Dumb rookie mistake loading

[Mac Attack]

I decided to load up some 30-06 rounds today so pulled out my preferred bullets - SMK 168 gr BTHP's, brass and primers. I dialed in my powder dispenser, set up my press and started cranking them out. I cranked out nearly 200 rounds before I realized I had the wrong powder setting. I load my 30-06 with 46 grains of Varget but like a dumb *** I set my dispenser to drop 45 grains. Dumb dumb dumb! i don't know why I dialed in my dispenser for 45 grains but for some reason it seemed like the right number. I should have checked my records before loading.

I am considering pulling all the bullets but 200 is a whole lot of hammering and by the time I would be finished my forearms would look like Popeye's. What a waste too, because SMK's are not cheap. I guess I can chalk this up to my being distracted when setting up my press.

So next time you prepare to load eliminate any distractions, check your records, then check your records a second time, then check your records a third time, step away from your press and then check them again before loading up a single round. Dumb rookie mistake!

[BigBronco]

You didn't! You did! didn't you I will help pull them if you like. But you buy the beer.

Put an ear plug in the bottom of the puller you can reuse the points.

[bjl333]

Is 45 gr a shootable load ??? If it is I'd just shoot'em. I personally won't pull 200 bullets if the load is a shootable load.

[Chief-7700]

An old trick take a piece of masking tape or blue painters tape, write the type of powder and the charge throw on it stick it on the powder measure at eye level.

[Mac Attack]

Bjl33 - luckily I can still shoot them but may have to make some adjustments the adjustable plug on my M1.

Chief - excellent idea. I have some blue painting tape left over that will work nicely. Better yet maybe some flashy neon colored tape so I don't screw up like this again.

Oh and for the record I am not a newbie to loading and have been loading for over 20 years. I just got complacent and as we know that is not a good thing when reloading. My mistake was not so bad and for that I am lucky.

[bjl333]

Bjl33 - luckily I can still shoot them but may have to make some adjustments the adjustable plug on my M1.

Chief - excellent idea. I have some blue painting tape left over that will work nicely. Better yet maybe some flashy neon colored tape so I don't screw up like this again.

Oh and for the record I am not a newbie to loading and have been loading for over 20 years. I just got complacent and as we know that is not a good thing when reloading. My mistake was not so bad and for that I am lucky.

The good thing is you realize what you were doing !!! Noobs wouldn't realize anything.

[zfields]

I loaded about 80 powderless .45 acp the other day, make ya feel any betteR?

[kmca]

200 with a collet puller isn't too bad

[Boots]

The good thing is you realize what you were doing !!! Noobs wouldn't realize anything.

That's why good recording keeping is a must. I'm always afraid of making a mistake... guessing when I shouldn't, so I keep 1/2" 3-ring binder with me at the load bench that has all the different loads for the different bullets and calibers I'll be loading.
I'll write down what I'll be doing on the load label for the box and refer to it when I begin the process. When done, just stick the label on the box and record it in my log.

[choprzrul]

$20.00:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=851547

$7.49:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=774576

Once you get the feel for it and a rhythm, you will be surprised how fast you can pull bullets. You will end up with a charged case and a bullet. Dump the powder in your scale pan, trickle another grain, and re-seat the bullet. You will be surprised how fast you can process those 200 rnds.

.

[winxp_man]

^^^^^^ this would be the faster way of doing this. The green RCBS hammer will work fine but will take a very long time my friend. I did this to 40 rounds and got real sick of it because it took me quite a long time a couple of hours at least.

[Cheep]

Bring your mis-loads and rifle and I will help you separate the components!

[AAShooter]

Bring your mis-loads and rifle and I will help you separate the components!

Somehow I suspect recovering the components could be difficult!

[Sideline Shooter]

tip

I use 3x5 cards, bright white, yellow, orange whatever. Write the load and where you got that load. Then write the date. If you stop, and come back to loading another day, stop reread the card, VERIFY the load from where you got it, note the date and start loading. In post mine on the powder measure also. You can't recheck your work enough. Especially when using a progresseive loader, one mistake and your in the 100's of screwed up rounds.

Plus this way you can do your loads in lots# in case you screw one set up, you know the other lot is not. But check it anyway!

[Malthusian]

After reading several other users and having made a few errors myself
I have a checklist sheet. I fill it out for each session
I date it and go through all the items line by line
Most important, keep the bullet tray amount small
Transfer over to a larger bin, so as to limit the number of rounds that may have to be pulled

I had a squib fall into a large pile. I pulled them all