303 Bullet Pulling?

Nero45 · January 19, 2011, 07:14 PM

Hello everyone. Heres my issue, I've got a lot of so-so mil-surplus 303. It doesn't shoot very well due to theres a delay in firing, I suspect the powder is old; What I'd like to do is pull the bullets and replace the powder with new however I'm not clear as to what the best corse is or if this is even a good idea. Your thoughts?

**Unclenick** · January 19, 2011, 07:41 PM

For pulling any significant quantity there is only one tool to have, in my opinion, and that is the Hornady Cam-Lock puller. It is faster and easier to operate than the screw-closed collet pullers and a lot faster than trying to use an inertial puller.

That said, a firing delay is more likely to be a primer problem than a powder problem, though either is possible. You might want to pull a few and try your experiment to see if the primers are OK. If the cases are Boxer primed, you can decap them and replace the primers. If the are Berdan primed, it is harder to find supplies for that. Depending on the year and country of origin, these may be corrosively primed, so watch for that.

wogpotter · January 20, 2011, 09:09 AM

Are you sure it has "powder" not cordite in there?
Primer problems are far more likely, but if the ammo is "Mk VII" then the propellant is not powder at all, & the primers are probably very hard to find & even harder to reload.
What is the headstamp so we can advise you better?

January 19, 2011, 07:14 PM	#1
Nero45 Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2008 Posts: 265	303 Bullet Pulling? Hello everyone. Heres my issue, I've got a lot of so-so mil-surplus 303. It doesn't shoot very well due to theres a delay in firing, I suspect the powder is old; What I'd like to do is pull the bullets and replace the powder with new however I'm not clear as to what the best corse is or if this is even a good idea. Your thoughts? __________________ Nero45 Revolvers are a disease. Once you buy one your doomed for life! Within temptation are our lives on this earth until we leave -me

January 19, 2011, 07:41 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	For pulling any significant quantity there is only one tool to have, in my opinion, and that is the Hornady Cam-Lock puller. It is faster and easier to operate than the screw-closed collet pullers and a lot faster than trying to use an inertial puller. That said, a firing delay is more likely to be a primer problem than a powder problem, though either is possible. You might want to pull a few and try your experiment to see if the primers are OK. If the cases are Boxer primed, you can decap them and replace the primers. If the are Berdan primed, it is harder to find supplies for that. Depending on the year and country of origin, these may be corrosively primed, so watch for that. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 20, 2011, 09:09 AM	#3
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Are you sure it has "powder" not cordite in there? Primer problems are far more likely, but if the ammo is "Mk VII" then the propellant is not powder at all, & the primers are probably very hard to find & even harder to reload. What is the headstamp so we can advise you better? __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”