xtian999 Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Low powder charge, last round of the day, first string, fourth or fith shot. Funny noise, no ring from the target, RO yelled stop. I kind of half expected it from this batch of ammo since my powder was not metering perfectly. No big deal, just had to happen eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Well, it didn't have to happen "eventually". Glad you didn't hurt the gun, yourself, or anyone else. Just realize that no machine is perfect, and nothing is a substitute for paying attention to what you are doing when loading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 https://www.guns.com/news/2019/03/07/hi-point-warranty-center-finds-carbine-barrel-stuffed-with-35-bullets?fbclid=IwAR3rc3tw374oUtg0Md4M4ndipwbOsPPFYMHdY9nFTDZnRd0F1FDj3E89osw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 I haven't had one yet............10 years and counting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 It happened because I did not check the powder level in every shell. Now I know... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker88 Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 Get a lockout die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 First I have heard of a lockout die. Brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 I installed a light over the press a few years ago, and LOOK into each and every case as I'm seating the bullet - no powder, no bullet Did the bullet exit your barrel ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corrado_kid Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 What kind of press do you reload on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 5 hours ago, Corrado_kid said: What kind of press do you reload on? SDB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 20 hours ago, RangerTrace said: I haven't had one yet............10 years and counting. Nor I...15 years and counting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted March 10, 2019 Share Posted March 10, 2019 8 hours ago, xtian999 said: First I have heard of a lockout die. Brilliant. I would not suggest a lockout die for a 550. Having that lockout die means that you would need to seat and crimp at the same station...which would be ok on revolver rounds like 38 Special, 357, etc...but I would keep the stages separate for taper crimp rounds. Get a light and a mirror and position in such a way that you can see inside each and every case before you seat the bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 10, 2019 Author Share Posted March 10, 2019 I am wondering if it would be better to divide a run into two batches, the first batch running everthing through with a plate setup for deprime, prime, straighten, then change plates to a second setup with powder, lockout, bullet seat, and crimp and run everything through again. After the second pass, check for oal and proper primer seating and call it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiker88 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 36 minutes ago, xtian999 said: I am wondering if it would be better to divide a run into two batches, the first batch running everthing through with a plate setup for deprime, prime, straighten, then change plates to a second setup with powder, lockout, bullet seat, and crimp and run everything through again. After the second pass, check for oal and proper primer seating and call it done. If you have a 5 station (or more) auto indexing press like a 650 or a Hornady LNL AP,, you should be able to run the entire process with a lockout die in one cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 i have a 550b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David.Hylton Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 Using a light and checking each case for powder will prevent squibs. if you have a bad case or other problem, clear the problem and let the empty space advance. Don't try to keep the shell holder full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 10 hours ago, David.Hylton said: Using a light and checking each case for powder will prevent squibs. Impossible to have a squib if you check each and every case for powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 11, 2019 Author Share Posted March 11, 2019 I will go back to shooting factory ammo at matches until I get a little more reloading experience. I don’t mind a “learning opportunity” on my time at my neighborhood range, but having a dnf at a match is a waste of travel time, gas, match fees, etc. I will start checking every powder charge by eye before setting the bullets. No way to check powder level after the bullet is seated when using random brass so will also use new brass and weigh the rounds after loading until I am sure that the system is working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highhope Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 (edited) need to check powder in every case.... Glad you didn't hurt the yourself, Edited March 12, 2019 by highhope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 On 3/11/2019 at 1:13 PM, xtian999 said: I will check every powder charge before setting bullets. will also use new brass and weigh the rounds until I am sure the system is working. No reason to weigh the rounds iff you "check every powder charge" Not sure the scale is accurate enough to detect 3-5 grains of powder, with all the deviations in brass and bullets, anyway. Certainly do NOT want to use New Brass - waste of money. Just "check every powder charge" - every single one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revoman Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 Get a Dillon 650 it has the powder check station. Hard to go wrong with that unless you remove it to put a bullet feeder on. Then you are back to looking into each case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayDee Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 I started reloading because I had a squib using factory ammo...... in a level II match. Luckily the bullet only went into the barrel a little bit and the next round wouldn’t chamber. Neither I nor the RO heard it. Cost me a stage but my gun didn’t blow up! I definitely look into each case and verify there is powder before seating a bullet. The light is a good suggestion. I installed a bank of LEDs over my bench and angle one of them right into the powder station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtian999 Posted March 15, 2019 Author Share Posted March 15, 2019 That squib came from my very first ever batch of 100 reloads. Since added a light. If I ever get a different press, it will have more than 4 holes and a different powder system. For now I will just keep an eye on the powder in the shells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayFront36 Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 Glad you caught it! Ive never had one so far but I am overly anal when it comes to reloading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry White Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Rig a light. Then just look, every case, every time. Just look.---------------Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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