10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Baldrick314 » 04 Dec 2014, 11:18 am

  1. Cracked cases
  2. Cases dented by sizing lube
  3. Excessive powder charge
  4. Inadequate Primer Seating
  5. Overzealous Primer Seating
  6. Untrimmed Cases
  7. Bullets Seated Too Far Out
  8. Bullets Shaved by Case Mouths
  9. Excessive Crimping
  10. Inadequate Crimping

http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/ ... -mistakes/

How many have you made? I'm guilty of 2, 5, 8 & 9
Last edited by Aster on 05 Dec 2014, 8:28 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Added the 10 points to save all that page scrolling on the site.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by brett1868 » 04 Dec 2014, 11:58 pm

Baldrick314 wrote:http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/10-common-reloading-mistakes/

How many have you made? I'm guilty of 2, 5, 8 & 9


I'm only guilty of 2 & 10...pity they didn't have "engaging crimp in die b4 bullet fully seated" cause I'm guilty of multiple counts of that. 5/10 times I setup a new dies I'm too low on the seater and stuff cases with crimper b4 projectile fully seated.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by bigfellascott » 05 Dec 2014, 5:49 am

Done a few of em

Dents
Crushed a few Primers over the years (was the stupid hand primer tool I used at the time)
Used untrimmed cases often but have got that sorted now with the trimmer
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Lorgar » 05 Dec 2014, 8:30 am

Cases dented by sizing lube
Overzealous Primer Seating
Untrimmed Cases
Bullets Shaved by Case Mouths

All of those at one point or another.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Streamline » 05 Dec 2014, 9:39 am

Scraped bullets, dented cases from lube and dented a few primers good clamping down on the hand tool.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Pilch » 05 Dec 2014, 9:54 am

Aster wrote:Added the 10 points to save all that page scrolling on the site.


I ***** hate those sites with "The 20 most blah blah blah" and you have to scroll through 20 pages to see each 1 liner.

WTF do they do it for?
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by yoshie » 05 Dec 2014, 10:42 am

Buckled shoulder from seating dies too far in to the press,
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Sender » 05 Dec 2014, 11:00 am

yoshie wrote:Buckled shoulder from seating dies too far in to the press,


Yer, I'm surprised that didn't make the list.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by BBJ » 05 Dec 2014, 1:21 pm

Seating depth, ejecting a case while the projie was still stuck in the rifling and filling the action with powder as a result.

You only do that once.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by headspace » 05 Dec 2014, 8:59 pm

Primer seated, bullet seated Doh, forgot to put powder in. Have not done it my self but saw a bloke at the range who did. I have however dented a case by using too much case lube. I also collapsed a case once by screwing in the wrong decapping neck sizing die.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by tom604 » 06 Dec 2014, 9:11 am

2 and 3 but not excessive,, just a bit,,,hot :oops: :lol:
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Supporter » 08 Dec 2014, 1:24 pm

Filled a couple of cases that weren't primed.

Obvious result there...
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Aussier » 08 Dec 2014, 4:41 pm

Not a mistake as such, but I was waaay slack in getting around to trimming my brass.

TBH, got to the point of trouble closing the bolt before I started.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by COLLECTOR 1 » 09 Dec 2014, 10:38 pm

Pushing primers into federal brass with a 10 ton press...

Hate that federal brass with the bloody crimp.

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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Westy » 10 Dec 2014, 6:26 am

Biggest mistake I have found is getting on Forums and listening to other people who have no idea sprouting bulls**t!!!!
Ask someone who really knows not someone who like 15 and only owns a rimfire!!!!
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by ebr love » 10 Dec 2014, 3:05 pm

I managed to pick up not one, but two packs of the wrong brass last week :roll:
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by cavok » 12 Dec 2014, 11:01 pm

This is a good/great topic started obviously by an honest re-loader. Traps and pit falls for those about to enter the domain of reloading. Remedies and pit falls.
So you want to start reloading, a bit apprehensive? mistakes could blow apart you favourite toy? You will save a heap of money by reloading, Proviso, unless you shoot .22, LOL. Or you load less than most weekend shooters in a year, hunters who already are great shot.

Rules to observe, not negotiable. Some rules, you complete the list.

1. Wear eye protection.
2. No smoking or flame.
3. Clear and clean working area, with minimum distractions.
4. Good ventilation.
5. If reloading Black Powder for some matches, BE extra careful.
6. Triple check the powder type against what you need to load, is it the correct powder, is it the correct amount of powder according to known data???
7. Is it the correct projectile weight for the powder load??
8. Are all your primers in a safe and secure location, and out of humidity, dry and useable.
9. Is you powder dry, and secure and useable.
10. Is your press clean and in good operating condition, set to deliver the right load and your scales tested if needed? Is there a calliper to set correct length?

1.Cracked cases 1a. Check before beginning, grab a handful, hold loose, roll around, any cracked case will sound differently when handled.
2.Cases dented by sizing lube 2a. Not something I have experienced, in either rifle or pistol reloads.
3.Excessive powder charge 3a. Unforgivable, weigh each load on a single stage press, or weigh 1/5 loads on a 3/4/5/ stage press. Lee/Dillon
4.Inadequate Primer Seating 4a. Not sure what this means, if not flush, examine each loaded round prior to placing in ammo bag.
5.Overzealous Primer Seating 5a. primers must be just below flush with the case rim, if not, redo.
6.Untrimmed Cases 6a. Not applicable in any pistol reloading, only rifle. Prior to reloading, measure each case and trim if required.
7.Bullets Seated Too Far Out 7a. Unforgivable, each round has a correct length with seated projectile, NEVER vary, measure each if required.
8.Bullets Shaved by Case Mouths 8a. Make certain that prior to loading the belling of mouth on case is correct.
9.Excessive Crimping 9a. Find out what the correct crimp for each load is and use that. Test each round till you are certain. Can be very embarrassing.
10.Inadequate Crimping 10a. Again, test to make certain the crimp is adequate. If not, reset crimp till it's correct.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Patrol66 » 14 Dec 2014, 7:37 am

I'm guilty of low powder charge, or no powder. Resulted in projectile lodged rather firmly half way down the barrel
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by roob » 15 Dec 2014, 2:36 pm

Patrol66 wrote:I'm guilty of low powder charge, or no powder. Resulted in projectile lodged rather firmly half way down the barrel


What cartridge was that shooting Patrol?

.223? 30-06?

Could you tap it out with a rod of needed a smith to pull it?
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Patrol66 » 19 Dec 2014, 4:48 pm

.40 cal pistol roob. Back in the day when I shot pistols. I haven't made the step to reload for the rifles yet, soon though. Pistols were hungry little beasts, lol
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by roob » 21 Dec 2014, 9:37 am

Primer still has a bit of bang to it then.

I looked up the data and see .40cal pistol would be 130gr-200gr bullets so a bit of weight to get moving.

How'd you go about getting the stuck bullet out?

Knock it out with a cleaning rod or well and truly stuck in there?
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Patrol66 » 21 Dec 2014, 10:42 am

Removed the projectile with a brass rod I had made / bought earlier.

Advice from a club member was to get one because sooner or later I would need it :lol:
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Harper » 21 Dec 2014, 1:38 pm

Do you just bash it out back through the rifling it already followed or is there some technique to it?
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by cavok » 21 Dec 2014, 7:56 pm

There is no technique to removing any projectile struck in a barrel.

With pistol, revolver or semi, get yourself a 5/6mm brass or stainless rod, approximately 25cm long.

Mostly a projectile, irrespective of its weight is in the middle or either end. Get a piece of stick, cable tie, anything when inserted into the barrel will indicate the position of the stuck projectile. No need to disassemble either the revolver or semi, place end of brass or stainless rod on firm ground, barrel first if at chamber end, a few light taps it will be dislodged.

Some people use a rod with a handle and strike the projectile in the barrel several times, it is easily dislodged. Irrespective of the projectile position in the rod, place barrel over rod push down several times, again easy.

No damage.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by Harper » 22 Dec 2014, 1:10 pm

I'm surprised that's the case.

Figured it would be much more solidly jammed in there.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by inspector » 22 Dec 2014, 1:17 pm

Youtube, there are a few videos of guys knocking out stuck projies from pistol barrels with a rod and hammer.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by cavok » 22 Dec 2014, 1:23 pm

The technique I describe above is universal, there are variations if you want a hammer, but seriously, its not that jammed tight, it will knock out easily.

Shooting an case full of powder without a projectile sounds silly, the power will spill everywhere and at a range you would not be carrying a case full of powder and no projectile.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by inspector » 22 Dec 2014, 1:29 pm

They're just tapping it out with a hammer in the things I was referring too.

Wasn't suggesting a sledge hammer and force was needed.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by anthillinside » 22 Dec 2014, 5:54 pm

;) Glad to see you ARE thinking.

Hit it with a rod/hammer.

99% of stuck projectiles are due to low/no powder burn.

Pushing it with a rod will tell you exactly how tight it's stuck.

Putting a gunpowder charge behind it is making a pipe bomb out of your gun.
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Re: 10 Most Common Reloading Mistakes

Post by tucked » 23 Dec 2014, 8:44 am

sudes wrote:Just thinking out loud so still might be a stupid idea :lol:


Might be an idea to try from behind a screen with the pistol in the trigger on a string 30m away :lol:
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