bullet pulling question

wild willy · September 28, 2012, 08:01 AM

I have a couple hundred loaded .223 that I'am going to pull the bullets.Do I need to neck size them before reloading or just load them.

stnosc · September 28, 2012, 09:04 AM

IMO, treat them like they are fired cases and resize them.

BPowderkeg · September 28, 2012, 09:05 AM

i too had to pull the bullets from several hundred rounds of 5.56mm the powder charge was too low, thus causing many failures to cycle. if the cases were crimped i recommend the following.., i have a Dillon XL650, i removed the primer advance part and the de-capping pin then proceeded to reload the already primed cases, the cases went thru the sizing die with ease, thus reforming the neck.

wild willy · September 28, 2012, 11:44 AM

There are not crimped.I thought that I should resize them. Thinking the bullet would be like having an oversize expanding ball.

oldpapps · September 28, 2012, 12:08 PM

I agree with BPowderkeg's handling.
I would want the uniformity and neck tension to be nearer the same.

Be safe,

OSOK

noylj · September 28, 2012, 04:51 PM

Actually, having had a bullet seated will do more for uniform neck tension than re-sizing. After seating a bullet, the neck ID should be at the perfect spot--0.001" under bullet OD. Measure some and see. This has been my finding for many cartridges--the expander gets me 0.002-0.003" under, where "perfect" is 0.001" and is found by getting a custom expander ball or, as in this, previously seating a bullet.
Your only concern is old "thumb pressure on the case with bullet nose on bench" set-back test, that you should be doing all the time any way.
Sometimes you already HAVE consistency and anything you do will simply lessen the consistency you want.

oldpapps · September 28, 2012, 06:12 PM

Interesting, I'll have to give it a try.
Thanks,

Enjoy,

OSOK

dacaur · September 28, 2012, 08:54 PM

ive pulled 9mm, 30-30, and .308 win, even crimped rounds (light crimp) and reloaded them without resizing without problems.

Its the firing of the round that expands the brass, not seating the bullet....

hooligan1 · October 1, 2012, 01:03 PM

Quote: Its the firing of the round that expands the brass, not seating the bullet....

Well let me tell you a story...........

About a year ago I decided that the 150 grn Swift Sirroccos were not going to group like I'd hoped for,,, so I pulled 15 bullets and poured the powder back in the can ans set the cases on the shelf until one day I came up with a new bullet to try in my 7mm rem mag, the 140 grn Accubond, as it turns out there IS a slightly difference in these two bullets,,, cause after I loaded a few they just would not pass the Thumb Pressure on the ole bench Test, after posting my said troubles on this forum another member pointed out to me that I could take my expander ball and primer pin out of my die and resize the casemouth, and it worked to perfection of course.( thanks Taylorce1)

noylj · October 1, 2012, 08:01 PM

I would recommend in this case, you measure the OD of the bullets and the ID of the case neck and determine where the problem is.
It isn't that uncommon to find that even jacketed bullets will be a bit smaller than the label says (I would say they could be larger, but I have never seen it).
I have gotten 0.354" 9mm bullets from the "big guys", when the box was clearly labeled 0.355".
Caliper and micrometer will find the cause of many problems.

sidewindr · October 1, 2012, 08:10 PM

IF your going to reload them on a progressive or turret it won't add anything to throw in the sizing die along with the rest and be done with any potential issues.

Clifford L. Hughes · October 2, 2012, 04:43 PM

Seating bullets does; however slightly, expand the case neck. If it didn't expand the neck the brass wouldn't spring back to hold the bullet secure. You needn't full length resize, just back the sizing out until only the case neck is resized. This way your case will be the same size as when you started and future loadings wii be identical to your first.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery Sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

September 28, 2012, 08:01 AM	#1
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	bullet pulling question I have a couple hundred loaded .223 that I'am going to pull the bullets.Do I need to neck size them before reloading or just load them.

October 1, 2012, 01:03 PM	#9
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,585	Quote: Its the firing of the round that expands the brass, not seating the bullet.... Well let me tell you a story........... About a year ago I decided that the 150 grn Swift Sirroccos were not going to group like I'd hoped for,,, so I pulled 15 bullets and poured the powder back in the can ans set the cases on the shelf until one day I came up with a new bullet to try in my 7mm rem mag, the 140 grn Accubond, as it turns out there IS a slightly difference in these two bullets,,, cause after I loaded a few they just would not pass the Thumb Pressure on the ole bench Test, after posting my said troubles on this forum another member pointed out to me that I could take my expander ball and primer pin out of my die and resize the casemouth, and it worked to perfection of course.( thanks Taylorce1) __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

September 28, 2012, 09:04 AM	#2
stnosc Member Join Date: September 13, 2012 Posts: 41	IMO, treat them like they are fired cases and resize them.

September 28, 2012, 09:05 AM	#3
BPowderkeg Junior member Join Date: September 27, 2011 Posts: 382	i too had to pull the bullets from several hundred rounds of 5.56mm the powder charge was too low, thus causing many failures to cycle. if the cases were crimped i recommend the following.., i have a Dillon XL650, i removed the primer advance part and the de-capping pin then proceeded to reload the already primed cases, the cases went thru the sizing die with ease, thus reforming the neck.

September 28, 2012, 11:44 AM	#4
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	There are not crimped.I thought that I should resize them. Thinking the bullet would be like having an oversize expanding ball.

September 28, 2012, 12:08 PM	#5
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	I agree with BPowderkeg's handling. I would want the uniformity and neck tension to be nearer the same. Be safe, OSOK

September 28, 2012, 04:51 PM	#6
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	Actually, having had a bullet seated will do more for uniform neck tension than re-sizing. After seating a bullet, the neck ID should be at the perfect spot--0.001" under bullet OD. Measure some and see. This has been my finding for many cartridges--the expander gets me 0.002-0.003" under, where "perfect" is 0.001" and is found by getting a custom expander ball or, as in this, previously seating a bullet. Your only concern is old "thumb pressure on the case with bullet nose on bench" set-back test, that you should be doing all the time any way. Sometimes you already HAVE consistency and anything you do will simply lessen the consistency you want.

September 28, 2012, 06:12 PM	#7
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	Interesting, I'll have to give it a try. Thanks, Enjoy, OSOK

September 28, 2012, 08:54 PM	#8
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	ive pulled 9mm, 30-30, and .308 win, even crimped rounds (light crimp) and reloaded them without resizing without problems. Its the firing of the round that expands the brass, not seating the bullet....

October 1, 2012, 08:01 PM	#10
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	I would recommend in this case, you measure the OD of the bullets and the ID of the case neck and determine where the problem is. It isn't that uncommon to find that even jacketed bullets will be a bit smaller than the label says (I would say they could be larger, but I have never seen it). I have gotten 0.354" 9mm bullets from the "big guys", when the box was clearly labeled 0.355". Caliper and micrometer will find the cause of many problems.

October 1, 2012, 08:10 PM	#11
sidewindr Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2011 Location: somewhere out there Posts: 101	IF your going to reload them on a progressive or turret it won't add anything to throw in the sizing die along with the rest and be done with any potential issues.

October 2, 2012, 04:43 PM	#12
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Seating bullets does; however slightly, expand the case neck. If it didn't expand the neck the brass wouldn't spring back to hold the bullet secure. You needn't full length resize, just back the sizing out until only the case neck is resized. This way your case will be the same size as when you started and future loadings wii be identical to your first. Semper Fi. Gunnery Sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired