My first reloads

[Hawthorne2k]

FINALLY got my primers in from Cabela's. Now to try them out at the range tomorrow and see how I did. (That's one of my reloaded .223's on the left and a factory round on the right.)

[Absintheur]

I will say you could not have picked a tougher, more finicky round to reload for your first attempt...lol...especially if it is to used in an AR. Let us know how it turns out and enjoy your newest obsession...

[motoman]

Just wondering what powder and primers did you use?
I use cci #41 primers and winchester 748.

[tunder]

Just a small reminder to be very careful.

From the S&W forum.

"A guy came into our department the other day to ask a favor. He had a S&W 629 that he wanted to dispose of after a mishap at the range. He said there was a loud bang when he tested his new load and the gun smacked him in the forehead, leaving a nice gash. When the tweety birds cleared, this is what he saw....."

SWMontageBlow-up.jpg

[motoman]

Ouch!

[tunder]

A brief follow up.

Below are posted quotes from the person who claims ownership.
Whether this is the real story or not, I have no way to tell.
http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/smi...s-w-629-a.html

Double-charged load?!? Wouldn't have expected that from manufactured ammo....left a good gash in forehead. "Ready, Aim, Fire!!!.....damn what a kick!!! why am i seeing tweety birds?!? what am i feeling run down my face??? why am i feeling dizzy???....crap, another misshap" i am not lucky.

i'll put it like this....it was not only the first time loaded(bought new), but as you can see, one of the cartridges doesnt have a bullet, this was the 2nd shot ever fired that did this....and they say 3rd time's the charm....they never tell you what the 2nd time is. interesting thing is....this is the 2nd time a receiver has peeled on me(1st due to blind man loading wrong cartridge). I gots a gash on me forehead from the hammer which was burned shut instantly because the #3 cartridge exploded when it hit me. I like battle scars but the doctor said he recommended laser surgery to get all the brass outta my forehead skin. Hopefully it'll leave a big scar Should've got a Colt, lol.

sorry, was driving all day today, so didnt have a pc nearby to reply with. my smith called me and said the ammo wasn't hot loaded at all, but that the "chamber" on the #2 was at fault. it seemed to have been cut in a conical shape, where the back of chamber was too large diameter and front was a lil too small with a small lip of extra steel hanging out into line of bullet. maybe someone forgot to inspect? or forgot to finish the machining? i don't know, but i've contacted S&W's online support to see what they have to say.

Federal American Eagle 240gr

But here's another one, this time with an explaination of how he blew up his scoped Anaconda with a reload..

Read the story that's linked on the page with the pictures.

http://iris.nyit.edu/~bithead/anaconda/

[Hawthorne2k]

Ok, so I managed to screw up my first ten cartridges and make them 0.07" inches too long (Hey, no one bats 1.000, right? ), so a headspace gauge is definitely in my future.

My question is, can I pull those cartridges apart with my bullet puller and re-use the already-primed brass and never-used bullets, and if so, what's the best way to clean them to get the last little bit of powder off of them?

[Absintheur]

Yep...you can pull the bullets and reseat them, as for powder residue just wipe them off...such a tiny amount won't really make much of a difference.

You could also try just using your seating die a and seating them deeper without pulling them if they aren't heavily crimped.

[Hawthorne2k]

Thanks, I'll do that. There are a couple, though, where I got a little vigorous with the case lube and a fair amount of powder is clumped up inside the shell. What would be a good way to get that powder out without affecting the primer at the other end?

[Absintheur]

Shake it out and use some canned air...the stuff for blowing out keyboards and such.

[Hawthorne2k]

*forehead smack*

Why didn't I think of that!

Thanks.

[Hawthorne2k]

Followup question: Is a headspace gauge what I'm looking for, or should I use a case length gauge? The issue is that I've got .07" more headspace than I should, which prevents the bolt from closing.

[tunder]

You need a case length gauge, or a decent dial caliper.