UPDATED-Bad day at the range...

[Sevens]

It’s misleading and not intellectually honest to blame this event on the use of a progressive press.

You could argue that if he had not used a progressive, it wouldn’t have happened, and that wouldn’t be much different than saying if his hobby were Ping Pong instead of handguns, this wouldn’t have happened.

Checks and balances, a process that reinforces QC and more than anything, powder selection should be the focus when it comes to avoiding an event of this nature.

 

[fas111]

That is scary-glad you are ok. Your experience brought back a scary memory for me. Way back in the 70s I was the night guy at a range in Haverstraw, NY.A regular customer came in to try out his brand new Colt Trooper .357. After a while he came to me and said he was having lots of trouble getting his emptys out. He had to really bang the rod to get them ejected. His brass looked ok so I suggested that it being brand new the chambers may just be a little rough. I suggested he hand me a couple of rounds and I would try them through a rental. I picked a M19. First shot and it blew itself to hell and back very similar to what happened to your gun. I was in shock but totally uninjured. My customer was not in the booth with me thank God. When I calmed myself down he said he never had a problem with his reloads before!! Reloads--he never mentioned that until after the incident. I learned a valuable lesson, always ask the question are these reloads and never shoot any reloads you did not load yourself,

 

[PapaWheelie]

Very glad that you are OK, wow, that could have been tragic.

As someone new to pistol reloading that first picture is going on my bench as a constant reminder to check, and then check again. Then check again just to be sure.

Take care, again, glad you are OK.

 

[joe44va]

Even more glad I use Trail Boss for light loads. Glad you survived. We're all interested in what the factory says about this.

 

[Shark Bait]

Even more glad I use Trail Boss for light loads. Glad you survived. We're all interested in what the factory says about this.

I won't be bothering the factory for this. I already know why the gun blew up. I will just have to adjust my technique for charging cases.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Isn't there a thing called a powder cop for progressives? Not being a progressive reloader I only have heard the term, know nothing about it.

 

[The_Truth]

Was this the first bullet in a freshly loaded cylinder? I only see what I'm assuming to be damage in the form of a line on one of the adjacent rounds.

 

[Shark Bait]

Was this the first bullet in a freshly loaded cylinder? I only see what I'm assuming to be damage in the form of a line on one of the adjacent rounds.

Yes. I had just fired 6 factory loads, loaded 6 hand loads, and it was the very first hand load that detonated. This ripped the two adjacent cartridges apart but did not cause them to go off. I had fired about 100 of these loads in various guns on prior trips to the range, all without any issue whatsoever. The only thing that makes any sense to me at all is a double charge. Look closely at the primer pocket of the fired casing. It appears to be blown out somewhat. It is clear that this one cartridge is responsible for the damage.

The line on the primer of the round on the left was caused by it hitting the recoil shield as the cylinder was slammed downward into the frame. The M in MAG on the headstamp is visible on the recoil shield. See below. The old crime scene investigator is coming back out now.

 

[pmanton]

Thank the Lord that you are here to post about the mishap !

 

[Jim Watson]

The only gun ever demolished on my club's range was a .357 that surely got a double dose of Bullseye. And not one of those "target loads in magnum brass" deals either.

I only used one can of Titegroup, just too hard to see down in the bottom of the case, even compared to 231 or Bullseye.

I hang over the seating station of my lighted Dillon and am comfortable with 9mm and .45. It is a lot harder to see a light load in a .38 Special. Uniquetek used to sell a mirror for the purpose, but shows it as "discontinued by manufacturer."

 

[AManWearingAHat]

So glad to hear you are okay. You're lucky you got away with only a cut. Let this be a sobering reminder to everyone out there reloading that it is a dangerous business. Do not take that lightly!

 

[dla]

It is easier for me to figure out how to cause a double-charge on an auto-indexing progressive, and darned hard to do while reloading.
I reload 44mag on a Dillon SDB and spent some time trying to double so I would recognize the scenario.
Titegroup is a great powder, but it is very dense and the color of soot. So I use Hodgdon Clays when I'm making put-put loads (large funky green flakes).

 

[357 shooter]

I did weigh empty brass, then bullets, then loaded cartridges. I found that the variances can be enough to make detecting an overcharge of 8 grains difficult. It just isn't worth the risk, so I'll break em all down and start over.

That is what I would do! Might seem like a hassle but one gun blow up in a lifetime is one too many.

I always loaded handgun rounds on an auto indexing Dillon Square Deal which moves the charged case to the seating station. One would have to remove the charged case now at the seating station and place it back at the powder charge station and pull the handle again to double charge. For me I like the way the press operates and have no desire at all to use a single stage press for large volume handgun reloading.

 

[SuperMan]

Thanks for posting this and glad you were not hurt...

Back about 1995 a friend's 629 Classic blew the same way...but it was with a factory load.

As to Titegroup, I've read too many stories to ever have it in my reloading room. Was wondering what a double charge of it looks in a .44 Magnum case. I use Unique and on those occasions that I have the charge comes just about to the case mouth without spilling so I would have to be blind to not see it when I put the bullet on the case to be seated.

Bob

 

[rat107]

#1. Glad you're ok!

#2. Put that revolver in a display case! haha

 

[okiegtrider]

Wow! The update is more terrifying than the OP!

It's good of you to share this episode with the rest of us. Lot of folks would not have done so.

Heal up Shark, best wishes and thanks.

 

[Pef]

All you can do is get back to the bench and start cranking them out again. Take pride in what you do, you are making better rounds than any commercial garbage at half the cost and safer to boot! Mistakes happen and you just have to move forward and get back to the press ASAP!

Most of the kabooms I read about are hand loads.

Nothing against hand loading, but from what I have read, the element of human error makes the product less safe than factory ammo.

Yes, a hand loader can get exactly what they want. But I can't agree that hand loading is safer than buying factory loads. Human error is the issue, and these reminders drive the point home.

 

[stansdds]

Most of the kabooms I read about are hand loads.

Nothing against hand loading, but from what I have read, the element of human error makes the product less safe than factory ammo.

Yes, a hand loader can get exactly what they want. But I can't agree that hand loading is safer than buying factory loads. Human error is the issue, and these reminders drive the point home.

Although a very rare occurrence, factory ammo can also be loaded to pressures that exceed SAAMI specifications.

 

[Mrnurse]

This reaffirms my Fanatical Adherence to FACTORY ONLY LOADED AMMO FROM A LARGE COMPANY THAT CARRIES LIABILITY INSURANCE AND A QA PROGRAM. $900.00 Pistol and Perhaps a $20,000.00+ ER Visit.... No thanks folks.

 

[Sevens]

This reaffirms my Fanatical Adherence to FACTORY ONLY LOADED AMMO FROM A LARGE COMPANY THAT CARRIES LIABILITY INSURANCE AND A QA PROGRAM. $900.00 Pistol and Perhaps a $20,000.00+ ER Visit.... No thanks folks.

Bah... risk/reward.

Basically nothing more dangerous each day than getting behind the wheel of your car and entering that "race of death" and yet we still choose to do it.

I'm going to continue handloading for all the benefits, too numerous to list, just as I have been for the last 30-some years.

You'll keep buying factory ammo. We'll both be happy. And you won't miss anything because you have no idea what you're missing.