Should I hunt with these?

Fusion · March 27, 2011, 10:55 PM

I was reloading a few rounds tonight for my hunting rifle. I noticed after doing a few that the seating plug must have gotten out of adjustment since the last time I used it as it was now seating the bullets about .010 deeper than I wanted. I made several shells like this. So once I got it properly adjusted I put the rounds that were seated deeper than I wanted in my kinetic bullet puller and gave them each a good wack. This of course just brought the bullets back out some, but not all the way. I then ran them through the seater die again this time seating them to the correct length. The only reason I question this is that I didn't pull the bullets all the way out and resize the brass again. Should this matter or should I be fine? I did crimp them after loading them btw.

I'm just wondering if these are going to be okay to trust while hunting, or if I should just mark them range only use. The bullets I use are pretty hard to find, or have been lately, so I'd really like to be able to hunt with them, but I don't want to wound and not kill an animal if they shoot several inches off. This rifle isn't a sub moa rifle, so 1.5" groups are about all it does. So if it his within an inch or so of the others, it really wouldn't matter as I wouldn't be able to tell a difference. However, if these are going to shoot several inches different, that's where the problem would come in.

Has anyone else done this? Has it changed how they shot?

Jim243 · March 27, 2011, 11:27 PM

The bullets will be fine. You are not shooting Sub-MOA groups for competition and the POI will actually be the same as if they were right the first time. I often do the same with my 223s when seated a tad short.

No problem, when you tap them out with the Kentec the crimpted case was straighten by the bullet. Like I said no issue.

Have fun and shot straight.
Jim

Fusion · March 27, 2011, 11:35 PM

Thanks. Just was I was hoping to hear. I may shoot these at the range anyway, as deer season is 8 months off, but I hope to still have these left for the season as I hardly ever shoot this thing, I just was loading up a few rounds since I had free time.

FrankenMauser · March 27, 2011, 11:47 PM

I wouldn't worry about them. I've done the same thing, and never noticed any change in performance. (and 90% of my rifle ammo is hunting ammo)

NESHOOTER · March 28, 2011, 07:57 PM

yup, what I finding out is this that Hornady GMX bullets have varying ogive's and I used my bullet puller to pull them up and reset each accordingly. I have not fear on using them nor suspect that they will be anything less than perfect for hunting... or varmints.

jwilson48 · March 28, 2011, 10:41 PM

shouldn't be a problem. range or critter

March 27, 2011, 10:55 PM	#1
Fusion Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2010 Posts: 429	Should I hunt with these? I was reloading a few rounds tonight for my hunting rifle. I noticed after doing a few that the seating plug must have gotten out of adjustment since the last time I used it as it was now seating the bullets about .010 deeper than I wanted. I made several shells like this. So once I got it properly adjusted I put the rounds that were seated deeper than I wanted in my kinetic bullet puller and gave them each a good wack. This of course just brought the bullets back out some, but not all the way. I then ran them through the seater die again this time seating them to the correct length. The only reason I question this is that I didn't pull the bullets all the way out and resize the brass again. Should this matter or should I be fine? I did crimp them after loading them btw. I'm just wondering if these are going to be okay to trust while hunting, or if I should just mark them range only use. The bullets I use are pretty hard to find, or have been lately, so I'd really like to be able to hunt with them, but I don't want to wound and not kill an animal if they shoot several inches off. This rifle isn't a sub moa rifle, so 1.5" groups are about all it does. So if it his within an inch or so of the others, it really wouldn't matter as I wouldn't be able to tell a difference. However, if these are going to shoot several inches different, that's where the problem would come in. Has anyone else done this? Has it changed how they shot?

March 27, 2011, 11:27 PM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	The bullets will be fine. You are not shooting Sub-MOA groups for competition and the POI will actually be the same as if they were right the first time. I often do the same with my 223s when seated a tad short. No problem, when you tap them out with the Kentec the crimpted case was straighten by the bullet. Like I said no issue. Have fun and shot straight. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

March 27, 2011, 11:47 PM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	I wouldn't worry about them. I've done the same thing, and never noticed any change in performance. (and 90% of my rifle ammo is hunting ammo) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

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March 27, 2011, 11:35 PM	#3
Fusion Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2010 Posts: 429	Thanks. Just was I was hoping to hear. I may shoot these at the range anyway, as deer season is 8 months off, but I hope to still have these left for the season as I hardly ever shoot this thing, I just was loading up a few rounds since I had free time.

March 28, 2011, 07:57 PM	#5
NESHOOTER Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2009 Posts: 517	yup, what I finding out is this that Hornady GMX bullets have varying ogive's and I used my bullet puller to pull them up and reset each accordingly. I have not fear on using them nor suspect that they will be anything less than perfect for hunting... or varmints.

March 28, 2011, 10:41 PM	#6
jwilson48 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2011 Posts: 105	shouldn't be a problem. range or critter