HELP PLEASE!!!

[mrextc]

I just reloaded my first 223 without any help. I have a crappy Lee Powder measure and it would spill a little on some of the loads...I don't know which ones, but I had an extra 6.6 grains on my tray after i seated all 50 cases.

Details:

223 loaded at 23.8 grains of H335 with a Sierra matchking 55grain projectile.

The charge is on the lighter side, but I guess with my first batch, I'm just concerned that I may have problems firing.

Option 1, I was considering pulling them all with a bullet puller and redoing the whole process to be on the safe side...i guess, i'm just not sure how low my charge can be and still be safe.

Option 2. I could weigh each one...assuming each case weights roughly the same...and find the one that were light?

Supposed to go shot these tomorrow, so I want to know if I should not or just shot them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Rotting]

Here's the quick version--Start over. Do it correctly. Option 2 will not work.

[edgerly779]

After your charge the cartridges stand over the tray and shine aflashlight in each one to check that they all look the same. It only takes a minute and is a good check that each has a powder charge.

[Capt.Dunsel]

you can weight them all as is to check how many are much below the norm/average.

you can pull them all and reload them to the specs in your loading manual ( you got at least one right ?)

Next time you load try a "crappy" Lee Powder funnel ( you don't miss the case and drop powder on your tray)

depends on how safe and how close to minimum or maximum your charge was to begin with.

Don't blame the equipment for not getting the powder in the case unless your using all the equipment you should be using.

[Chief-7700]

Start over and pay attention! Remember you dealing with things the love to go BOOM............

[mrextc]

i was using the lee powder funnel, still some would slip out of the crack in the side...there are 50 reloads. I weight all of them, 3 are extra light...10 are on a little on the light side,

I triple checked and all of them had powder, looked about even, except for one and it was a little high, 24.2, so i redid that one.

Does anyone know the min charge for H335 on a 223 with 55 grain. What happens if its slightly undercharge, will it still fire?

[Bill Steele]

Although by what you posted, it sounds like the worst that you are facing are some slightly under charged cases, which then will likely all go bang. The problem is two fold: 1) what did you accomplish? ammo that goes bang and doesn't hurt you or others around you is hardly anything to tell anyone about. 2) the ammo almost certainly won't group as the powder charges are likely all over the place. Great, some on paper, some not (it likely won't be quite that bad, I exaggerated to get my point across).

My advice is have some self respect, pull them, take what you have learned to build some quality rounds.

My favorite saying in reloading, "if in doubt, there is no doubt, pull 'em."

Whatever you decide, good luck.

PS - Get one of those clear plastic Lyman funnels and end spilt powder forever.

[Ferrum]

Start over... why risk it? You can weigh all the cartridges you want when your done, but its not a good indication of power content. Brass fluxuates in weight and the projectile may also.

[mrextc]

I still don't know what will happen if I undercharge? I weighted and took the lightest one pulled it and it is low...22.9 grains. could this hurt me, damage my weapon...By the way, this is all just plinking ammo...not match shooting here...I'm 100% sure its not overcharged which I understand to be a big problem...but I haven't read anything regarding an under minimum charge.

That's why i decided to go on the low end to make sure I don't hit maximum pressure. This was my first time using this powder measure and am not at all pleased it(i learned on a RCBS and it was solid and didn't lose any powder on any cases)

[Rotting]

Here's the lowdown, my friend. It is PROBABLY not a dangerous situation that you have found yourself in. However, what will you get out of having loaded so sloppily? The satisfaction of knowing that you didn't load a catastrophic set of cartridges?

Also, speaking generally, undercharging can be catastrophic as all get-out. Let's say you undercharge the case to the extent that the projectile doesn't leave the barrel when the round is fired. Then you shoot the next round.....what do you think will happen?

My advice is to start anew and get it right. Your haphazardly loaded ammo will not be satisfying to shoot in my estimation. Properly loaded ammo...much more so.

[mindwreck]

worse case. too low and you will stick a bullet in the barrel and try to shoot another round. overpressure the gun and it goes boom in the hand.

best case: lose some time redoing your rounds but it least you'll have all your body parts attached..

redo your rounds. never worth the risk.

[mrextc]

okay, so everyone says redo it all....so do i need to resize the brass again? or toss it out with the new primers?

[mindwreck]

no. the only thing thats messed up is the powder weights.. pull all the rounds and re do your powder charges.

[milotrain]

Many people mess up on their first reloads. I know I did.

1. Pull
2. Dump the charge
3. Recharge the case
4. Reseat the bullet

A press mounted bullet puller is your friend, get the Hornady cam lock not the RCBS twist lock. The twist lock has a tendency to twist the whole die in the press.

[johnny1290]

This is nothing. I had to pull apart my first 150 223 rounds and reprime 1000 LOL It happens, man, no big deal.

It kinda *is* rocket science though, so it's worth re-doing. I just use pliers, they nick but so what.