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Posted: 7/26/2009 5:50:13 PM EDT
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I would assume that everyone that has spent anytime reloading has had some moments that make you go "DOH!" - I have
I have loaded thousands of rounds and have never had a major catastrophy ie double charge, no charge I have experience the usual FTE/FTF malfunctions OAL blah,blah, blah Thus far, I have caught myself before doing anything real dumb However, I let my brother use my progressive press and it never fails, he is always making squibs (no powder charge), luckily he hasnt blown his gun up yet of course, now I make him do every step separately and that seems to help No doubt we are an anal retentive group that spends much time and pride with QC, and then there are those that are better off buying factory stuff sound off......... |
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Quoted:
Most of the "oh shit" I see is folks cutting corners; selecting a load from the manual without working up, questionable brass, going for max velocity above all other concerns, extrapolation, etc. Sir, I'll simply add that when you are reloading and are distracted by the wife, kids, mailman, telephone or what ever, stop what you are doing and tend to them. When you return to reloading examine each cartridge case in the process and determine exactly what stage of things you were before you procede. Don't ask how I know this. 7zero1 out. |
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From deciding what caliber to load all the way through packaging the final result, QC is at the core of reloading. If you don't choose wisely, you go down some odd and non-functional path. If you choose the right caliber, you have to then decide what kind of performance you want, what bullet you want that performance with, etc., etc. Every step NEEDS not just a sanity check but verification. Multiple load sources, comparing Hornady bullets to Sierra bullets to Remington bullets, choosing whether to use brand new or once fired (or more) cases, which primer, where to start load development...it ALL requires QC. And to do that right you do have to have at least a bit of that anal-retentive streak.
I have had ONE real loading goof, and it was due to using new equipment I wasn't really completely familiar with-a squb sneaked by me. But that one pointed me to what the problem was, and I tore down the other rounds from that batch (a few did have less powder than they should have), and it caused me to completely revamp my loading process-including getting a very different powder measure rotor and a powder check die for the progressive press. That's no really "anal-rententive" is it? 
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Well I've been reloading for roughly 16 years now. No kabooms, squibs, double charge like you. I am anal what I load. I value QC nowadays than speed and quantity. I'm not a high volume reloader. The max I would load is 200 rounds. The least is 50 rounds. All done in a single stage press. I reload mostly during the nights when it's quite, no distractions, while listening to conservative talk radio or C2C  .
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I did have one squib when I first got my 550B as a friend came over to look at it and I got distracted which won't be happening again if I can help it. I now stop when I get distracted and empty the machine and start over.
Do you guys look at every piece of handgun/rifle brass before you load? Mainly handgun since I don't clean primer pockets and load on a progressive. I was looking at picked up brass the other day and noticed a split .40 case. It wasn't split at the case mouth it was split down the side and must have sneaked into the bras I picked up at the range as I didn't shoot .40 S&W that day. It brought to my attention the need to inspect all rounds again before they are loaded into the magazine as well for a final QC step. |
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I reloaded alot of pistol rounds 15 years ago and work became very busy and I packed all he stuff away. I had built a few squibs and upside down primers and smashed bullets and case with the pistol rounds.
Now 15 years later I've started loading 223 only because I found out I can build a better round than I can buy or afford. My biggest tip is to triple check everything you do. I do this and have caught a few mistakes that would have gotten by me in the past. I have a mini mag flash lite that I check and recheck the powder level in each case. I also do different things in stages. I will lube and deprime 100 rounds, tumble them in corn cobb and trim them later. After triming and priming them I will set them aside for a day or so and the set aside a few hours to charge the case with powder and seat the bullet. I find it much more relaxing to do this in different stages. I use a 20 year old Lee Load master , but when loading 223 I use it as a single stage. It's alot slower but I make fewer mistakes this way. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Most of the "oh shit" I see is folks cutting corners; selecting a load from the manual without working up, questionable brass, going for max velocity above all other concerns, extrapolation, etc. Sir, I'll simply add that when you are reloading and are distracted by the wife, kids, mailman, telephone or what ever, stop what you are doing and tend to them. When you return to reloading examine each cartridge case in the process and determine exactly what stage of things you were before you procede. Don't ask how I know this. 7zero1 out. ALWAYS clear the press before you walk away . There can be no mistakes if the press is empty when you leave other than your own . |
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