• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

body sizing loaded rounds- possible or suicide??

Ogre6br

HI
I must not have set my FLS correctly and I have brass that is once fired, re-sized and then loaded and now it won’t chamber. I can get the bolt almost down but not enough for the rifle to go into battery.
I have a redding body die to suit can I just re-size the body on a loaded round without putting myself in danger.

I would really prefer not to have to inetia pull 520 rounds of loaded ammo.

thanks

later
P
 
Are you shooting a factory chamber or custom? I don't understand why after one firing, they will not chamber. Usually you have to full length size after several firings, not one.

If you are shooting a custom chamber, the neck size may be the problem. Did you neck size the brass?

If you do full length size the loaded rounds, you want have any problems. Nothing contacts the primer and the die is open so the bullet extends out the top of the die.
 
I think that Vulcan is tech. correct. However, I think we all "know" that running a loaded round through a body size die does not "feel" safe. Since human life can be shorter than case and life, I would AT LEAST pull the bullets, measure the necks,and maybe expand with a mandrel), resize body, resize neck, recharge, seat, etc.

When in doubt,been there many times), ask yourself this question: "What would my family upstairs say if they knew I was resizing multiple loaded rounds in the shop downstairs?"

Jim Hardy
 
I have resized many loaded .308 rounds using a Redding body die with no problems. I know that this practice is not recommended by the manufacturer, it even appears printed in capitals on the instruction sheet, and I'm not trying to convince you to do it.

I'm only relating my successful experience, so use your own judgement as to whether or not you do it. Personally, I will probably do it again :)

Alan
 
Been there and resized some loaded rounds using a body die. I did a couple hundred 308 rounds, the locking nut on my resizing die slipped or something. Sometimes the cases will get a little longer just before getting shorter when resizing. It feels funny doing it. Primer gets more stress when seating it, should not be any stress on primer, shell holder has a hole bigger than the primer. You could put a 1.5 inch water pipe over the die and up to the ceiling, may help you feel better while or not feel so funny while doing it.
 
Well, *I* sure feel better now. About 6 months ago I loaded up 80 rounds of 4x fired Lapua .223's for my VS. I'm not sure how but I missed a very small flaw on the shoulder where it looks like it bumped but really didn't. I can actually feel a double shoulder on the cases with my fingernail even though I can't see it. They won't chamber. I've been sitting on them all this time not wanting to pull all the slugs and sure not wanting to run them through the die again. Now I guess I'll give it a try. The price of Lapua's have doubled since I bought this lot of cases. I REALLY don't want to replace them! -Rod-
 
Its not a big deal just close your eyes on the first one or two and when you see nothing will hapen you will be good to go . I have done it more than once and it wont hurt anything, it just sort makes feel funny at first .:thumb:
 
If Paul reads the previous post he will clean out his pants. Being a lawyer and all.

I have heard of loaded rounds going off during the bullet pulling process and when folks decide to size a loaded round.

Remember a primer can be compressed enogh from any direction to detonate.

I have heard of rounds firing from bullet seating of highly compressed loads.

It is your eye, ears, head, body and life. What is it worth?

I have even heard of impact bullet pullers exploading.

Rustystud
 
People re-seat the bullets in loaded rounds all the time. That involves putting a loaded round in a die. It is a common practice with F-class shooters who have to pre-load months ahead of time. They initially load long then later re-seat the bullets to match the current state of their throat.

But FL-sizing is a different matter.

That said, I'd have to say my official advice has to be don't FL-size loaded rounds. As Rusty said, the potential negatives far outweigh the benefits.

If you are inclined to do it, despite this advice, by all means take precautions and use a die with an open top so the bullet is not obstructed in any way.
 
I load ammunition comercially, 100 of thousands of rounds per year. In 35 years of relaoding I have had three primers go off and luckily each was in a safe situation. I know of several loaders who have had chain fires that were catistrophic. I know of one fatality. As Paul said you are at your own risk. The most dangerous thing I know of is unloading ammunition. This is where most problems occurr.
Rustystud
 
I would have thought the most significant risks are:
a) detonating the primer
This could be fatal, as you have a contained explosion. Maybe the bullet would escape the die, and shoot through the ceiling,hope you Mother-in-Law isn't asleep upstairs!), but maybe the dies would fragment, and you'd be full of shrapnel. Probability unknown.

b) Cushing poweder grains
This could effectively increase the burning speed of the powder. One could concieve that this could lead to sufficient excess presure to bust an action/barrel. Probability unknown.

Conclusion:
Personally, I wouldn't do it.
Dr J
 
A collet type bullet puller is very easy and not expensive. I just got donw with a couple hundred 22-250 someone else had messed up.

Pulled, set in loading block, then FL resized. never even took out the powder.

HM
 
HM: Used the "hammer" type puller for years. Worked ok! Had a "collet" type setting in the box that was given to me a few years back and never used it. Tried it one time! :thumb:
Best thing since sliced bread! Got the collets for 22, 6mm and 30 cal. It amazing how easy it works! Wouldn't go back!! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,733
Messages
2,201,564
Members
79,067
Latest member
Nonesuch

Share This Page

Back
Top