Help, I loaded 10 rounds w/o powder

handgun357 · January 26, 2001, 07:04 PM

What do you do when you load a round with cap and projectile, but no powder?
I have always been careful not to let my powder measure get too low before I fill it, but this time, I was not careful enough. Can I save the brass or do I get rid of the rounds completely?

[Edited by handgun357 on 01-26-2001 at 06:32 PM]

Poodleshooter · January 26, 2001, 07:24 PM

Kinetic bullet puller!!!!! Looks like a hammer If you don't have one, go to http://www.cabelas.com or http://www.midwayusa.com and order yourself one. Next day it if you are really antsy for those cases!!

Actually, while you're at it, get me one too. I've recently relocated my reloading setup and that's one of the things I haven't picked up yet. Bad rounds go in a little jar for now!

Cheapo · January 26, 2001, 08:18 PM

For only ten rounds (are you *sure* that's all?), if they are loaded with jacketed bullets you can hold them by the base, place the case neck on a smooth anvil-type surface, and gently hammer on the neck until it opens up enough to unplug the bullet.

Resize w/o a decapper and the case is good to go. If done right, the bullet will be okay, too.

But before you do that, "fire" three of them (safely) to check if your neck tension is okay. Except for really small cases smaller than .38 Special, the primer by itself should not lodge the bullet in the throat. My dud in .30-06 didn't even budge the bullet, and I tried it in .357 after learning that my buddy's Lee 1000 progressive would jam the powder measure when using 296. 'nuther dud, but his expander was too big and the bullet went into the forcing cone. Loaded with my dies for a follow-up experiment, there was no such event!

The field expedient measure will get you "back on the road" until the bullet puller arrives.

chink · January 26, 2001, 08:55 PM

Use them as a cheap snap cap replacement? just make sure you know that they really have not powder and you mark them as such

DialONE911 · January 26, 2001, 09:38 PM

With live primers they aren't snap cap replacements.

chink · January 26, 2001, 11:18 PM

Sorry had a brain fart forgot about the primers.

which begs the question, how big of a bang do you get with live primers no powder and a bullet?

C.R.Sam · January 26, 2001, 11:38 PM

I have done indoor ten meter target shooting, living room, with AR. using primer and .22 pellets. Quite a bit of zing and accuracy good enough to have house matches.

I have had .38spec stick in forcing cone. Have had .45 stick well into the barrel.

All in all, I think it be a not good idea to try to fire them. Pull the bullets of all that you are shure are limp and several from before those just to be safe.

Interestingly enough, I have had more factory milspec rounds than handloads stick in barrel.

Sam...iffen it ain't broke yet, let me try it.

handgun357 · January 27, 2001, 12:05 AM

Thanks for the info guys..............
Happy Shooting.........

handgun357 · January 27, 2001, 12:08 AM

I ordered the kinetic puller from Cabelas.......
Thanks again...........

Karsten · January 27, 2001, 02:55 AM

Chink, Come on...the primer alone will send the Bullet a good way dowm a tight barrel. You know it could be deadly even more so with out the resitance of the barrel. Pull them apart. resize the case W/O the decapper and be more careful next time.
I am not prefect, believe me. I loaded 50 45 ACP that were questionable. I used a kinetic hammer for days...500 rounds. Squib or no Squib that is the question. A bullet half way down the barrel is and will be scary.

Geez, why don't we take up golf.....NOT!!!!!

PDshooter · January 28, 2001, 03:58 PM

Well you could just take the 10 duds and toss them into a deep enough pond, river!or whatever?If your going to use them as SNAP caps, I would drill a hole in the case. Just for I.D ! I've had primer go off after the 3 or 4th dry firing!

**Mal H** · January 28, 2001, 04:42 PM

I'm assuming you mean you've had the primer fall out or puncture after the 3rd or 4th firing. If it doesn't go off from the first firing, then you need to see a good smithy.

fgerardij · January 31, 2001, 10:15 AM

Those kinetic bullet pullers work incredibly well! Take it from a guy who recently pulled 300 .45 acp bullets with one! (Don't ask, long story

)

I have the RCBS and it does a great job. One caveat I found was that due to the open endcap that screws on (has a hole in it), it shot powder out all over the place as the bullet released. To remedy, I simply put a piece of tape over the hole. Before putting the tape on, I made it "non-sticky" so the powder wouldn't stick to it. Now the powder stays in the bullet puller

fgerardij

handgun357 · January 31, 2001, 05:04 PM

The kinetic bullet puller worked just great.
I only had 4 rounds without powder, but I pulled 32 rounds apart. All the ones in that box. Better safe than sorry.
Thanks again........

JerryM · January 31, 2001, 07:34 PM

A problem that many of us have had at one time or another. Get your procedure down so that you have the emnpty, primed cases on one side of the measure and when you throw the charge put the case it in a block on the other side of the measure. Then before you seat any bullets take a flashlight and run it over each case to confirm that you have charged the case and haven't thrown a double charge. This will save you some headaches. Jerry

January 26, 2001, 07:04 PM	#1
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	What do you do when you load a round with cap and projectile, but no powder? I have always been careful not to let my powder measure get too low before I fill it, but this time, I was not careful enough. Can I save the brass or do I get rid of the rounds completely? [Edited by handgun357 on 01-26-2001 at 06:32 PM]

January 26, 2001, 07:24 PM	#2
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,536	Kinetic bullet puller!!!!! Looks like a hammer If you don't have one, go to http://www.cabelas.com or http://www.midwayusa.com and order yourself one. Next day it if you are really antsy for those cases!! Actually, while you're at it, get me one too. I've recently relocated my reloading setup and that's one of the things I haven't picked up yet. Bad rounds go in a little jar for now!

January 26, 2001, 08:18 PM	#3
Cheapo Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 1998 Posts: 986	For only ten rounds (are you sure that's all?), if they are loaded with jacketed bullets you can hold them by the base, place the case neck on a smooth anvil-type surface, and gently hammer on the neck until it opens up enough to unplug the bullet. Resize w/o a decapper and the case is good to go. If done right, the bullet will be okay, too. But before you do that, "fire" three of them (safely) to check if your neck tension is okay. Except for really small cases smaller than .38 Special, the primer by itself should not lodge the bullet in the throat. My dud in .30-06 didn't even budge the bullet, and I tried it in .357 after learning that my buddy's Lee 1000 progressive would jam the powder measure when using 296. 'nuther dud, but his expander was too big and the bullet went into the forcing cone. Loaded with my dies for a follow-up experiment, there was no such event! The field expedient measure will get you "back on the road" until the bullet puller arrives.

January 26, 2001, 08:55 PM	#4
chink Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1998 Location: saratoga, ca, usa Posts: 806	Use them as a cheap snap cap replacement? just make sure you know that they really have not powder and you mark them as such

January 26, 2001, 09:38 PM	#5
DialONE911 Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 214	With live primers they aren't snap cap replacements.

January 26, 2001, 11:18 PM	#6
chink Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1998 Location: saratoga, ca, usa Posts: 806	Sorry had a brain fart forgot about the primers. which begs the question, how big of a bang do you get with live primers no powder and a bullet?

January 26, 2001, 11:38 PM	#7
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,864	I have done indoor ten meter target shooting, living room, with AR. using primer and .22 pellets. Quite a bit of zing and accuracy good enough to have house matches. I have had .38spec stick in forcing cone. Have had .45 stick well into the barrel. All in all, I think it be a not good idea to try to fire them. Pull the bullets of all that you are shure are limp and several from before those just to be safe. Interestingly enough, I have had more factory milspec rounds than handloads stick in barrel. Sam...iffen it ain't broke yet, let me try it.

January 27, 2001, 12:05 AM	#8
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	Thanks for the info guys.............. Happy Shooting.........

January 27, 2001, 12:08 AM	#9
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	I ordered the kinetic puller from Cabelas....... Thanks again...........

January 27, 2001, 02:55 AM	#10
Karsten Junior member Join Date: January 22, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 479	Chink, Come on...the primer alone will send the Bullet a good way dowm a tight barrel. You know it could be deadly even more so with out the resitance of the barrel. Pull them apart. resize the case W/O the decapper and be more careful next time. I am not prefect, believe me. I loaded 50 45 ACP that were questionable. I used a kinetic hammer for days...500 rounds. Squib or no Squib that is the question. A bullet half way down the barrel is and will be scary. Geez, why don't we take up golf.....NOT!!!!!

January 28, 2001, 03:58 PM	#11
PDshooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Illinois (PRI) Posts: 599	Well you could just take the 10 duds and toss them into a deep enough pond, river!or whatever?If your going to use them as SNAP caps, I would drill a hole in the case. Just for I.D ! I've had primer go off after the 3 or 4th dry firing!

January 28, 2001, 04:42 PM	#12
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern VA Posts: 14,070	I'm assuming you mean you've had the primer fall out or puncture after the 3rd or 4th firing. If it doesn't go off from the first firing, then you need to see a good smithy.

January 31, 2001, 10:15 AM	#13
fgerardij Member Join Date: December 20, 2000 Posts: 20	Those kinetic bullet pullers work incredibly well! Take it from a guy who recently pulled 300 .45 acp bullets with one! (Don't ask, long story ) I have the RCBS and it does a great job. One caveat I found was that due to the open endcap that screws on (has a hole in it), it shot powder out all over the place as the bullet released. To remedy, I simply put a piece of tape over the hole. Before putting the tape on, I made it "non-sticky" so the powder wouldn't stick to it. Now the powder stays in the bullet puller fgerardij

January 31, 2001, 05:04 PM	#14
handgun357 Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2001 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 293	The kinetic bullet puller worked just great. I only had 4 rounds without powder, but I pulled 32 rounds apart. All the ones in that box. Better safe than sorry. Thanks again........

January 31, 2001, 07:34 PM	#15
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,737	A problem that many of us have had at one time or another. Get your procedure down so that you have the emnpty, primed cases on one side of the measure and when you throw the charge put the case it in a block on the other side of the measure. Then before you seat any bullets take a flashlight and run it over each case to confirm that you have charged the case and haven't thrown a double charge. This will save you some headaches. Jerry