Here's Why Double Charges are bad

[worldskipper]

Ok everyone print this picture out and put it over your reloading bench.

I was not paying attention and loaded a double charge of medium speed pistol powder in a 45 colt. (19.2 grs vs. 9.6 grs). It was the 7th round shot out of a brand new gun.

Thankfully I was alone when it happened and it was in a Ruger Blackhawk. So neither I nor anyone else was hurt. (Well my feelings were hurt.)

Be careful out there and ask your family nicely to "LEAVE YOU ALONE" when you reload.

[worldskipper]

And one more for good measure.
Man I liked those Ivory grips too.

[BUFF]

Man, the fact that you can still see to function is a blessing. Those Rugers are strong. One can only imagine the pressure that generated at touch-off. Count your blessings. TBFTGOGGI.

[DYNOMIKE]

Oh Damn!!!
That's SCARY..........
Man sucks a Lesson learned had to be so serious, but I guess the Inherent danger leaves us Little Room for Error..
The Ruger is indeed a STRONG Piece and may very well have kept you from injury (aside form her Loss :( )..

That is a SWEET Looking Gun and Grip combo though..
Thanks for the Info and Glad your O.K.

[festus]

Bummer. Send it back to Ruger and tell them to make you one that won't blow up.

[worldskipper]

Yeah it went to Ruger, they said it was a loss/ unrepairable. they are destroying the gun.

They are being very gracious with the solution, especially since the consensus was loader error.


They have a customer for life.

Pressure estimate was over 60,000 psi. It might have been ok in a Freedom Arms, but boy howdy.

Once I get some time, I'm going to write an article about my experience with this little "operator error" over on leverguns.com

[firefuzz]

Glad you're ok. Saw a SIG 220 in 45acp split from in front of the trigger guard 2/3 of the way down the grip and also about half way down the backstrap from a double charge of WW231. The guy that shot it said his hand was numb for 3 days.

Rob

[william013]

Glad to see you came thru without injury. Back in 1973, I destroyed a Rem. 742 with some 'warm' handloads. Blew the mag out and pieces of the bolt fell out of the mag well. I kept the rifle to remind me of what happens when you 'push the limits' a little too hard. Stay Safe! :cool:

[owlcreekok]

Dayum Worldskipper. Seems like eons ago when that happened ! So, the suspected culprit DID turn out to be hot handload, eh ?

It is easy to do. Especially with big cases and fast burning powders.

[jrkoller]

Don't feel to bad I did the samething to a rugar 44 Mag. blakhawk back in 93 Called Rugar told them what happened sent them the hand gun back They replaced it cost me 150. for a new one.

[1006587]

Ooch! Glad you are OK.

You might want to see if IMR Trailboss will work for you. It is just about impossible to double charge because the second charge will overflow. It's no cure for for Reloading While Distracted but a nice safety valve just in case.

[bykerhd]

I can understand Ruger telling you that the revolver was not repairable. I can also understand them wanting to destroy the cylinder and frame and whatever else was damaged.

The rest of the undamaged parts should have been returned to you, or you should have been compensated for them.

Unless you told them to go ahead and destroy it.

[MAINER]

I found an entire Ruger SA top strap including rear sight at a "Range" in Ma. Never was able to find out who owned it. I was interested in "the handload" that took it apart. Keep it at the "Loading Bench" as a warning to absent-minded reloading.

Thankfully, all my pre-73 Rugers have their topstraps intact.

[worldskipper]

bykerd. Not to worry, the economics of what Ruger is offering me is more than adequate, Heck some would say way too GENEROUS...


basically I'm out a superblackhawk hammer and a pair of ivory grips and a little bit of cash.


One good thing that has come from all of this (besides my lessons) is that my beautiful bride now asks if I can talk when I'm reloading, instead of just showing up with a little one and talking my ear off. Seems that when holding a gun that has blowed-up, you take your husband's reloading time a little more seriously.


All in all, it was an expensive lesson, however I'm truely glad no one was hurt.

Worldskipper

[shootist87122]

Probably best to switch to a powder that more than half way fills up the case. Glad you are OK.

[Cava3r4]

wow... what were you loading with (powder wise)?

[davedude]

poor defenseless blackhawk....:(

Glad your ok dude.

Dave Dude

[fastprofessor]

Originally posted by shootist87122
Probably best to switch to a powder that more than half way fills up the case. Glad you are OK.

Yeah and its also good to get into the habit of visually verifying the powder level before putting the bullet it. A quick glance inside the case after the powder has been added and immediately before placing a bullet on top is all that it takes. Glad you're ok worldskipper.

Personally though, I think the "accident" was a conspiracy by the scientists from JEN to silence Worldskipper after he found out the "truth" about the FAL Files :wink: :biggrin:

[homelandprotector]

Originally posted by fastprofessor


Personally though, I think the "accident" was a conspiracy by the scientists from JEN to silence Worldskipper after he found out the "truth" about the FAL Files :wink: :biggrin:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[jerico941]

a properly adjusted powder checker die reduces the possibility of error to a great extent

[worldskipper]

I do usually inspect before I place the bullet. But I do seem to recall my bride coming to talk to me when constructing that load...

My guess is that I dumped a weighed charge back into a case that already had a charge in it.


Still it's amazing that the frame held together with a 60-65 kpsi load. Gives a whole new meaning to "recoil shield".


Worldskipper

Fastprofessor, I don't KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT...

[K. Funk]

Glad to see you are OK. I'm sure that rang your bell pretty good. Anytime I see a Ruger blowed up it makes my heart jump. I am technically responsible for all of the stainless bar rolled for Ruger that ends up as rifle barrels and revolver cyclinders. I take it kinda personally. That one looks to be blued.

Mebbe we can start a forged vs. cast debate :devil: :biggrin: !!

Again, sorry for your loss and grateful for your safety.

krf

[bykerhd]

I don't think anyone would question the strength of Ruger's products.
It's been proven way too many times.

Unless you feel a serious need to rehash the old cast versus forged debate for old times sake or something, I don't think it's all that relevant in this case.

Whatever that charge that blew up that Ruger finally was, you can be pretty sure that it was well beyond the acceptable pressure range for any revolver. Cast, forged, or about anything else.

[Temp]

,.... but what did the chronograph say?

[johnny]

WOW...... mabye this is why I havent started handloading yet, to much of a spaceshot to be trusted :smile:

[worldskipper]

Temp, funny you should say that, I actually had a chrono in my truck. I hadn't gotten it out yet... I was sighting the gun in and then was going to move to the heavys and check the speed.

My guess was pressure was at least 60,000psi.

[william013]

We are all happy that you came out of the experience unharmed. Perhaps this thread should be a 'sticky', so the newer reloaders could see what happens with an overcharge of powder. A graphic reminder, such as the photo, should remind them to be careful. :cool:

[fireback]

I had a similar experience with my G-1 last Oct. A weak piece of brass was the culprit. I don't reload "strange" stuff anymore. My first failure in almost 20,000 rounds!!!!!! (counting shotshells, of course)

I am about the most anal person in the world about my reloading. Every charge (for rifle or serious handgunning)is hand trickled while on the scale. That's why I had such a hard time believing I "blew one up". I have never loaded anything but by the book, and refrain from the hottest loads.

My top-cover was peeled from back to front on the left side 3/4 out. Center 2/3rds of charging handle was blown outta the "T" slot it rides in! Rec. above the charging handle was bulged up a bit.......... Tried to remove the bottom lip of the bolt. I had no mag in it, so the shrapnel hit my aluminum pic-nick table and was absorbed into both hands (right hand fingers looked like hell) And I now what a German stun grenade feels like going off in yer face!

I too keep the parts in my reloading room.

I pulled the bullets, saved the powder dissected a couple cases and found ridges right where the head separation had happened. But the one that came apart in my gun "Squished" like play-dough....I found it on the floor a few weeks later. I keep it close to show people.

I straightened the bulge with a couple 2x4 shims, and an old shotgun stock to beat on. 2 whacks brought it back perfectly. The bolt rails were still straight, and the action had unlocked and made it about 1/2", savin' the ol girl.

1 new bolt and carrier, re headspace, and she's off and running again.I just re-used the topcover after rebendin' it by hand. And it only gets factory or light handloads from here on out.

Nice Blackhawk! I got a 5.5" SS .45L.C. that I slicked up the action on a little and put a hogue on.----I feel your pain!

[W.E.G.]

Originally posted by Temp
,.... but what did the chronograph say?

I'm guessing the sphinctograph registered at least 6 figures in front of the decimel.

[ggiilliiee]

GOOD LORD ....ill bet it shoots a bit high now ????.
:bow:

[Right Side Up]

Wow! I just ran across this thread. I'm sure glad you're alright Ken as I wouldn't want to see your daughter's *Daddyless*.

What I ALWAYS do is load a batch of 50 cases with powder and have them all in a loading block. Bullet seating is the last thing I do and before I even get the bullets out I get out my Surefire and eyeball every single case to make sure the powder level is the same on each and every one of them. Knock on wood, I haven't had to dump out a double charge yet.

Glad you're alright.