Author Topic: High dollar progressive press + 44 magnum= Dead Anaconda (Read 769 times)

R.W.Dale · « **on:** September 22, 2005, 01:17:56 PM »

Pics
http://iris.nyit.edu/~bithead/anaconda/

Story
http://iris.nyit.edu/~bithead/anaconda/story.html

Reloading should be all about quality not quantity.

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:43:13 PM »

Yep, I own a 550B and it is hand advanced with a case actuated powder measure. It isn't a good machine to operate with distractions. Double charges are easy to accomplished if you get distracted and out of rhythm.

Ian

edit: typo correction

NE Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:52:01 PM »

WOW !!! THanks for sharing and I'm very glad you weren't hurt.

This is a prime example of why when a new to reloading question comes along a single stage press is recommended. I realize you are not new to reloading but to any "newbie" reading this ia means of driving the point home

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2005, 03:38:26 PM »

Quote from: NE Hunter

WOW !!! THanks for sharing and I'm very glad you weren't hurt.

This is a prime example of why when a new to reloading question comes along a single stage press is recommended. I realize you are not new to reloading but to any "newbie" reading this ia means of driving the point home

WOAH!!! THIS ISN'T ME I just found this posted on another forum.

pffft · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2005, 04:06:37 PM »

Just as dangerous as a double load, is no powder in the case before seating a bullet, which is then likely to become jammed in the barrel when fired.
Old or reduced handloads can be just as dangerous due to excessive pressures, as PO Ackley covers in his handbook.
Handloading is definitely the time to keep all of your attention entirely on what you are doing.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2005, 04:55:53 PM »

That is why I still load one shell at a time. :eek:

SLAVAGE · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2005, 05:21:47 PM »

got to love the hoges grips ther still fine lol
an if the scope was a leapold it would still be worken fine
hahahha

ShadowMover · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:42:18 PM »

Sorry about your loss. Thanks for sharing what happened, it brings it home.

I have a rule about table saws and reloading: No talking and look at what you are doing. That means I don't talk to my wife or my friends while I do those jobs. I'm still looking at ten with two.

I have reloaded Bullseye in 44 Mag because it was so cheap, but I stopped doing it because I couldn't do a visual check and be sure. I make a point of looking at each powder charge before I place the bullet in the reloader. This slows thing way down, but it's a trade off I want. I try to use powder loads that are obvious if they are doubled. I'm still living dangerously using 4 grains of Bullseye in my .45 ACP. I still do a real close eye ball check though.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #8 on:** September 22, 2005, 08:22:08 PM »

Quote from: ShadowMover

Sorry about your loss. Thanks for sharing what happened, it brings it home.

I have a rule about table saws and reloading: No talking and look at what you are doing. That means I don't talk to my wife or my friends while I do those jobs. I'm still looking at ten with two.

I have reloaded Bullseye in 44 Mag because it was so cheap, but I stopped doing it because I couldn't do a visual check and be sure. I make a point of looking at each powder charge before I place the bullet in the reloader. This slows thing way down, but it's a trade off I want. I try to use powder loads that are obvious if they are doubled. I'm still living dangerously using 4 grains of Bullseye in my .45 ACP. I still do a real close eye ball check though.

AGAIN I DON'T OWN AND NEVER HAVE OWNED EITHER A COLT FIREARM OR A DILLON PRESS. :x I JUST HAPPENED TO RUN ACROSS THIS WHILE SURFIN THE NET AND THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT.

Mikey · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2005, 02:47:29 AM »

I just love my Dillon 550 but I have had some bad experiences with those powder measures not throwing charges. I once loaded up 200 rounds of 38 special only to find, once on the range, that 50% didn't have powder charges. After about 4 slugs stuck in thebarrel and had to be driven back into the case to open the cylinder and get the rounds out I called it quite, went home, pulled all the slugs and found the powder measure had failed to drop a charge in 50% of the cases.

I changed my charging process after that. Mikey.

John R. · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2005, 03:10:44 AM »

I have loaded thousands of rounds on my Dillon 550 in many different calibers. It is an excellent machine. More people use Dillons than any of the others put together. Just ask any competetive shooter what brand press they use and the overwelming majority will say Dillon. You MUST pay attention to what you are doing when reloading or using table saws. :grin:

Catfish · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2005, 05:06:55 AM »

If your being distracted you should not be loading on any press, you should also not be driveing or cooking on the stove.
I will go a step farther and say that there are alot of people that sould not even try to load ammo or even own a gun, drive a car or vote. BUT, for the rest of us that have loaded ammo on a pregressive press would not got back to a single stage. I know I`ll not give up my 550 without a fight. :excuseme:

Robert357 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2005, 05:30:28 AM »

Quote from: Catfish

......for the rest of us that have loaded ammo on a pregressive press would not got back to a single stage. I know I`ll not give up my 550 without a fight.

I enjoy reloading. I have both a Lyman turret press and a Lyman single stage press. I understand that some like progressive presses to really grind out the volume of ammo, but I don't.

I have never figured out how one can do all the little things that make for quality reloads. Things like cleaning out the primer pockets after the round is deprimed, doing a detailed check of the case after the round is resized, cleaning the brass after it is sized, checking and/or triming the case length of each case for uniformity each time it is reloaded, etc.

I know folks with progressive, but I also know that I like to visually check the powder level in each round prior to seating a bullet. I also like to inspect the heck out of each round. Even being committed to that, I have had situations where I had to pull 50 bullets from a batch that I had some serious problems. I can only imagine how many it would have been had I been using a progressive reloader.

I appreciate the sharing of this experience as it is very good to be reminded about being both very careful in loading ammo and the importance of range safety equipment.

NE Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2005, 05:39:17 AM »

Krochus, let me be the first to say I'm sorry for the misinterpet. I did think it was your gun etc. but now I see the light. Thanks for posting the story

It is a good reminder to pay attention to what your doing .... both att he bench and the keyboard.

John R. · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2005, 06:01:54 AM »

It has been my experience that cleaning primer pockets for pistol cartridges is a total waste of time. (I do clean rifle primer pockets because I load them on a redding single stage press and don't load large quanties of high power rifle loads). When I clean pistol cases , I do 400 to 500 at a time before any loading takes place, then they are sized with a carbide die. They are also visually checked for powder before seating the bullet. Also straight walled pistol cases rarely need trimming, especially after each reload. If you shoot as much as I do there is no way you can load on a single stage press for pistol bullets. As with any tedious operation it pays to be careful. Pay Attention. If you pull the handle twice without cycling the cartridge you WILL double charge the case. After looking at the pictures posted I have no doubt he doubled the powder charge and with Bullseye you see what happened. I would like to suggest he go with a slower burning powder (like H-110 or W296) for his 44 Mag loads and he won't have to worry about double charges. As always be safe. :grin: