Caught my Mistake

[Mals9]

I was loading some 9mm 124 gr last night when I found 3 380 cases in my loading block. I somehow managed to prime them. I must have picked them up with my 9mm brass at my last range session. I feel foolish that I let it get that far. Be careful out there.

Mals

 

[Nevada Ed]

Did trying to seat a 9mm bullet give it away ?

At least it was only three.

Might need to check your loading steps out just a wee bit more.

 

[Electric Head]

I usually find a rare 38 super case while loading 9mm. I find it at the point of powder charging and belling. It feels a little tougher on the press stroke and is then belled like a trumpet lol. I'd probably miss 380s, no "tells" when you're loading in a progressive. Luckily I don't think anyone bothers with 380 here.

 

[muddocktor]

An even tougher one to catch is 9mm Makarov cases. They are only 1 mm shorter than a 9mm Luger case. And I occasionally find them out on the range when I am picking up my brass.

 

[SWDan]

i have not had a problem with 9's, some times a 357 will sneak into my 38 spl's.

 

[Mals9]

I found them when I picked them up to charge the case. They were shorter than the rounds next to them. Since I was using a hand primer and pulling them from a small container I did not notice.

Mals

 

[cadmike]

Well, quite frankly that’s the easiest time to find them is in the loading block when you can more easily see the size difference in comparison to the 9 case and you are paying closer attention to your work as you charge. No big surprise and “No harm-no foul” there I’d say it’s rather common if you have folks shooting.380 at your range, it’s happened to me for sure. Chuck the .380 case and move forward with life. You caught your mistake because you’re experienced and now you are more experienced because you caught it, if that makes sense. Part of the fun. IMO.

 

[rwsmith]

I have a tough time...

I have a tough time reading case head info. But I've learned to filter out odd cases as I go through the sorting and loading process .40 cal vs 9mm I can tell by sight or feel. .380 and 9mm is much harder. I've looked at shells and said, "That's GOT to be a .380. Get out my glasses and magnifying glass and there's a faint "9mm Luger" on it.

I set them by an example shell I'm going to use to see any differences in height.

If the ram practically falls by itself during resizing, that's a pretty good indicator.

.380s won't stay good in my Lee hand primer

 

[Steve K]

I think we have all been there. Most of the time I sort out the .380 and the 38 Super brass while I'm picking up my 9MM brass. But when they do get into the brass bag I find them while I'm reloading. There is a different feel in the sizing operation for both. The .380 size real easy and the 38 Super take more pressure.

 

[fredj338]

Not a mistake unless you miss it! I have had a 380 sneal into my brass bin. I usually feel it in sizing.

 

[RGVshooter]

Actually for me the easiest time to find Makarov cases in my 9mm's or .380's is when I'm depriming/resizing. It's all about feel. You can easily feel the tight resistance when attempting to resize a mak case in a 9mm die. It's very tight. 380's are very loose... 38's/357's? Well there's no telling the difference when resizing them but you can easily tell somethings not right when it's time to seat the bullet!

Yes, I reload 380, 9mm, 38's & 357's...

 

[mikld]

I'll pick some up occasionally, and some can get passed cleaning and initial inspection,but they are noticeable when sizing, way easier to size...

 

[muddocktor]

Actually for me the easiest time to find Makarov cases in my 9mm's or .380's is when I'm depriming/resizing. It's all about feel. You can easily feel the tight resistance when attempting to resize a mak case in a 9mm die. It's very tight. 380's are very loose... 38's/357's? Well there's no telling the difference when resizing them but you can easily tell somethings not right when it's time to seat the bullet!

Yes, I reload 380, 9mm, 38's & 357's...

Yeah, I've caught them when resizing too, but I mostly catch them after tumbling and I put the cases in the old style RCBS loading blocks to separate and examine the cases before resizing and reloading. 380 cases immediately stand out in the loading blocks and the Makarov cases are pretty noticeable too that way. I put the cases in the blocks primer side up and all of those cases stick up a little over the loading block sides, with the 380 cases just being about flush with the loading block sides.

 

[crsides]

Got a scale that is marked in 10gr increments. My old one was 5gr. Loaded a box of 38's with double charges. Reached for the scale to put it away and realized what I had done. I can happen.

Charlie

 

[Moe Mentum]

Yep, those pesky .380 casings are hard to spot sometimes, I check every headstamp, it takes time, but so be it.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I’ e Ended up with the odd 40 S&W and 38 Super brass both when shooting .45 auto and 9mm. Nothing worse than the case feed tube jamming up because there’s an over length case sitting in it.

 

[carpriver]

I was taking some cleaned 40SW brass out of the tumbler, as i was inspecting them I found a suprize, a 357 sig. mixed in with the 40. you caught it

 

[joeintexas]

I normally catch those pesky little guys when resizing and depriming, a very different feel.

 

[hdwhit]

muddocktor wrote:
An even tougher one to catch is 9mm Makarov cases. They are only 1 mm shorter than a 9mm Luger case. And I occasionally find them out on the range when I am picking up my brass.

And don't forget about the frustration caused by people who convert their 9mm cases into 9x18 by simply trimming off an extra millimeter.