I haven't loaded in a while and was low on 223's so decided to load 20. 25 gr of 4320. Went to neighbors house to try out his new shooting bench he built. First round blew out primer and second blew a small hole in primer. I decided to stop and take them home and recheck things. I pulled them all and measured and all wete good. I loaded 2 more and went out front just to shoot them in the ground. First one went BOOM!!!. Blew the breach open and blew the trigger gaurd off. Took just a little bit to come to my senses. My finger was numb and my foot was hurting. The pressure had gone down the trigger area and out where my finger was. I am guessing the trigger gaurd hit my foot but I cannot find it. This really baffled me what was going on. This happened the 24th late in th he day. This morning still thinking about it I pulled an old bullits to check it and it measured fine. Looking at yhe powder I noticed it was two different colors. Looking real close I noticed some spherical shaped powder and some flake shaped. I poured the bottle out on a plate and you could see 2 different powders in the new loads and just the spherical in the old. I think the flake powder is titegroupe which you know is a hot powder. Somehow in the past I put this in the wrong bottle when I got done. I don't know how because I keep the bottle I am using next to the powder measured and put it back in there when done. I keep them on a shelf accross the room. I than the Lord it wasn't any worse.

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Even with my one-powder-on-the-bench I've caught myself making mistakes in returning powder to the wrong bottle in a moment of 'impression' that I was working with a different powder than I really was.

Pharmacists have a system of checks that make it difficult to mistakenly fill a prescription. Even so, I just had to return a prescription with the wrong pills in it. Filling prescriptions or reloading, the consequences of mistakes can be bad to fatal.

Thanks for having the guts to tell this story. I feel that I need constant reminders of what I can do that's wrong.

PS: Sorry about your rifle.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

"Why I don't reload" in three paragraphs or less . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Take those pics and print them out then tape them above your reloading bench.

Lesson learned.

I'm not the only one with ugly feet.

Well they say stupid should hurt and that looks like it stings.
Then again we all make mistakes from time to time.
Glad you're okay though, coulda been a lot worse.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Don't beat yourself up my friend....BUT learn from your mistake! I only have 9 fingers because of my dumb *** but that's a long story. It cold have been much worse! We tend to become lax and that's a recipe for disaster. Thanks for sharing your story. That takes a strong spirit and big balls! DDDave

What rifle were you shooting.......AR,or bolt gun.?
Thanks for sharing; as stated before, these reminders keep all of us a little more attentive the next time at the reloading bench.

That's exactly what I will do. Thanks

Or, you could replace the quote with:
"Why I don't drive a car"
"Why I don't use a power lawnmower"
"Why I don't use a razor blade when shaving"
"Why I don't run with scissors"
etc.

Read the instructions. Use common sense. Don't watch TV, text, talk with the buddies while drinking beer, etc.

Thousands of people have done thousands of tasks without hurting themselves. Remember one awe$&*# cancels all attaboys. And if you don't have confidence that you won't screw up, then maybe you should just stay in bed, so you don’t hurt anybody else......LOL.

Hey my feet are just fine, big but fine. Like my hands are XL, size 12 shoe and I will stop there. Does look a little funny be only 5' 9".

Interesting. Mistakes can certainly happen quickly. Thanks for sharing.

It WAS an H&R SB2 ULTRA. Didn't hurt the barrel. I will let a Ginsburg look at it before I weld it shut and put it on the wall.

The pressure found the weak point and yanked a chuck out of the case where the extractor goes on the case. Can't find the extractor either.

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This is probably a good reminder too of why not to shoot someone else's reloads You might have lost a friend had you loaded these for someone else.
It does take discipline in the reloading bench area, there really isn't room for error, slow and methodical with as many double checks as one can.
Sorry to hear about the hardware and the 'software' and sure am glad you are here to tell us about it and give warning, hope you heal up well both in limb and mind over this.
Karl

This is what probably saved you from more injury - The SB2s are known for their strength. I have the same rifle with the standard stock.

"There are old reloaders and there are careless reloaders but there are no old, careless reloaders. " You were lucky.
Learn from your mistake and move on.

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Dave

I know how lucky I was. I have prayed and Thanked God every day sense and will continue to do so. I still don't know how I could be that careless. I have a system that suppose to prevent this. I must have gotten disrupted some how. I don't load as much as I use to.

I took an old kitchen cabinet and use it for powder storage. Only one powder is out in the open at a time. I would never store on a shelf. Only power in use is ever in view.

So far I only have one kind of powder. I think I will keep it that way.
It' is amazing what we do to ourselves sometimes. That's when we shake our heads at ourselves and few expletives pertaining to ourselves get verbalized. Been there done that.

Whew! That made my scrotum shrink. You could have lost that finger or worse.
Thanks for sharing...that took courage to fess up.

Is it possible one of your new powder containers came mixed when you bought it? Stranger things have happened at any manufacturer of any product, I guarantee you. Thanks for the post and warning.

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Possum—The other white meat!

I use a heavy gauge steel locking cabinet (yes it has vent holes drilled in it) and follow the exact same practice. I make it a rule to ONLY take the powder I am currently using out of the cabinet, and I keep it right there on the bench. When I stop reloading, even for a short time I empty the measure back into the container and the container goes back in the cabinet. I don't leave it any in the measure or any containers on the bench - ever.

Thank God it wasn't worse - it certainly could have been...

Thank God you can still count to 20 with your shoes off. Thanks for having the courage to post up and tell us about your boo boo. That is a good reminder to not circumvent your sound reloading practices. And another reminder to actually look hard at the powder as you are putting it into the powder measure and to make sure your powder measure is empty before you pour the powder in. I make it a habit to turn my measure over upside down or to cycle the powder throw several times before loading it up with powder before reloading. And for sure to never have any other powder cannister out besides the one I am loading with while there is powder in the measure or powder trickler.

I have a blue piece of tape on all my powder bottles with the corresponding name on it. When I pour powder into my presses powder tube I take that bottles tape and tape it over the top of the tube. I can't not empty the leftover powder from the reloaded without untaping the cap. At this point I am holding the blue tape with the correct powders name in my hand. Additionally only 1 bottle of powder is not wearing its blue tape. Works for me.

I'd point out that, as serious as the powder contamination is, the larger mistake was getting two clear warning signs, and continuing without figuring out what the problem was. In fact, I would say that not finding the cause on disassembly should be a pretty clear sign to take a big step back. If it's not a mild overcharge, then it's really bad news--something like what happened, or a mal-adjusted scale or simply the wrong powder entirely.

IMO the cause for this is pretty obvious, you broke the rule about only having ONE powder on your reloading bench.

My procedure when reloading is to take the bottle of powder from my storage locker and put it on the reloading bench next to the powder measure with the label FACING ME. There it remains until I've finished reloading with this powder. Then the powder measure is emptied back into that bottle. On the occasions where there is only a small amount left in the measure and the bottle on the bench is empty I will then take a bottle OF THAT SAME POWDER to the bench and put both bottles side by side to compare the label and insure they are the same. Then I'll break the seal on the new bottle and empty the powder measure into that new bottle. Yeah, this can result in a small amount of a different lot number going into that new bottle but they are the same powder and I take the time to tip that new bottle over several times to mix them up.

If I want to change over to a different powder I make sure that the powder measure is empty and the spot on my bench where I set the powder bottle in use is also empty. Bascially I make sure to Clear the Reloading bench when changing powders. At that point I can then get a bottle of the new powder out of the locker. Yeah, this does mean I have to make an extra trip or two but since I got a step tracker I really don't mind a few extra steps in a day and it is the surest method I've been able to come up with that insures I won't ever make the mistake of mixing powders and help reduce the potential for loading with the wrong powder.

I have trouble with some of those as well . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I thank the OP for this story - I believe it is important to reflect on safety procedures on a regular basis. I too will keep the powder bottle on the bench while loading so that there is a smaller chance of dumping unused powder from the measure into the wrong bottle. After dumping my measure back into the bottle, I will then take a can of air (normally used to blow off electronics and available in office supply stores) and use it to blow out the interior of the powder measure. That way, any powder remaining as a result of static or whatever, is out of the measure.

Having said that, I agree with this:

The test run demonstrated beyond any doubt that there was an over-pressure issue. Until such time as you KNOW what caused that, you cannot keep shooting those reloads. I think the title of the OP post tells us that he knows that as well.

Very glad nothing worse happened to you.

Work with one powder at a time and leave powder container on loading bench while that powder is in measure etc. When finished, pour remaining powder back into container and back on shelf. I also keep roll of masking tape on bench and write powder and load on a piece and put on powder measure.

Didn't see how this could ever happen BUT just recently loading some 45 ACP with different bullets one taking AA#5 and the other with Unique. Finished loading and had a tiny amount of AA#5 left over. Was just starting to dump that tiny amount of AA#5 into the Unique jug. Not quite as bad as they are close in burn rates but still alarmed me to do it. Only one powder on the bench or close to your bench is a good safety practice. I don't even like having powder on shelves AT the bench. I want to have to move from my bench to get a powder. This time though I had both sitting within reach of my bench. Glad you're ok.

Glad you weren't seriously hurt. That could have been BAD.

I can see it happening, but like most here, I take precautions to prevent it from happening. But mistakes are made, because we are not perfect. I also only allow the one container I am loading with on my bench, all of the others are behind a closed door in a cabinet.

However, using the progressive press adds little extra "challenge" to not screwing things up. The powder hopper/dispenser needs to be emptied as well. I have gone through the motions of changing to a different caliber and forgetting to empty the hopper (when I should, while the previous container is still out). I always start a new caliber by searching through my manuals for a load, then once a powder and bullet is chosen I get them (and the dies) out and put them on the bench for the change over.

I have gotten to the point of changing tool heads (Dillon 550B), only to find out I had left powder in the dispenser. I learned long ago to keep a roll of masking tape nearby and label everything that I'm using. So my hopper still has the name of the previous powder and charge on it until I change it out.

I can see getting in a hurry and leaving a small amount of the previous powder in there, and dumping something new on top. Thankfully I haven't done that yet. Thanks to the OP (kd5exp) I will be even more careful making the switch over.

Thanks kd5exp for owning up to your mistake, sharing them with others (no matter how embarrassing) can prevent a similar mistake from happening to someone else. Glad it wasn't any worse, and I'm sorry for the loss/damage to your firearm.

You can't be too careful in this hobby. Glad no loss of life or limb , just be careful out there.....
Gary

One of the cardinal rules of reloading is never have more than one canister of powder on the bench at a time. Corollary to this rule is never put the canister away without dumping any unused powder back into it.

A painful lesson to learn, but not as painful as it could have been.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

You made a mistake,we all do...you are not stupid.Yes,the mistake was painfull and thank to He who watches over us,you will still think,see,walk and procreate after it.
You would have been stupid if you
A)wouldn't have shared so as to prevent another such accident
B)would have tried to find somebody else responsible for it(a good recipe for leftists;''if you look around and don't find anybody else that can be blamed for it,sue the govt!).
Qc

This is very good advice and one I now follow. After one loading session I put the bottle back in the cabinet and went upstairs for dinner. Later in the evening I went back down and realized I had left the remaining powder in the measure. I still had the bullets I had loaded on the bench with my notes so I knew what powder I used and it was still fresh in my brain but... had this been a day or two later would I have been 100% sure which powder I used. Maybe?

For the few minutes it takes to empty and refill the measure, well worth it.

Hi kd5exp,

I'm glad to hear your "OK". Your a very lucky guy!

Sorry about the loss of a nice rifle but a eye or hand would have been much worse! I also have only one can on the table, but "stuff" happens to all of us!
In my case 25 years ago, I was loading for a local CMP service match. Happily loading away, had just made my 75th round. I dropped a bullet on the reloading book. The page had flipped & somehow did not see it, I was loading for another cartridge rather then 30-06!
It was a long night, but I did reload all the rounds properly.

I always have a paper clip on the pages now, so it can't flip!

Be well & Shoot safe,
broom

It is never easy to admit a mistake, much less post it on the internet. You have my respect and admiration for doing it so that others could learn.

Thank you.

Don't assume that this or similar could not happen with factory loads.

I don't. But I can't sue myself for damages . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I reload for a 52-2, I still don't know what happened, but I had a squib, did not catch it, cost me a bulged barrel. 2.7g Bullseye, hard to see in a dirty reloaded many times case. After that I get anal retentive, only one powder on the bench, every case is inspected twice.

No chance in that John. Been loading out of this can for a while. I pulled one I had and checked it. It was fine. Nobody to blame but myself. I was really puzzled for a while what had happened. My eyes are not what the use to be but I could see the 2 different powders. The first signs should have figured this out but it took 4 rounds and a very sore finger to convince me. I just never thought I could mess up like that. I pulled them all down and weighed every one of them. I don't know what caught my eye but when I poured the powder on a dinner plate I could see the 2 different powders. Live and learn. Finger is about all healed and I can bend it now. Having a hard time finding another ejector for it but not in a hurry.

[QUOTE=hdwhit;139572910]It is never easy to admit a mistake, much less post it on the internet. You have my respect and admiration for doing it so that others could learn.

Thank you.[/QUOTE

If I can help one person prevent this I will be happy. The Lord gave me another chance and I am very grateful. I guess I could sue myself but collecting would be impossible. I am not one to sue anybody for my stupidity.

At least you have toes.
Jim

I did the same thing a few years back. Mixed two powers together and to this day I don't know how I did it but have not done it again.
My results were not as bad as yours but the stupidity was the same. (Mine were 700x and Blue Dot)

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IN GOD WE TRUST     ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

Am I missing something here? Many people seem to be pointing to the "one powder on the bench at a time" rule that many of us follow, but the OP said he follows that as well. Granted, the comments made about storing in a closable cabinet as opposed to a shelf - I can see where that is even better. But.....

Be that as it may, even if on shelves, if the shelves are physically away from the bench (e.g. on the other side of the room) and the loader is diligent about only having one powder on the bench at a time, what scenarios can cause two powders to get mixed?

kd5exp, do you have a sense for how they became mixed? I ask because I follow that one-on-the-bench-at-a-time method as well. And I want to see where a blind spot might be in what I do.

One brainstormed thought that occurred to me as I typed this: Could a bottle have been returned to the shelf without emptying the measure, then at the next loading session, with a different powder on the bench, the hopper gets dumped into the wrong bottle? I, too, never walk away from the bench with an empty hopper. I'd like to understand the additional cracks that exist in this common safety method.

Thanks.

OR

I follow this pretty close, but I had not thought about marking the powder measure, thanks for the suggestion.

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Carpriver.

I have a wooden powder bunker, with magnetic latched door. One powder out at a time.

But you know what? Going to put a roll of blue painters tape in the reloading room and start labeling the powder measure. I like that idea.

OP, glad you OK and thanks for sharing.

Man, that had to smart!

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

I put charge weight & powder type on a slip of paper (e.g. 7.5 Unique) and place it in the hopper facing me. That way I know not only the powder, but how the measure is set. And always, one bottle only on the bench.

Larry