Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Whoops.....

Whoops is the one thing you don't want to hear your surgeon say. Maybe that's why they have general anesthesia...

I'm a careful reloader with 50+ years experience. Last weekend, I had an incident that I'm going to report, just as a FYI for other experienced, careful reloaders.

I had loaded a series of test rounds for my FN 98 Mauser/Shilen 6.5x55. I was weighing loads on my Ohaus 10-10 as always. That scale had a problem with the weight jumping a notch and I had Superglued a pencil eraser where the beam hits bottom, just to keep the weight from jumping. That has worked pretty well.

I was shooting 100 NPT's with JB's 42 gr. RL-15 load, when the chrono read 3,577 fps and the bolt froze. I managed to open the action without a mallet, but it took some muscle. The primer was blown, but I got no blow back, even with an "H" type (not a "C" type) 98 Mauser. I had no idea what had happened until I was able to open the action.

I pulled bullets on the other rounds and weighed the RL-15. Yep, 52 gr., not 42. The weight had jump a notch, 42 to 52 gr. A 100 gr. Partitions at 3,577 fps is a bit more than one would expect from a 6.5x55, even with Campfire loads...

So, word to the wise. Be careful. These things can happen. And I was at my deer lease, a remote 6,000 property with only faint cell phone coverage. And, I was the only one out there. Sorta scary when you think of what could have happened. Guess my angel was working overtime...

DF

Dang. Weight jumping is a new one on me, but will certainly keep a eye out.

DF: Ouch!

We are all vulnerable and prone to mistakes.

One thing I always liked about powders and loads that mostly fill the case is that a 10 gr error will show right away because it'll be spill in' all over the place

Wow! Glad you're still in one piece man.

Not too many Fire contributors pushing 100 gr. NPT's at 3,500+ fps out of a 6.5x55, not a .264 WM...

And, hope that never happens again.

DF

I wonder what the cup pressure was on that load? Years ago there was a bad batch of RL22, and was a recall. I was told from a tech at Allaint that loads that ran 52000 to 54000 cup's with RL22 and with this powder would go as high as 85000 cup with the same loads, I had 15 pounds of it, they told me not to use it and sent me 20 pounds and told me to spread the rest of the bad lot on my yard. I took it and put it in a 5 gallon metal bucket and put the fuse to it. Awsome light show, never lite that much powder off at one time.

I think you win the "Swede Speed" race.

Glad you still have facial features and a sense of humor left to tell the story.

Yep...

I'll put my Swede up against anyone's Swede...

Who ever welded this bolt handle did good. It's STRONG.

And, below, one can see the 50's FN with "H" configuration, that is, both raceways cut thru. Older Mausers and CZ's have only the extractor cut (referred to as "C" configuration) and reportedly are better at gas deflection. I had no gas in my face even with a blown primer.

No telling what the pressure was, maybe 80-90K...??

DF

Dang, I'm gonna go check my scale and make sure the eraser is still firmly glued on!

Mine is still there, but it sure did let me down...

Or almost lit me up, depends on how you want to look at it...

DF

Well, you're no worse for the wear, which is the important thing.

A testament to the action, too.

Glad you are ok.. Scary what can happen from a moments in attention..

Yep.

Seems like a bigger deal now, thinking back on it, that it seemed at the moment.

DF

So when you removed the pan from the scale and the pointer bottomed out it caused the weight adjustment to jump out the notch to the next one? I use an old Rcbs made by Ohaus thanks for the heads up. A lot of guys wouldn't share an accident like that. Thanks.

Neat looking rifle, DF. Glad you're ok!

Thanks, twice...

DF

+1 for full cases.

I agree.

But, sometimes the best load, especially with light weight bullets, isn't with the slowest powder and a full case. RL-15 is a good 6.5x55 powder and I was using JB's load of 42 gr. with the 100 NPT, just to see what it would do. So, even with a 10 gr. over charge (52 gr.) the case wasn't full.

BTW, this gun favors 139 Scenars above all and Norma MRP seems to be one of the top performing powders. I just happen to have a big jug of MRP, so that's the current hunting load. MRP fills to case enough that a 10 gr. overcharge won't happen.

DF

DF -

I'm certainly glad YOU weren't injured too.

I have an old 5-10 scale that 'sometimes' the tenth's balance has jumped 1 or 2 notches- no big deal.

I also have a 10-10 scale that is a 'pain' to adjust up/down with the rotor....

BUT so far I've never seen either one jump in 10 gr. increments and I'm GLAD.

Several years ago I moved to digital scales and actually just replaced the first one last Winter. I still use a balance beam for checking wts. but much prefer the digital.

Continued Good Luck.

I may in the market for a digital.

I've never had one. What's your preference?

DF

DF -
First a couple of corrections from a faulty memory bank.


My first balance beam scale is an Ohaus 5 0 5 not a 510 and
the other one is RCBS 5-10 not a 10-10 Sorry!

Now as to digital scales I've only had 2. The first was a PACT II that worked great for years and then became erratic.

The new one I have is a Lyman and 'SO FAR' it's accurate and repeatable. The only curiosity/concern I have about it is -- it is very light weight. That's not a problem in the house but could be when used outdoors.

I suggest you search and find one that satisfies your criterion. I don't feel comfortable making a recommendation based upon only having had 2.

I've been studying them and it seems to me the Lyman Micro-Touch is a good one. It'll run on batteries or 110 volt. The best deal on Ebay right now is $58.99 shipped.

Still watching.

DF

And thus the reason I like my Steyr's...proofed to 120000.
And I like powders that require my load to fill to the bullets base. That way I know immediately if theses an extra grain, much less 10.

You not saying those Steyr's are stronger than the "three rings of steel"...

I was just loading some 26 Nos rounds and was thinking, there's no way one could have a 10 gr. surprise when dropping 91 gr. of 869 in that case...

DF

After my last Lyman electronic scale I won't touch one again.

What did you end up with?

DF

Well, QuickLOADs "back of the napkin guesstimate" of pressure says a 6.5x55 w/ 100g Partition doing ~3,577 FPS is generating 81,637 PSI.

Not a fun thing to have next to your face in any case. Glad you are okay and that the action held.

DF,

Glad to hear you're ok after what could have been a catastrophic incident!

Regarding digital scales, I did a lot of research and ended up buying a GemPro 250. It was highly rated in tests conducted by the folks on the Accurate Reloading site - haven't used it yet so I can't give you a personal review.

Flyboyflem (Woody) bought the 500 model so you may want to shoot him a PM.

BTW, I dig the teardrop checkering on that mauser's bolt handle. It's been quite a while since I've seen one like that!

Thanks, Bob,

I know I was blessed and watched over thru all that.

That action was and is a mystery. It obviously shows master class workmanship, but no one knows who did the work.

Somebody went to some trouble to configure it like that, no doubt getting ready for a custom build that never happened. I bought it here on the Fire for $550 to my FFL. The seller had picked it up at a gunshow, also contemplating a build that never happened.

It really belongs in a fine walnut stock with all the trimmings. But for now, the B&C Medalist will have to do.

DF

Thanks, Azar, for that info.

I was guessing 80-90K PSI. Seems I was in the ballpark.

DF

Forgot to add, Lapua brass is good stuff and strong...

DF

Thank you for sharing and reminding others to exercise caution. We've all made mistakes and reminders like this keep me paying attention to the details.

Don't. Your current scale is the best ever made.

Wow DF glad you are OK. FWIW I keep my scale on a shelf at eye level over the bench. That way I am constantly looking at the settings. I also check it at the end of a loading session to make sure it is giving me the load that I want. Have actually done that and found that the setting was incorrect and had to reach for the bullet puller. Whoops!

I trust my balance beam. And for fine powders, I now trust my powder measure more then I'd trust a digital.

Digitals are great for sorting brass.

Yep.

The more I read about various digital scales the more convinced I am to stay with the Ohaus 10-10 and just be more careful.

It's amazing how a simple mess up can result in such profound consequences. It can happen to any of us, as I consider myself an experienced, careful reloader who pays attention to detail. That detail, obviously, slipped under my radar...

When I pulled those bullets and weighed 52 gr. RL-15 instead of 42 gr., I knew what had happened.

A 100 gr. Partition at 3,577 fps is pretty fast for a 6.5x55...

Who needs a 26 Nos...

DF

DAMN, glad you're okay DF, sub that 15 for 52 gr RL-22.

Well gunner,

Bottom line: This gun really likes 139 gr. Scenars over 47.2 gr. Norma MRP at around 2,650fps, jumping .03".

No way to add 10 gr. to that charge and not know it.

Like I posted earlier, I'll put my Swede up against anyone's Swede...

DF

10-4 on the accuracy load, I showed my 'swede' your post, it's trying to crawl under the safe. lol

Yeah, if one is going to shoot at 400 yds. or so, one needs a really good 100 yd. group to have a decent 400 yd. group. This combo groups under a half inch at a hundred and should still be sub MOA at 400 with enough whallop to zap a WT or a porker.

This gun now wears a VX-3 3.5-10x40 CDS, a really nice scope. I'm going to get a yardage dial set up for this load. Not that I plan to use the 6.5x55 for LR shooting, when I have a 6.5-284 and a 26 Nos in the safe. It's always nice to know what you can do if and when the need arises.

Your Swede saw 3,577 fps and hid out...?

Smart. I'd be hiding, too...

DF

Agreed, to me a six five swede is a bare bones 'hunting' rifle cartridge, I love mine and won't ever be able to find a reason to sell it.