Most embarrassing or potentially disastrous reloading mistakes that you have made

[8x68]

Not a handloading issue per se, but one of the worst moments of my life and I still nearly break out in a sweat just thinking about it. I was shooting a semi auto PSL (Dragunov) in 7.62x54 at the range and had a double. Never really figured out exactly what happened but there ended up being some brass stuck in the chamber area and rounds would not fully seat. So took it home and apart. My boy had come in the garage to watch what I was doing and in the process of fiddling around trying to get a round to seat, mind you the gun is apart but the trigger and hammer are still operable! So with the cover off, basically an AK action, I had a LIVE round in the chamber that was fully seated as I had finally got the errant chunks of brass cleaned out. For some reason and I may never know why, it occurred to me that if I let the hammer drop, I would be able to see if all was OK. Well, all was OK but for I still have a live round in the chamber! BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know that feeling when you know you just did something you may regret forever?? I had that feeling. I literally threw the gun down and ran outside to make sure I didn't kill someone. The 150 FMJ bullet left the gun, went thru both hull sides of a boat I had just finished building, thru the garage door, bounced off the hood of my F250 in the driveway, right into my WIFES TAURUS wagon, thru the closed passenger side window, thru the back seat and finally expended itself in the cargo area!!! Now that's penetration!! I was so horrified I nearly cried. Across the street the neighbors were entertaining and they were OUTSIDE when the round went off. I looked at them, and didn't hear any screaming or see any blood, then my wife came outside. Well when all were accounted for, I nearly lost it. I was so afraid I might have killed someone. I shook for the rest of the day and was depressed for a week. I hope to never be so careless again. It only takes a split second of inattention and focus to have a disaster. The gun has not ever had another issue. Guess I fixed whatever it was.

My goodness! Someone was lucky!
Not quite the same but I used to have a M1 carbine. Wasn't old enough to drive yet (but could have a gun...figure that one out). We lived in a city in a fairly decent size house with an empty basement....I'm guessing you know where this is going. We had a large old moving box full of scrap wood....yes you were right this is going exactly where you thought it would. Well I closed up the house, and turned the stereo on real loud. Had a 20 round mag that I put 10 rounds in. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. There seemed to be a lot of dust flying from behind the box on the 6th round. I moved the box........f**k there was 6 large saucer sized holes in the wall. I put the box back and never said a word to anyone. When we were packing up to move a few years later my dad saw said holes and went ballistic. He asked me what had happened. Well....It's like this I said; some of the weights that I was weightlifting with came off the bar and smacked the wall (pretty good huh?). His look said I was full of s**t but I guess it was plausible enough that the story saved my life. I told him what really happened a couple of years ago....you see...I can out run him now. Time between a teenager being a complete idiot and fessing up was about 35yrs.

 

[Desert Dog]

Shot one of the sky screens on my Ohler 35P chronograph........

....

DONE THAT!!!! with a friend's "sighted in" 30-06, lol.

 

[Red Leg]

Not a handloading issue per se, but one of the worst moments of my life and I still nearly break out in a sweat just thinking about it. I was shooting a semi auto PSL (Dragunov) in 7.62x54 at the range and had a double. Never really figured out exactly what happened but there ended up being some brass stuck in the chamber area and rounds would not fully seat. So took it home and apart. My boy had come in the garage to watch what I was doing and in the process of fiddling around trying to get a round to seat, mind you the gun is apart but the trigger and hammer are still operable! So with the cover off, basically an AK action, I had a LIVE round in the chamber that was fully seated as I had finally got the errant chunks of brass cleaned out. For some reason and I may never know why, it occurred to me that if I let the hammer drop, I would be able to see if all was OK. Well, all was OK but for I still have a live round in the chamber! BOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know that feeling when you know you just did something you may regret forever?? I had that feeling. I literally threw the gun down and ran outside to make sure I didn't kill someone. The 150 FMJ bullet left the gun, went thru both hull sides of a boat I had just finished building, thru the garage door, bounced off the hood of my F250 in the driveway, right into my WIFES TAURUS wagon, thru the closed passenger side window, thru the back seat and finally expended itself in the cargo area!!! Now that's penetration!! I was so horrified I nearly cried. Across the street the neighbors were entertaining and they were OUTSIDE when the round went off. I looked at them, and didn't hear any screaming or see any blood, then my wife came outside. Well when all were accounted for, I nearly lost it. I was so afraid I might have killed someone. I shook for the rest of the day and was depressed for a week. I hope to never be so careless again. It only takes a split second of inattention and focus to have a disaster. The gun has not ever had another issue. Guess I fixed whatever it was.

Ugh. Shot them some, but haven't ever taken an AK apart - assume there must be bit of throat ahead of the bullet chamber to act as a barrel?

 

[BRICKBURN]

............

HOLY CRAP!
I'm sweating just imagining that.

 

[nztimb]

My most shamefull reloading incident('s) was actually buying 2 boxes of factory ammo in 2007 and another box earlier on in 1978. Slightly less embarrasing was shooting my chrono but that is replaceable while buying the factory ammo can not be undone.

 

[Rob404]

I load for 20 plus calibers plus some pistol and keep charts on loads for each I do a lot of research and ask a lot of questions from people who have more experience with certain calibers and loads, But even after all the information is gathered It's still me that has to pull the trigger for the first time,Last season I bought a Weatherby in 257 and the first time out I noticed that the bolt was a bit stiff ejecting rounds, so I put the rifle back in the case and checked the amount of powder in the rounds I had loaded when I returned home . I found that I had load the rounds 5gr past the highest recommended limits. This year I'm loading for a New to me 06 and my rebarrel 404Jeff on a CZ550 action. I'm comfortable with my decision on the 06 but because the info on 404 is sketchy I have to rely on the experience of others. The builder tells me he test fired the Gun but I'm still going to be a little nervous pulling the trigger for the first time.

 

[Bren7X64]

Couple of stories here.

Back in RSA, my friend Bob, the Irishman (he was like an Irishman out of the jokes), built a 6.5x55 on a Mauser 98 action to go with his .300 Weatherby, in some sort of Weatherby action (Mk V was it?).

Anyway he shot the 6.5 a lot - he loved that rifle, and allowed the Wby to sit and sulk in his safe for close to 2 years. One day he decides it's time to exercise Roy's brainchild again, and off he goes to the range - sets up, fires the first shot and the bolt handle will only lift about half-way. Cursing he packs everything back in his car and goes home where he gets a wooden mallet to beat the bolt open, before he looks carefully and realises the bolt lift on the Roy is only about half that on the 98 - a tug rearward on the bolt handle ejected the case very nicely thanks. Red face.

Another was a "friend" at the range who knew everything, absolutely everything. Anyway he and a whole group of guys were on the way to the Karroo to shoot springbuck and this lad was telling everyone how he only finished reloading at about 2 am that morning. Then he was packing his ammo into the boxes and realised he'd forgotten primers, so instead of pulling the bullets he LIGHTLY TAPPED THE PRIMERS IN with a wooden mallet.

Needless to say, everybody thought he was mad.

And a third and final - not a reloading story, but nonetheless.

In 1981 my dad took me off to his local gunshop and asked the guy there to "show him that rifle from Botswana".

It was a Musgrave Mk IV for the older SAffas here. The stock was split, the magazine was blown out and the bolt was just jammed.
The story was someone came in and wanted to buy a 308 - an absolute beginner. He was offered this rifle and he bought it and after licencing he took it home with some 308 ammo and decided to fire it. On the second round it became a bit unhinged as described. The guy brought it back, complaining bitterly, whereupon the salescreature actually READ the calibre in the barrel - .270 Win. Yes it didn't blow up the first time. The buyer was unhurt, but indignant.

The sales guy seemed to think it was hilarious and all the buyers fault. I did not agree.

 

[rookhawk]

This one is pretty close to subject.

So there I was at the range about 10 or 12 years ago with a new to me pre-war guild drilling with a 7x57r rifle barrel (clearly marked and so advertised by a not to be named dealer from Mississippi.) I set up on the 25 yard line and let fly to see if we would be on paper. We were, but a straight wall, fire formed case magically emerged upon opening the action. To say I was surprised is something of an under statement, so naturally, I shot it again - maybe wishing for a different outcome!?! Fortunately, nothing gave way. Shipped it back to the gentleman from Mississippi, who had the usual "have every firearm checked out by a competent gunsmith ....." get out of jail free language on his site, and after several calls and a very legal looking letter, was refunded my rather meaningful investment (still in the military then - so a very meaningful investment). Someone had obviously re-chambered the rifle for a much larger rimmed 7mm. For those of you familiar with drillings, you are aware that the chamber area is typically very thin to begin with (reinforcing shotgun barrels make it possible). I suspect the metal remaining at the newly formed shoulder of this barrel had to have been paper thin. It certainly would never pass a German proof. Am still mildly amazed that it didn't go off like a grenade in geographic juxtaposition to my left hand.

I now religiously always do a chamber cast on older acquisitions.

Interesting this fella in Mississippi didn't tuck tail between his legs and give you a refund immediately without any coaxing. That same dealer has built a reputation for such antics and for artificially inflating the prices of goods. He has been known to chastise the other big names in the business to keep prices high and to publish sold prices that appear high so as to not show the actual condition of various markets.

It all seems a bit dodgy to me. @Red Leg do you buy guns in Mississippi anymore or have you taken your interests elsewhere? (please tell me you haven't moved your purchasing to Connecticut!)

 

[Red Leg]

Interesting this fella in Mississippi didn't tuck tail between his legs and give you a refund immediately without any coaxing. That same dealer has built a reputation for such antics and for artificially inflating the prices of goods. He has been known to chastise the other big names in the business to keep prices high and to publish sold prices that appear high so as to not show the actual condition of various markets.

It all seems a bit dodgy to me. @Red Leg do you buy guns in Mississippi anymore or have you taken your interests elsewhere? (please tell me you haven't moved your purchasing to Connecticut!)

LOL I'll never buy from him again. And you are right, any normal dealer would be on his knees thanking his God of choice that a customer wasn't injured or worse. I am told he has some other legal issues on his hands now. With respect to Connecticut, I do own a big 32" RBL 12 bore and an Inverness 20. Both I love and both have taken a bunch of waterfowl and quail respectively. And no issues. I would never ever ever pay his premium for a used gun.

 

[Scoobyshoot]

When i did put the second case in my loading tray i noticed some powder. It would be better to prime them first. LOL

 

[Wayne t]

My mate loaded a load of .357 pistol rounds with N120 once changed the heads in his progressive but forgot to swap the powders they just about made 15/20 yards before hitting the ground a whole day knocking the buggers to start again

 

[Ernie Shipman]

I guess if had made a really disastrous mistake, my wife would be writing this reply!!!

 

[#1 of 13]

I don't think anything else needs to be said.

 

[Pheroze]

I don't think anything else needs to be said. View attachment 202039View attachment 202040

Did the case split after getting stuck, or did something go off there?

 

[#1 of 13]

Did the case split after getting stuck, or did something go off there?

It was originally stuck due to no lube. Then a screwdriver got stuck and broke off inside trying to force it out. Then from the case mouth a center punch got stuck. Finally soaked the thing in CLP for an hour and it slipped out. Only damage is a broken primer extractor pin and its black due to being heated up with blow torch. Back in service for sizing only.

 

[Pheroze]

It was originally stuck due to no lube. Then a screwdriver got stuck and broke off inside trying to force it out. Then from the case mouth a center punch got stuck. Finally soaked the thing in CLP for an hour and it slipped out. Only damage is a broken primer extractor pin and its black due to being heated up with blow torch. Back in service for sizing only.

 

[Rob404]

Iv'e done the no lube a few times and always with a more expensive piece of brass, and I always keep a supply of Primer Pins laying around

 

[Nosler guy]

First of all I can not believe that I am relating this tale. However, someone may learn from my stupidity.

Note the brass piece in this photo. It conveniently attaches to your rod to pack your load into your muzzle loader. It is threaded and can unscrew itself as you draw it up the rifling of the barrel.

View attachment 58060


Thankfully, Thompsons over proofs their barrels and I did not kill myself.

Full magnum load of Pyrodex with a sabot loaded with several hundred grains of brass floating in the barrel about three inches in front of the sabot.

I have never been kicked like that by any rifle (including the 450 Rigby)
I had no idea what happened. I recall seeing the dust fly about 30 yards in front of the bench.
It soon dawned on me what I had done when I looked at the rod.

It served as a reloading lesson for the ages.

OUCH!

Had a similar situation, only my brass end was one of the shorter smaller ones, would have weighed only a fraction of the long one pictured. My loading jag always had loose threads. I put a less than perfect shot into a big old mosshorned muley, reloaded and managed to get a second into him, it probably was all that was needed. But in the heat and excitement of the moment I decided to reload and make sure. The TC Encore I was using had a tight spot and was a real brute to reload after a shot or two. I hadn't noticed but the jag was loose, and by the time I rammed the third load in, it had broken off in the bore. I circled and closed on the deer, and decided to give him a finisher from about 25 yards. Boom kathud!, that sure sounded and felt different - must have been the excitement of the moment. Wasn't until I was gutting the deer and found this weird deformed peice of brass under the hide on the off shoulder that I realized what had happened - at the close range, both the jag and bullet hit the deer ...

 

[sambarhunter]

I dont reload but had a mate that was doing it for me and he obviously put one in the box that shouldn't have been there.

One day out hunting I had a H/Loaded 308 Norma Mag bullet that just wouldn't load,i pushed and pulled until I gave up trying in the pre dawn light and put it in my pocket and after the hunt I was freaked out as I saw that I had been trying to load one of my 358 Norma Mags into the chamber.

I shudder to think of "WTF" if I had of continued and pushed the pill back into the case and fired her.......OUCH!

 

[Michael Dean]

It's embarrassing when you forget to put a primer in the cartridge when reloading. All you hear is the click of the trigger when you pull it and you're greeted with powder emptying out in the chamber when you pull your bolt back. Reloading is an art that needs your complete attention; all too often when you make a mistake it can be deadly.