Hi-Power Jack Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 At steel match few hours ago - pulled trigger for first shot of day - pop, instead of bang. Switched to backup gun - six bangs, and then one pop. Packed up and went home. WHY? HOW? The piece of metal on my SDB that holds the spring and rod broke in half a while ago. No light on the SDB. I didn't realize that the breaking piece was dumping powder into some, but not all, cases. Since remedied - have light on SDB and replaced the metal piece. Now have 600 rounds of ammo for practice - :roflol: And, have to start over reloading up some match ammo. LESSON: Get a light on your reloader, and if a piece breaks, check out the last reloading session - I've posted this for your edification (new reloaders), and your entertainment (experienced reloaders). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Thank you Jack! Maybe you saved someone a ton of grief! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 Thank you Jack! Maybe you saved someone a ton of grief! Or even fingers! Jack, did they clear the barrel or are they still in there? Don't get distracted by the beautiful outdoor florida weather and clear them out ASAP! Of all the gee whiz, neat things we can do to our presses, Lot's of light on the plate is one of the most important. Just like looking into every single case during the process. Glad you only got a little humiliation out of the deal and nothing worse. And don't worry, we won't give you a hard time over it.... Yeah right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 "...gee whiz, neat things......". They really talk that way in Ohio? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwhpfan Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 (edited) The piece of metal on my SDB that holds the spring and rod broke in half a while ago. No light on the SDB. Isn't that part of the "fail safe rod." And it's purpose is to reset the powder drop to avoid a double charge on a short stroke, etc...but if it doesn' reset (because it's not working correct) it won't drop a charge at all? Edited November 8, 2014 by nwhpfan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtp Posted November 8, 2014 Share Posted November 8, 2014 It can happen; thanks for sharing. For anyone not running a light, you can find one for $15 or less on eBay, just look for a generic LED light strip, or I believe Hornady has one for ~$15 or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 The piece of metal on my SDB that holds the spring and rod broke in half Isn't that part of the "fail safe rod?" I don't have a fail safe rod on my SDB - but this is the piece that moves when the powder measure works - so, I guess it's vital to dropping powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Thank you Jack! Maybe you saved someone a ton of grief!Or even fingers!Jack, did they clear the barrel? don't worry, we won't give you a hard time over it.... Yeah right! No, the bullets are still in the two barrels. That's part of my Sunday project. I kind of counted on the fact that BE members would NEVER even think of giving me a hard time over such a dumbass move ... :roflol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aandabooks Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 That really sucks. We had a guy have 3 squibs at a bowling pin match a couple months ago. He packed up the gun before he destroyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterthefish Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 That really sucks. We had a guy have 3 squibs at a bowling pin match a couple months ago. He packed up the gun before he destroyed it. We used to have a guy I called the worlds most incompetent reloader at our local pin shoots. Only guy I've seen take a squib rod to the firing line. Thinking of that, I didn't see him all this summer! I use a Hornady LNL AP, and while loading a batch today had my RCBS lockout die activate for the first time. Tossed the case, happened again. Turns out a screw had come out of the powder drop linkage leading to no powder being dropped. And to think, after 10,000+ rounds with no more than a false alarm I was about to ditch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v1911 Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Glad to hear you weren't hurt and no real damage was done to your guns. Only fail safe features I use on my 550 are lots of light and my eyeballs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Only fail safe features I use on my 550 are lots of light and my eyeballs. That's all we need .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckaroo45 Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Due Diligencia ad Infinitum. That's MY bastardized Spanish / Latin for "Always do the required". Checking each case for a correct powder charge is one of the steps required for a reloader ...... If you wanna keep hands, fingers, guns etc. that is ....... You're to be commended for being heads up enough to stop your trigger finger. Kinda like Tiger Woods stopping a golf swing. Hoooo-Ah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 You're to be commended for being heads up enough to stop your trigger finger. Kinda like Tiger Woods stopping a golf swing. Well, in my case, it's a lot less like Tiger stopping his swing, and a lot more like Barney Fife NOT reloading a 2nd bullet into his revolver. In reality, I should have mentioned in the first post, that there must have been NO POWDER in each case, since the case didn't even eject, much less load a 2nd round. But, in fairness, I did hear the pop and stopped before I pulled the trigger ... But, I have a LOT of work today to solve this problem - got a USPSA match next weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XxMerlinxX Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 Very glad you only experienced a bit of frustration and not an accident. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougCarden Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 After having a couple of Dillon powder measures loosen up on me years ago. I now check the powder every 100 rounds when I put more primers in. I do it without even thinking about it. Now if I have a problem I have a small batch to pick through.....Glad you caught them before any other problems occurred.... DougC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Dillon powder measures loosen up on me. Thanks, Doug. When you say "loosen up" - do you mean almost fall off? or start dumping more or less powder than you intended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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