Thread: Interesting catch today while adjusting some .308 loads...

Had an interesting one today while breaking down and adjusting the powder charge in some .308 loads. I loaded up a batch of start loads a while back, and never shot all of them so pulled the pills and adjusted the powder charge up to what I settled on. Been putting this off as it's one of my most favourite jobs haha.

Got about half way through, what I was doing was dumping the charge out of the case into the scale tray and using another case as a trickler to bring up the correct weight. Worked for the number I was having to do just a little slow. Chuck the pill back on and into the seater no problemo. Noted with one an unusual crunch as I seated the pill - blink huh?

Still had the collet die set up and as none of the others were compressed loads I pulled the pill again and had a look in the top of the case - yep that was a compressed load what happened?

I must have tapped the slider on the manual scales accidentally while hanging the pan back on the beam - and managed to knock the slider over 1 entire grain (or 10x 0.1gr increments) which is not that easy to see when you go from 45.5 (not compressed) to 46.5 (above the recommended max which is a compressed load)!

Took the offending 1 grain back out and carried on - but never had that before. Checked the rest and none of the others had this issue so only thing I can figure is that I whacked the slider over 1 entire grain without realising. Unlikely to be a world ending event I would think but still, not ideal.

Lesson there is check the scale is set correctly each time and not just look at the lines on the slider and think you are good!