things up.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check