Not sure if anyone else has had this happen, thought I would pass it on.

Last night I was reloading some 30-06 shells that I had primed last week. I had run out of time to finish the project then, so I just put them on the shelf. As I poured the powder in the fifth shell I noticed that the powder level was higher than it should have been in the shell. I was not using a compressed load, and this certainly looked like one. I always figure I made a mistake first, so I reset my scale to 0 to make sure it was accurate. It was, so I reset the level, poured the powder out of the shell into the pan. Sure enough it was accurate. I tapped the shell just to make sure I got all of the powder out before pouring the new powder in.

Thats when I noticed the dead Boxelder Bug stuck in the shell. :( I tapped him out easily. Reminded me that prior to pouring in the powder I had better double check to make sure I can see the green glow of the primer in the bottom of the shell.

I am glad I did not find out what would have happened had I just kept going and ignored the level deviation.

Brad S.
Hebrews 10:39

Definetly a good reason to keep an eye on what your doing. I had a batch of 308 cases sitting on the shelf of the bench for a few weeks a few summers ago and had the same thing happen. Found a spider's nest in one when I dumped the overfull powder out. Them things are sticky and I had to use a small screwdriver to get it out.

Bug would have vaporize during the first nanosecond of ignition. Still good to catch things like this before seating the bullet. Could have been something solid. Best thing about loading rifle ammo is that it's almost impossible to double charge. ;)

Always had the habit of covering the cases with a cloth if not dumping the powder charge immediately after priming. Don't know if this would keep the creepy-crawlies from getting into the case, but haven't had the situation described.

If I can't charge cases after priming I put the primed cases into cartridge boxes or leave them casemouth down in the loading blocks. Deters critters from homesteading on my property.

I rarely powder more than about 15 cases without seating the bullets. I usually check to make sure the powder comes up to about the same level in each case. Recently I had one come up too high in the case, about to the top. I poured out the powder only to find I had some walnut cleaning media that had been stuck in the bottom. I usually invert the cases and tap them on the table after taking them out of the tumbler. I guess I forgot with that one. You just can't be too careful I guess. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Not sure if anyone else has had this happen, thought I would pass it on.

Last night I was reloading some 30-06 shells that I had primed last week. I had run out of time to finish the project then, so I just put them on the shelf. As I poured the powder in the fifth shell I noticed that the powder level was higher than it should have been in the shell. I was not using a compressed load, and this certainly looked like one. I always figure I made a mistake first, so I reset my scale to 0 to make sure it was accurate. It was, so I reset the level, poured the powder out of the shell into the pan. Sure enough it was accurate. I tapped the shell just to make sure I got all of the powder out before pouring the new powder in.

Thats when I noticed the dead Boxelder Bug stuck in the shell. :( I tapped him out easily. Reminded me that prior to pouring in the powder I had better double check to make sure I can see the green glow of the primer in the bottom
I hav'nt found anythin in a case lately,but in the past
I am glad I did not find out what would have happened had I just kept going and ignored the level deviation.

Brad S.
Hebrews 10:39


Brad
I check each case that in in the loading block,ready to charge with powder.I have a bright flourescent light over my bench,but,recently,I started using a small briht flashlight that also has a laser light.
Once,I did find a spider residing in a case.
Frank

Actually, this did have a potential for disaster.

Assume the bug was dead, and that it was holding the powder away from the flash hole. If the round were fired, the bulk of the flash may have been absorbed by the bug's corpse. A little of the flash may have ignited a little powder near the flash hole, which starts burning, but not hot and fast, yet pressure would start to build.

Once the burning reaches around the bug, the bulk of the powder would ignite fast, but build pressure against the pressure already built up. Result is a pressure spike, which could have been explosive.

I've read of these before [ not necessarily a bug, but any kind of bad ignition ]- can't remember if it's called a squib or a hang-fire. Anyway, it can be very dangerous if something inhibits proper ignition.

Actually, this did have a potential for disaster.

Assume the bug was dead, and that it was holding the powder away from the flash hole. If the round were fired, the bulk of the flash may have been absorbed by the bug's corpse. A little of the flash may have ignited a little powder near the flash hole, which starts burning, but not hot and fast, yet pressure would start to build.

Once the burning reaches around the bug, the bulk of the powder would ignite fast, but build pressure against the pressure already built up. Result is a pressure spike, which could have been explosive.

I've read of these before [ not necessarily a bug, but any kind of bad ignition ]- can't remember if it's called a squib or a hang-fire. Anyway, it can be very dangerous if something inhibits proper ignition.

I was not quite sure if this, as a worst case, would happen or if I would just have a flyer at the shooting range. Either way, I am now covering all my empties, primered or not. I am also taping each and looking in to see if anything looks back. A box elder bug is large enough to have pluged the powder so what you are indicating is not out of the question.

Thanks.

Brad S
Hebrews 10:39

Always store you powder in a sealed container. If you have to stop loading, dump all your powder back into the container and shut it tight. Gunpowder has an ability to go 'stale' (absorb things from the air, including moisture). You'll most likely find a change in preformance (loss of, bigger deviations, less acurate) to bullets made with fresh powder vs powder that you allow to sit un-sealed for any appreciable amount of time (a day or so). If I don't oplan on using my powder and sealing in a cartiridge within 4 hours, I pour it all back into the container until I'm ready to do so.

Just some advice!

Good points all. We used to have a thread with these types of things. I wish I knew where so we could add this group.

Thanks --- Post like this feed my overly cautious nature.
I place all ready to load brass in a plastid (20 Round) box and then I place the box in a Ziplock bag.
I place all powders & primers in Zip Lock bags too….

Actually, I store my powder bottles along with my primers in an old army metal cartridge box in my basement. My loading desk is in my pole barn which, in the summer is too hot and humid. I try to avoid storing the powder and primers in extreme conditions. I am now using gallon sized Zip Loc bags to store any cartridges that are in process, either waiting to be primed or that have been primed and I just ran out of time to finish. That should keep the bugs out.

Brad S
Hebrews 10:39

Makes you wonder what the burn rate for a dead Boxelder bug is.. I think it is around IMR 3031

Brad
I check each case that in in the loading block,ready to charge with powder.I have a bright flourescent light over my bench,but,recently,I started using a small briht flashlight that also has a laser light.
Once,I did find a spider residing in a case.
Frank


Hello,again
Here's something else to look for.
While at the per storewith my beagle,Floyd,I decided to buy a bag of corncob media to degrease my freshly resized cases
It works fine but the granules are larger then those at the gunshow,and many get caught inside the 30 cal Carbine case.Simply shaking and tapping will not dislodge them.
In one case,the decapping rod pierced the corncob granule and ejected the spent primer.
This may be old news to some,but It just ggot to me this week.
Frank