It pays to double check!

[cds43016]

I use a Lee Classic Turret press. I size and prime in a separate step and use the four die positions as follows:

Position 1 – Lee Drum Powder Measure
Position 2 – RCBS Powder Check Die
Position 3 – Lee Bullet Seating Die
Position 4 - Lee Factory Crimp Die

I load 357 mag with 4.3 grains of 231 with a 158-grain coated bullet. I’ve loaded over 10,000 of these in the last year or so and never had a problem until now. It’s a nice and accurate target load.

On my first batch of rounds after setup all was going well when suddenly, the powder check die was showing light charges. I always look inside the case with a mirror before seating the bullet and looked OK. There was powder. It’s very hard to judge variations in charge with such a tall dark case with light charges. Sure enough, upon weighting the charges it was throwing half charges. It appears that the powder measure was somehow damaged in the move. I will be sending it back to Lee for repair.

If the RCBS Powder Check Die hadn’t caught the light charges, I could have produced a batch of squibs. The consequences could have been disastrous at the worst, inconvenient at the best.

The lesson learned is that any equipment can fall, even equipment that has reliably produced thousands of rounds in the past. It is good reloading practice to make sure that the charge is right before seating the bullet. In my case I double check. First with the powder check die and then a visual check. In my case the visual check would have failed. Visual checks are often OK alone if the powder fills a good part of the case and the case is short so that you can see clearly inside. It was never a problem with 45 ACP. Neither applies in my case with the 357 mag making a backup check essential.

I was lucky.

 

[SLT223]

I check the throw weight before loading even if I'm loading the same round as the last time I used the same tool head.

 

[cds43016]

I check the charge before reloading and weigh the first few charges and recheck every 20-25 after. All was fine when I started and the first few charges were OK and then suddenly ..... Those rounds that were not weighed will be taken down and components reused. When I check the charge after 20-25 and all is OK i move the rounds to another bin for later final inspection with a case gauge. If there is a problem with the charge weight I will take all the rounds since the last good inspection and break them down and start over. This is the first time I had to implement this procedure. Fortunately I only loaded six rounds since the last weigh in so not too much work.

 

[hdwhit]

cds43016 wrote:
The lesson learned is that any equipment can fall,

Yes.

This is why the reloading procedures should include several discrete quality checks during the process.

 

[Alk8944]

One of the most basic, and important, safety measures is to always check the powder measure before loading.

Why do you suppose your measure has to go back to Lee? 99+% chance all you need to do is adjust it. You did try that didn't you?

 

[BC38]

In addition to looking into every case to check for powder, I check the weight of the powder throw every 10th round. Can't be too careful.

 

[MyDads38]

Except for reading about the Auto Drum measure, I don't have any experience with it. What would have broken to make it throw half charges? I would think it just needed adjusting, if it got bumped somehow during a move. Would like more information, please...

I use Lee dippers, several Auto Disk, Pro Auto Disk and Perfect Powder Measure and I've never had an issue EXCEPT the Adjustable Charge Bar-I couldn't get that to work at all on my Pro 1000 press :-(

 

[daddio202]

Do I all my reloading on a Lee's single stage. I do not trust ANY powder measuring device. I use lee dippers and some homemade dippers only for powder charging. It is much slower but am always sure each charge is correct as I put it into each case by hand myself. Once all cases charged I then use a flashlight and make sure every case has a charge before moving to next step. Just my way, let's me sleep at night.

 

[cds43016]

One of the most basic, and important, safety measures is to always check the powder measure before loading.

Why do you suppose your measure has to go back to Lee? 99+% chance all you need to do is adjust it. You did try that didn't you?

Of course I did. I have a second Lee Drum powder measure and compared the two. The connecting rod and disconnector are pushed off to the side out of position not allowing full straight movement. I took the powder measure apart but have not been able to repair it. It looks like it needs new parts. It must have taken taken a wack in the move. At first it was OK and then just gave up after about 10 rounds. Total failure occurred after I have already verified the charge weight before reloading and verified the first few rounds once I started. The charges were right on. The stress of actual reloading must have been the last straw causing the measure to bind up and not fully cycle.

 

[rwsmith]

I think that mimicking...

Yes.

This is why the reloading procedures should include several discrete quality checks during the process.

I think that mimicking a pharmacist is a good plan. They have like three checks they do at different times before they fill a prescription. And you know what? They STILL make mistakes.

You just plain can't be too careful and try to set things up to catch boo boos as they happen.

 

[hdwhit]

cds43016 wrote:
Visual checks are often OK alone if the powder fills a good part of the case and the case is short so that you can see clearly inside.

I reload on a single stage press and so my work in process resides in a reloading block and this is why my reloading procedures call for the powder levels to be checked by holding the block at an approximate 45 degree angle and illuminated by a bright light. This will cause a shadow from the case mouth to fall across the surface of the powder charge changing how much light the powder charge reflects - something the human eye is very sensitive to - which makes it easy to identify any loads with an abnormally small power charge.