If you HAND LOAD!!!

[Ron Smith]

I just heard from a friend who has been casting bullets for a young man in exchange for lead wheel weights from his father's tire shop.

The young guy bought a new Marlin 45-70 and was learning to hand load ammunition for it. He evidently tried to experiment and "light loaded" some rounds, too light. One of the cartridges detonated, or squibbed blowing the rifle into 3 pieces, and he nearly lost his left hand. They managed to save his fingers, which were nearly severed, but he will have limited use for life.

I have hand loaded for everything from .25 ACP to .458 Winchester over the last 40 years, without incident. Mainly because I studied, ask questions and was extremely cautious while doing so. Checking and double checking before I was confident in my ability and my loads.

Please, if you are a hand loader, be very careful. Don't assume a "good enough" attitude, and never become too confident, distracted or careless when reloading ammunition. I check, double check for powder weight and visually check every charge after it's thrown into a casing before I seat the bullet. If I have any doubt what..so.. ever, I check again.

*Zero your scale before every loading session.
*Check the charge weight a minimum of 3 times before assuming the weight is correct.
*Visually check every charge after putting it in the case. If it doesn't look right, start over.
*Never experiment, or divert. Follow the manual(s), it/they are published by professionals.
*NEVER mix powders.
*NEVER attempt to "MAGNUMIZE" a non-magnum cartridge.

Things can get nasty, and deadly in an instant if done incorrectly.

Ron
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