resusing powder after pulling bullets

micksis86 · December 13, 2009, 07:42 AM

After you pull a bullet can you reuse the powder? These are rounds that i loaded myself not factory rounds.

Uncle Buck · December 13, 2009, 08:12 AM

If you know which powder you loaded into the cartridge, you could re-load it.
I make some freaks (Mistakes) when I first start loading a new caliber/projectile, until I get the dies set exactly where I want them. After the reloading session, which for me can last a few days, I take all the freaks and a bullet puller and undo them. I have noticed the more I reload, the less freaks I make.

If you are uncertain of the powder, do not try to re-use it.

micksis86 · December 13, 2009, 08:16 AM

Thanks Buck that's what I had assumed to be the case.

Foxbat · December 13, 2009, 09:42 AM

Not a problem as long as you know what powder it was. I do it all the time.

wingman · December 13, 2009, 10:29 AM

Just make sure powder is not contaminated with dirt,brass fragments,from
puller and good to go.

Rod38um · December 13, 2009, 11:20 AM

I keep a folded piece of paper on the bench just for that purpose. I usually have a couple that wont fall in and out of my gage and I pull the bullet then dump the contents into the crease of the paper to keep it from going everywhere and then use the crease to funnel the powder back into the powder measure. I also found I cant re-use a plated bullet, they're too soft and get smaller when you crimp, they wont hold second time around. The jacketed bullets seem to do fine for re-use though.

December 13, 2009, 07:42 AM	#1
micksis86 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2009 Posts: 420	resusing powder after pulling bullets After you pull a bullet can you reuse the powder? These are rounds that i loaded myself not factory rounds.

December 13, 2009, 08:12 AM	#2
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	If you know which powder you loaded into the cartridge, you could re-load it. I make some freaks (Mistakes) when I first start loading a new caliber/projectile, until I get the dies set exactly where I want them. After the reloading session, which for me can last a few days, I take all the freaks and a bullet puller and undo them. I have noticed the more I reload, the less freaks I make. If you are uncertain of the powder, do not try to re-use it.

December 13, 2009, 08:16 AM	#3
micksis86 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2009 Posts: 420	Thanks Buck that's what I had assumed to be the case.

December 13, 2009, 09:42 AM	#4
Foxbat Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2008 Posts: 367	Not a problem as long as you know what powder it was. I do it all the time.

December 13, 2009, 10:29 AM	#5
wingman Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2002 Posts: 2,108	Just make sure powder is not contaminated with dirt,brass fragments,from puller and good to go.

December 13, 2009, 11:20 AM	#6
Rod38um Member Join Date: December 10, 2009 Posts: 34	I keep a folded piece of paper on the bench just for that purpose. I usually have a couple that wont fall in and out of my gage and I pull the bullet then dump the contents into the crease of the paper to keep it from going everywhere and then use the crease to funnel the powder back into the powder measure. I also found I cant re-use a plated bullet, they're too soft and get smaller when you crimp, they wont hold second time around. The jacketed bullets seem to do fine for re-use though.