GNLaFrance
RIP
Another first today.
I've reloaded several hundred .38 Special and .45 ACP rounds so far with no problems. Yesterday I got a pound of new powder, Alliant Bullseye, and a box of 500 .38 cal. 148 grain double-ended wadcutters.
So anyway, I loaded 50 rounds last night and took them to FreeState today to see how they did with 2.6 grains Bullseye. Round #11 felt and sounded weak, and the cylinder locked up. No light through the cylinder/barrel gap.
Yup, a squib. Pounded the slug back into the case with a rod, emptied the cylinder, then popped the slug out with my bullet remover. Case is completely sooty black inside - could primer only do that?
No way to tell exactly what happened, but I'm going to rig up an LED light to shine down on the cases so I can see the level of powder at a glance. This will save me having to pull the case out to get light down inside it.
Happy with the performance of rounds #1 through 10, by the way. Mild recoil, good accuracy.
I've reloaded several hundred .38 Special and .45 ACP rounds so far with no problems. Yesterday I got a pound of new powder, Alliant Bullseye, and a box of 500 .38 cal. 148 grain double-ended wadcutters.
So anyway, I loaded 50 rounds last night and took them to FreeState today to see how they did with 2.6 grains Bullseye. Round #11 felt and sounded weak, and the cylinder locked up. No light through the cylinder/barrel gap.
Yup, a squib. Pounded the slug back into the case with a rod, emptied the cylinder, then popped the slug out with my bullet remover. Case is completely sooty black inside - could primer only do that?
No way to tell exactly what happened, but I'm going to rig up an LED light to shine down on the cases so I can see the level of powder at a glance. This will save me having to pull the case out to get light down inside it.
Happy with the performance of rounds #1 through 10, by the way. Mild recoil, good accuracy.