by wildcatter » Sat Aug 13, 2011 8:09 pm
FYI.. h110/296 are the same powders, according to the sales sheets, and we know older lots of either can very significantly from the newer lots.
With that in mind, I have a little something to report, that needs to be assimilated, by all.
This week I was working up some Barnes 275gr XPB's fast-movers, using an older lot of 296 (like maybe 15 years old, BTW, I've gotten where I use a Sharpie to mark the can, when I bought that lot), all was going very well indeed. I left the powder in the Powder Measurer and the can of 296 open, something you should never do, just bad form (ok stupid). We had a big storm front come through and rained, pretty much, for two days. When I got back to the program, on Thursday, I saw the open can and wondered if the powder had absorbed much, from the humidity? I started out with the known great loads I had worked up before the stand-down. Surprisingly, the known great load popped a primer, with .025" case head expansion, the case head did not separate, but the blown primer, did lodge between the lugs of the bolt and extension. I like to have never gotten the barrel off, but did so in about an hour and a half of embarrassed work. Talk about Swipes?? The case head area swagged to look like it had become a belted magnum.
So, we're reevaluating and trying to learn the lessons. Looks like I mentioned some already, keep your powder dry and keep the different lots separate, don't do stupid things and then when you do and you will, don't blame anyone but yourself for the incident and for goodness sake, don't compound the stupidity by calling a Lawyer?
The weapon appears to be unharmed and it wont be until Monday before the serious assessments commence..
..t
Safety First..t