Disaster avoided!

[romukom]

Well, I have to say that the guy up there was watching me. Yesterday I finished loading 600 rounds ( in a Loadmaster ) of .45 ACP for my brother. Somewhere around 500 round count I caught a DOUBLE CHARGE!!!

The sequence of events:
One finished round did not fully ejected from my press. The press was blocking my view plus I did not hear the round drop (wearing earplugs just in case and to concentrate).
The finished round was laying on the shell plate.
Inspected the next case for powder; saw the approximate powder level and placed a bullet.
As I pull down the lever, I felt a bind. Looked around and saw that finished round that was laying on the shell plate.
Lower a bit the ram and cleared it. By then the Auto drum was already dispensed "the first" charge on the next case.
The auto drum got reset (disabled the safety feature) and did not looked drum for movement.
I raised the ram back to finished the cycle, that case got a SECOND charge.
When I lowered the ram, the shell plate got indexed to the next station. As I was getting ready to place the bullet, I saw that case almost full of powder.
I stopped and removed and emptied the case. Verified the rest of the stations and continued reloading.

Lessons learned:
The good thing is that I always looked in the case before placing the bullet. There were times that the some cases either looked a bit lower than expected. I always removed them and later reload them separately after the case feeder got emptied.

I should have FULLY lowered the ram clearing an obstruction. That way for sure the shell plate would have indexed to the next station.
Again, this resonate from all the advises given here or any experienced reloader. No distractions and ALWAYS LOOK inside the case before placing a bullet.

[opos]

Just a question...why was the safety feature to prevent double charges disabled? I use the new "auto drum" on a Turret (not progressive) and the safety device is not something geared for a single stage or a turret press..but it's built for the progressive to avoid just what you have encountered.

Having not used on on a progressive (don't have a progressive) I just wondered the reason you disabled it? Might be a mistake.

[xMAC1x]

I couldn't amagine reloading for anyone but myself. I would be concerned constantly. I would be thinking of everything that could go wrong.

On Hornday LNL has five stations has room for a powder cop die that's what I use.

Friends and family have asked I'm very fast no. I'll help them they can use my equipment.

[rsrocket1]

Having a bulky powder really helps.
Here's a double charge of Titegroup (8.4g) vs. a double charge of Unique (12g) in 40 S&W

[Eljay]

Good catch!

One of those little load development things - I always like using a powder where a double charge will either overflow or at least be hugely obvious.

[John Browning]

Having a bulky powder really helps.
Here's a double charge of Titegroup (8.4g) vs. a double charge of Unique (12g) in 40 S&W

If you look at the round before you place the bullet, even the double charge of TG is obvious in auto pistol rounds. However, in revolver cartridges I've switched over to Trail Boss because you can't see a double or even triple charge of many powders.

I'm always glad when I immediately catch a problem like a split case, double charge, missed primer, etc. It lets me know my safety checks are working. Glad you caught yours!

[5akman]

I run the Loadmaster also but for 9mm. I prime off press so that I can use a RCBS powder lock out die in station 2. This is an inexpensive die (paid 15.00 used at a gun show) and it prevents full press handle travel if the case is under or over charged. Its worth looking into for the very example you shared here!

[romukom]

Just a question...why was the safety feature to prevent double charges disabled? I use the new "auto drum" on a Turret (not progressive) and the safety device is not something geared for a single stage or a turret press..but it's built for the progressive to avoid just what you have encountered.

Having not used on on a progressive (don't have a progressive) I just wondered the reason you disabled it? Might be a mistake.

I originally set my auto drum with the double charge safety feature. It uses a chain to reset it. One thing that prompted is that when is cold, the chain kept slipping from the setting in which result of No charge at all. So you either have to look inside of the case anyways.

I couldn't amagine reloading for anyone but myself. I would be concerned constantly. I would be thinking of everything that could go wrong.

On Hornday LNL has five stations has room for a powder cop die that's what I use.

Friends and family have asked I'm very fast no. I'll help them they can use my equipment.

I know what you mean. My brother is aware of the risks. He will eventually learn how to do it.

Having a bulky powder really helps.
Here's a double charge of Titegroup (8.4g) vs. a double charge of Unique (12g) in 40 S&W

If you look at the round before you place the bullet, even the double charge of TG is obvious in auto pistol rounds. However, in revolver cartridges I've switched over to Trail Boss because you can't see a double or even triple charge of many powders.

I'm always glad when I immediately catch a problem like a split case, double charge, missed primer, etc. It lets me know my safety checks are working. Glad you caught yours!

Good catch!
One of those little load development things - I always like using a powder where a double charge will either overflow or at least be hugely obvious.

Right now I have a brand new bottle of tight group. I am going to set it aside for later as I gain more experience . I was using CFE-pistol with a low mid charge for .45 ACP. It filled a little less than half case. When I got the double charge it was almost full. Yes, bulky powder helps.

I run the Loadmaster also but for 9mm. I prime off press so that I can use a RCBS powder lock out die in station 2. This is an inexpensive die (paid 15.00 used at a gun show) and it prevents full press handle travel if the case is under or over charged. Its worth looking into for the very example you shared here!

[AandO]

Interesting thread

When loading on a progressive I put the finished product into loading trays at every 25 rounds. This way when a question/problem arises I wont have to second guess hundreds of rounds, just the current batch run.

[TexasJackKin]

Thanks for sharing, a few months ago I had my first squib, after 10s of thousands rounds loaded. You can never pay to much attention!

Good catch!

[opos]

Got a feeling if the chain is slipping off the unit when the double charge preventer is hooked up ...there is something wrong....I'd sure contact Lee..they are great at answering questions where safety is an issue..I have a friend that loads on a progressive and swears by the double charge preventer...might be a mechanical issue of a set up issue..I bought a little clamp on book light at the 99 cent store and wire tied it to a leg on the turret press..cheap little light really lights things up and even when I 'm moving at a good pace it's easy to see in the case...don't know if that would work for you or not with the Loadmaster...I saw it on you tube ...https://youtu.be/eN1lQckoD8c

[Spaceghost]

Exactly the reason I run unique in my dillon 650 and always recommend it to new reloaders.

Having a bulky powder really helps.
Here's a double charge of Titegroup (8.4g) vs. a double charge of Unique (12g) in 40 S&W

[romukom]

Got a feeling if the chain is slipping off the unit when the double charge preventer is hooked up ...there is something wrong....I'd sure contact Lee..they are great at answering questions where safety is an issue..I have a friend that loads on a progressive and swears by the double charge preventer...might be a mechanical issue of a set up issue..I bought a little clamp on book light at the 99 cent store and wire tied it to a leg on the turret press..cheap little light really lights things up and even when I 'm moving at a good pace it's easy to see in the case...don't know if that would work for you or not with the Loadmaster...I saw it on you tube ...

The slipping issue is because the area that the chain goes is made out of nylon. So with the time, and temperature it tends to become a bit loose. Yes, I could put a twist tie to tied the chain up.

As for light, I went to Ikea and got one of these LED lamp for $10. I did not use the base because I installed directly to the 1/2" AL plate. I like the long neck since I can move where I need to. Also the light output is more warm side (yellow for reading) in which makes easier to me to contrast colors. I normally have the lamp almost directly above station 4 where I can see the powder level in the case. I also sit diagonal of the press ie. in front of station 4.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20169658/

[Eljay]

A good light is definitely a must!