Adventures in reloading range report

[vmwerks]

I am breaking in a new Dillon 650xl. After producing 50 .45 acp and 30 .40 S&W I was off to the range. The .40 was shot out of a HK USP and the .45 were used in a GI Springfield 1911 and a Springfield Champion.

45ACP
The GI was flattening the mouth of the spent casings but the Champion spit them out just fine. At 50ft all were in the 10 ring except for the misfire. I waited the requisite 30 seconds then ejected the round. The primer had a deep dent so I wrote it off as a bad primer.

40 S&W
Very accurate, little muzzle flip and was enjoyable to shoot. I got out about 25 rounds when I pulled the trigger and only got a pop.. not good. I bet there was no powder as the bullet was just inside the barrel. Oh well. I had a good day despite all that.

Lessons learned:
Don't use handloads in a gunfight
MOVE the powder alarm to the new toolhead. I left it on the .45 toolhead - bad idea. I may just buy another one who knows...

[joelogic]

Pretty hard to get a squib on a 650.

[XDRoX]

Glad to hear nothing blew up

As for the bad primer, it may have been a high primer. Primers are designed not to go off unless fully seated and then hit with the firing pin. Next time you can stick the round through a 2nd time and see if it shoots. If it does, it was a high primer.

As for the squib, try to get into the habit of looking into every case after you drop the powder and before you seat the bullet. An additional light may help you see into the case. If you make a habit of it early on it will become second nature soon. It feels weird if I don't look into every case before seating a bullet. With certain combinations of tall brass and fast powder, it may not be possible to see the drop, but for most 40 and 45 you can.

And remember, there are two types of reloaders, those who have had a squib, and those who are going to have a squib.

[EL_NinO619]

I highly recommend this. RCBS Lockout Die...

[rsrocket1]

On the squib. Bring a hammer and a brass rod with you to the range. 1/4" OD is good enough for .38/357/9mm, 40 & 45 or 3/8" if you don't shoot the smaller calibers. It doesn't take much to tap a bullet back out or forward out of a muzzle, then you're back in business.

[bruceflinch]

Pretty hard to get a squib on a 650.

Not if you had a couple of power beers....

Brass rod & small ball peen hammer has been in my shooting box for 13 yrs.

OP, You loaded some .45's & then changed over everything to load some 40's? Using small primers on the 45's?

[Dark Mod]

No harm no foul, i wouldnt hesitate to use MY handloads in a firefight

[vmwerks]

Not if you had a couple of power beers....

Brass rod & small ball peen hammer has been in my shooting box for 13 yrs.

OP, You loaded some .45's & then changed over everything to load some 40's? Using small primers on the 45's?

Nope I had to swap out to the LPP setup too. That part was a hassle... otherwise it was a breeze. I have some SPP 45 but I am not going to load them. I need to add a hammer and brass drift to my box

No harm no foul, i wouldnt hesitate to use MY handloads in a firefight

What about mine? hahaha

[Endofcomment]

So far I have loaded 1700 rounds mostly .45acp and .44mag with only one squib in my .38spl everything else shoots nice ejects nice I have only had problem with glock shot brass hooking onto the extractor in my 1911 but other than that we are all good.

I have a hornady LnL ap that I have the hornady powder cop for and it helps me keep an eye on things. I will be rigging up a light to shine onto the shellplate.

[EL_NinO619]

Again RCBS Lockout Die.. Much better that a brass rod and hammer.