Polishing / Cleaning Media -- Walnut problem?

[alfsauve]

Yep, 500 rounds with the LnL and about 10 were squibs.  (I'm an expert in driving them out of the barrel now.)

I'm in denial that it was my fault.    I only remember one, "oops", incident that distracted my attention while reloading that batch, but I can't think of another explanation.  That couldn't have accounted for more than 1 or 2 of the squibs.

I did dump the old stuff and started a batch with Tuff Nut last night.

[sledgemeister]

Probably a stupid question Alf but what about the powder you used, have you inspected the remaining powder, ie poured it out on a piece of clean white paper and checked it to make sure there is no contaminates, or moisture affected etc?

[alfsauve]

Probably a stupid question Alf but what about the powder you used, have you inspected the remaining powder, ie poured it out on a piece of clean white paper and checked it to make sure there is no contaminates, or moisture affected etc?

Hi Sledge.  Yeah, I've wondered about the powder, but it was a 4lb can and these were loaded out of the "middle".  Nothing before or since has exhibited a problem.    It could be I contaminated the powder "in" the case, but I'm not sure how.  Could just having oily fingers and handling the bullets be enough to cause problems?  I think (memory is fuzzy at these high numbers) I loaded these in one sitting, but bagged them in lots of 100.   The squibs were spread out among the bags. 

I think, somehow, and I'm still in denial, that the powder didn't drop or I skipped a stage.  Whatever, it was my fault.  Which is a real bummer to face up to.  The strange thing is it has only occurred with the .45ACP.   And the only difference is that the reloading process gets interrupted with small primer and swaged primer pockets which causes me to have to remove a round from the reloader.

I'll figure it out eventually.   Meanwhile, brass rods and a small hammer are my buddies.   

[sledgemeister]

I am assuming the projectiles exited the barrel?
Was their any unburnt powder left?
If not then I suspect you might be right about no powder dropping.
Do you have any left of the batch you reloaded, it might be worth weighing them or even shaking them to see if you can feel the powder moving about.

[dipisc]

Hi;

     Is it possible for the problem to be in the primer? Can a small amount of lube have been on the inside part of the primer ?

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

I am assuming the projectiles exited the barrel?
Was their any unburnt powder left?
If not then I suspect you might be right about no powder dropping.
Do you have any left of the batch you reloaded, it might be worth weighing them or even shaking them to see if you can feel the powder moving about.

Dipisc,  no the primers functioned.  At least well enough to drive the bullet into the barrel.

Sledge, no the primers functioned well enough to get the bullet just past the forcing cone.  I didn't see any powder but since it's only about 5 grains I'm really not sure.  Mostly this happened in my revolver so some of the powder could have been driven out the gap.  I should have been more careful in checking.

I tried weighing the cases, but since we're talking about +/- 5 grains and I use mixed cases it isn't always clear.  I did find one, but missed 3 others.

Nope, I've shot that batch completely up.  Other calibers loaded around the same time period show no problems.

I probably got distracted by the small primer cases and somehow just blew it.

 Had a double charge yesterday with .44 magnum.  For the life of me I can't figure out how I double pumped it.   Fortunately, it was filled near the top and I knew immediately to pull that round.   Maybe I'm going senile.

[Solus]

Afl, perhaps you should take a look at Dillon's Powder Check device.

http://www.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/23805/catid/3/Dillon_Powder_Check

The rod with the nut to the left of the die adjusts the device so that the rod pushes the micro switch on the bottom of the blue box when the shell plate is at the top of it's travel.  This activates the micro switch on the side of the blue box.

Use one of the three rods with the brass tip (depending upon caliber) and adjust it so that the thick rod with the indent is positioned atop a correctly charged case (the brass tip rests on the powder) so that the micro switch sticking out of the side of the blue box is in the indent at the top of the piston travel.

If the charge is over or under, that micro switch will be out of the indentation and will be pressed and trigger an alarm.

You might not be able to or want to use Dillon's, but you  have shown us some gadgets you have worked up for your LnL.  This is one you should have.   Inaccurate powder charge is the most dangerous aspect of a progressive reloader.

[alfsauve]

I'm not opposed to Dillon or their accessories.  In fact I recommend them if you're only going to do one caliber, all the time.

Up until now I've never had reason to doubt the powder charges. 

My problem is I use all 5 stations already and don't have a place to put this die without going to powder-through-expander arrangement.   I could make final crimp a separate step, though it means running the rounds through the press twice.  Three times for 9mm.

I think my real problem was I fell asleep (spaced out) and when I was interrupted by a small primer or crimped primer pocket I somehow skipped through a stage.  I need to pay more attention.   I'm working on mounting an LED under the die holders so that the inside of the shell is brightly lit.    I'm just hesitating on drilling a hole through the top of my press.  Maybe I can adapt it to the center hole.

[Solus]

This will be available soon for the 650 center hole.   Maybe the it will work with your LnL also?

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1255

[alfsauve]

Cool.  I have a USB powered LED on a flex arm.  I may make a "plug" to hold it in the center hole.

I'm still debating the powder checker thing.