The Most Common Problem?

[Shotgun Franklin]

Just based on my experiences, it appears that the most common ammo problem is not seating the primer deep enugh. I'm not saying that it is near 50% because there are a number of other reasons. It seems to me that at every shoot, someone has a round or 2 fail to go off or the cylinder is hard to turn because of a high primer. Very many times it takes a second fall of the hammer, on revolvers, to get the round to go off.

[Kent Shootwell]

I see that often as well. I had them high primers make the cylinder a bit stiff to turn but sence I use near full power main springs they go off first time. I've elliminated that problem by going to Federal 150 primers. They're softer so they seat easy and take less of a hit to set off. Also when I fill a box I hold it to the light and look across the bases to see if a primer is high. I watch folks spin the cylinder after loading which is good but I'd rather catch them befor loading. 

[Ol Law Dawg]

I just box them up and run my finger over them. If it is a real problem use a case gage....

[Abilene]

Another fairly common problem is brass with a crack in the mouth allowing the bullet to push in deeper from the spring pressure in the rifle magazine tube, causing the round to be too short and lock up toggle-link rifles.

[Crow Choker]

Never have had a problem with a high primer. Have used a Lee Auto primer since early 80's, after setting the primer, I always run my finger over it and 'eyeball' them. Where I have run into problems a few times is a primer set to deep and have had light strikes. Being one-quarter Scot-Irish(they say Scots are cheap), I hate to toss well used brass. If there are mouth cracks or other problems I always toss em, but sometimes when seating primers(mostly 357 Mags where I've noticed it), not a whole lot of resistence is found due to many repeated firings. I always mark these with a black magic marker and take note when I fire them. Once in a while I've had one slip by and its taken a couple of hammer strikes to set em off. I've gotten better about not 'being on the cheap' with them, but sure do hate to lose or toss brass. Never used them in any competition shooting though!

[Delmonico]

From what I've seen and what I've read on the net, the most common ammo problem is folks who don't take care in reloading.  Used to do some comercial loading for a licensed friend, have loaded a lot of rounds in my day, have had very few problems and never a high primer.  Folks just simply got to take time to do things right.

[Jefro]

From what I've seen and what I've read on the net, the most common ammo problem is folks who don't take care in reloading.  Used to do some comercial loading for a licensed friend, have loaded a lot of rounds in my day, have had very few problems and never a high primer.  Folks just simply got to take time to do things right.

Howdy Delmonico, I agree, attention to detail at the reloading bench is a common problem, even if you have done it for twenty years, or for the first time reloader. Inconsistant rounds are the worst IMHO, it's becoming more and more common to hear.......bang - bang - poof - BANG!! - poof. This really makes you jump when it also happens with the shotgun. Saturday we had one feller that had at least three double charges and a few under charged loads. The RO was in a bad position had there been a failure. I spoke to  him after the match and suggested it may be time for a powder cop in station four. I strongly reccomend anyone starting out reloading to buy a few manuals and follow published load data. Several powder manufactures have a cowboy action section on thier web site, when in doubt they're all just a phone call away. Here's a few items I wouldn't be without. Good Luck.
Lyman 49th Edition
Lyman Shotshell 5th Edition
Richard Lee Modern Reloading
Powder Cop

Jefro

[Shotgun Franklin]

A lot of Shooters are now reloading way more than they ever have before. People who used to reload a hundred rounds a year are now reloading several hundred a month, or week. We all have to reload like our guns, eyes, ears and fingers depend on it because they really do. One thing I do is never stop in the middle or reloading without completely finishing every round in the press. When I sit down it's like I'm starting a new batch.

[Crow Choker]

Amen to last three messages! Inattention, improper research, trying to cut steps in reloading, etc can all lead to bad ammo, damaged guns, an unwanted trip to the emergency room, or in the worst case- the morgue. A close thread came up in the SCORRS section recently(see 'blocked barrel' 06/08/10) where the author was shooting ammo loaded by a friend and came away with a bullet stuck in his barrel. I related some of the problems I've been aware of others who had problems either by lack of knowledge or just plain ignorance and lack of attention. Reloading takes time and attention, if a person can't devote both, their better off buying their ammo. I've bow hunted deer since 1969, have known many who have tried it and quit because they don't want to take the time of sitting in a tree for 2-3 hours without sitting motionless every time they went out, maybe for the entire two month season. They wanted a deer, but didn't want to do what it took to get one. I love to cast bullets, I love to reload, almost as much as I love to shoot, but if ya are going to do it, ya gotta do it right or ya get poor results. The one thing I hate about reloading is brass trimming, but I 'sweat' threw it because if I want quality, reliable ammo, its gotta be done.

[Shotgun Franklin]

I was once keeping time on a Shooter, he was a friend of mine, at a local match. I heard the hammer fall but nothing else. He was on a roll and cocked the gun to fire again, I reached up and grabbed his revolver putting the web of my hand between the hammer and frame. Sure enough a bullet was lodged just deep enough in the barrel to let the cylinder turn. It was a near disaster. Scared the crap out of both of us!