Don't be cheap
Quote from Reloader on September 9, 2010, 3:04 amBought a new 650 a few weeks ago. I have already loaded and fired 1500 rds. Sweet machine, and great people working at Dillon. Well, to save a few bucks, I decided not to purchase a powder checker. Today I fired a double charge through my XD45. The cost to repair will probably be more than the 70 bucks for the checker, not to mention I'll probably have to get over flinching when I get back out to the range. No one to blame but myself. Don't be a cheap butt like I was.
Bought a new 650 a few weeks ago. I have already loaded and fired 1500 rds. Sweet machine, and great people working at Dillon. Well, to save a few bucks, I decided not to purchase a powder checker. Today I fired a double charge through my XD45. The cost to repair will probably be more than the 70 bucks for the checker, not to mention I'll probably have to get over flinching when I get back out to the range. No one to blame but myself. Don't be a cheap butt like I was.
Quote from Reloader on September 9, 2010, 4:11 pmIt is unlikely it was a double charge, as unless you moved the case back to the powder drop station I'm not sure how you could do that. A foreign object inside the case can do this, as well as a case that didn't resize properly could cause the same problem. Did you gage the ammo before shooting it? Last year at the USPSA Area 2 match, a shooter loading 40 S&W in an XDM had a cartridge fail to fully chamber, but still in battery enough to allow the striker to fall- the grip frame cracked, and his hand stung. Springfield Armory replaced the frame for less than $100, including shipping. We gaged samples of his remaining ammo and found several that had the rear of the case expanded beyond the ability of a regular size die to reform. At least in his case it occured during the last stage of the match.
It is unlikely it was a double charge, as unless you moved the case back to the powder drop station I'm not sure how you could do that. A foreign object inside the case can do this, as well as a case that didn't resize properly could cause the same problem. Did you gage the ammo before shooting it? Last year at the USPSA Area 2 match, a shooter loading 40 S&W in an XDM had a cartridge fail to fully chamber, but still in battery enough to allow the striker to fall- the grip frame cracked, and his hand stung. Springfield Armory replaced the frame for less than $100, including shipping. We gaged samples of his remaining ammo and found several that had the rear of the case expanded beyond the ability of a regular size die to reform. At least in his case it occured during the last stage of the match.
Quote from Reloader on October 11, 2010, 10:45 pmThe powder checker was the main reason I bought my xl650. When ever it beeps I dump the loaded powder in my measure to be sure the machine is dropping the right load or maybe I just have to adjust the powder check.
The powder checker was the main reason I bought my xl650. When ever it beeps I dump the loaded powder in my measure to be sure the machine is dropping the right load or maybe I just have to adjust the powder check.
Quote from Reloader on October 19, 2010, 11:45 pmI bought the powder checker for bottle neck rifle cases and to this point it has not come into play.Of course the first time it does come into play it has payed for itself several times over. For straight wall pistol cases,my eyes are the only checker i need and i usually check a few charges at random during a reloading session. Also if you are shooting 1X brass you can't rule out the fact that it may have been "Glocked" If that's the case then you can either roll size or use a lee factory crimp die.
Glad to hear your pride is the only casualty here,it coulda been worse.
I bought the powder checker for bottle neck rifle cases and to this point it has not come into play.Of course the first time it does come into play it has payed for itself several times over. For straight wall pistol cases,my eyes are the only checker i need and i usually check a few charges at random during a reloading session. Also if you are shooting 1X brass you can't rule out the fact that it may have been "Glocked" If that's the case then you can either roll size or use a lee factory crimp die.
Glad to hear your pride is the only casualty here,it coulda been worse.
Quote from Reloader on October 27, 2010, 4:09 amI bought the powder check with the 650. It was a life saver for me. I failed to seat a primer on one of several thousand rounds and had all the powder drop out the bottom. I can not tell you why the primer did not seat, but saved me a squab load. I spend 45 minutes cleaning up the mess I created and went back to reloading. Well worth the money in my opinion
I bought the powder check with the 650. It was a life saver for me. I failed to seat a primer on one of several thousand rounds and had all the powder drop out the bottom. I can not tell you why the primer did not seat, but saved me a squab load. I spend 45 minutes cleaning up the mess I created and went back to reloading. Well worth the money in my opinion
Quote from Reloader on November 19, 2010, 10:35 pm40 S&W is just a pain in the butt to reload. I used to do it back in the 90s on my (still current) XL650 when I had my Sig 229 in 40 (and it was a tack driver), but after ~4 reloads the brass would build up a ring around the base of the case, like a belted magnum, and then there would naturally be enormous difficulties with chambering. There were several vendors selling special "full case length" re-sizers at the time, but I wasn't interested in adding an additional process to reloading.
Now I do just 45ACP (which I can reload until the head stamp disappears, usually), and 9mm.
I'm sure the 40S&W is a great cartridge, but not so sure it's really well suited for easy reloading.
40 S&W is just a pain in the butt to reload. I used to do it back in the 90s on my (still current) XL650 when I had my Sig 229 in 40 (and it was a tack driver), but after ~4 reloads the brass would build up a ring around the base of the case, like a belted magnum, and then there would naturally be enormous difficulties with chambering. There were several vendors selling special "full case length" re-sizers at the time, but I wasn't interested in adding an additional process to reloading.
Now I do just 45ACP (which I can reload until the head stamp disappears, usually), and 9mm.
I'm sure the 40S&W is a great cartridge, but not so sure it's really well suited for easy reloading.
Quote from Reloader on November 22, 2010, 3:21 amFor Boston12GS: I've been reloading .40S&W for about 15 years and have never had this problem to the extent you describe. The problem I do find is with range brass I have piced up from Glock pistols. The Glock chamber is non-supported and the base of the brass does bulge a bit. I full length resize, but still have to discard a few shells (maybe 50 of 1000). I do save my discards. They will not cycle through my competition gun (SVI frame, Caspian slide and Schumann Barrel), but most will cycle through my Browning Mk III. I do chamber check each round to ensure I have good shells for competition.
For Boston12GS: I've been reloading .40S&W for about 15 years and have never had this problem to the extent you describe. The problem I do find is with range brass I have piced up from Glock pistols. The Glock chamber is non-supported and the base of the brass does bulge a bit. I full length resize, but still have to discard a few shells (maybe 50 of 1000). I do save my discards. They will not cycle through my competition gun (SVI frame, Caspian slide and Schumann Barrel), but most will cycle through my Browning Mk III. I do chamber check each round to ensure I have good shells for competition.
Quote from Reloader on November 24, 2010, 9:44 pmGONRA is a VERY HAPPY new XL 650 owner. Making 9mm Uzi ammo from range pickup 9mm brass, pulled 115 grain IMI bullets. Using RCBS carbide sizing die instead of Dillon to get nice full length resizing. Means cases have to be decent, not have banged up mouths.
Eyeball powder level in case EVERY TIME whilst seating bullet to avoid powder measuring screwups. Sofar, EVERY powder throw has been right on 6.8 grains HS-6 so am really pleased!
My Powder Check system probably will never be used...
GONRA is a VERY HAPPY new XL 650 owner. Making 9mm Uzi ammo from range pickup 9mm brass, pulled 115 grain IMI bullets. Using RCBS carbide sizing die instead of Dillon to get nice full length resizing. Means cases have to be decent, not have banged up mouths.
Eyeball powder level in case EVERY TIME whilst seating bullet to avoid powder measuring screwups. Sofar, EVERY powder throw has been right on 6.8 grains HS-6 so am really pleased!
My Powder Check system probably will never be used...