TexasCHLforum.com

My friend Bob, many years ago, and I, did something similar a couple of times, although we didn't get near as many spent cases.

We did run into a problem a couple of times.

The first time was what we eventually determined was a water/steam explosion. Bob was standing a couple of feet from the pot when he saw a pile of cases and such collapse, then something like a little volcano spurt, and then "POP" molten lead spattered several feet in every direction, not much, but enough to be scary. We decided that a case in the mix had had some water in it and had been sufficiently insulated in the mix that when the pile collapsed, the water flashed to steam resulting in the explosion.

I wasn't there for the second one, which Bob said was infinitely more scary. Due to rain, Bob had moved the burner and pot into an old garage behind his house. With the doors open he was sure there was plenty of ventilation, the garage having both front and back swinging doors. Bob had just walked away from the pot and out the front door to have a smoke, and was pulling off his gloves when there was the sound of a shot, and a large flash behind him, and molten lead spattering all over the inside of the garage.

We had a heck of a time cleaning up the mess, which did not result in a fire but could well have due to the gas cans stored in there.

We found a case that apparently had still had a primer in it, if not powder and projectile.

One thing I could never figure out is why there were so many cases downrange.