Can loaded rounds be body sized?

[schumi]

Looking for answers to a debate I'm having with a fellow shooter. Can loaded rounds, that were neck sized only, be run through a body die to body size them, safely? New rifle, rounds loaded for a different chamber. Doesn't want to take them apart.

 

[spclark]

Yes, they can... but WHY would you want to take the (acknowledged slight but still present) risk of doing so?

A friend of mine, who's been shooting and reloading for many years, did just that & had a round (223 I believe) go off in the die. Fortunately he wears glasses so the shrapnel missed his eyes.

For a couple weeks his face looked more like that of a 13 year-old... with a severe case of acne.

 

[walker2713]

I want to re-phrase the question: "SHOULD loaded rounds be sized?"

Answer: NO

 

[bozo699]

You know there is so much bad info given on the www that one doesn't know what to believe, I would never suggest you or anyone try this but I have successfully done exactly what your wanting to do many times over the years with no issues, the primer can't be hit because of the hole in the shell holder, I have re done hundreds of rounds over the years like this with out incident but would and do not advocate it, if your going to do it make sure your face and no people would be in the line of fire in the event it would go off, my suggestion is pull the bullets!
Wayne.

 

[fdshuster]

A back up to what Wayne said: Not advising anyone to do it, 'cause I don't know what safety precautions others will take, but I've done it several times to reduce an oversized case that would not chamber. Removed the neck bushing die, so there was no contact there & reduced the body only diameter.

Worked fine & no problems.

 

[hedditch]

How would a loaded round go off resizing it with a body die? That doesn't make any sense. Somebody explain that to me. I have have bumped many a shoulder back on loaded rounds.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

In theory, it won't, but it's the consequences involved if Murphy shows up....maybe a high primer or something in the shell holder...who knows what Murphy MAY have up his sleeve. It's really not much different than seating bullets IMO. Still, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[DougMH]

I'm sort of assuming that these were fire-formed in one rifle, neck sized and reloaded and now need to be shot in a different rifle?

I would use a good bullet puller (one that doesn't mar the bullet), dump/save the powder, waste the primers and start over.

Having done some stupid sequencing things, I've ended up depriming several rounds with live primers inserted. I've never had a mishap. Just use due diligence.

 

[schumi]

As stated here (and in my argument) nothing should go wrong but why take a chance. I'll pass on the Murphy references. (Hilarious) Thank you all.

 

[Hammer47]

Must confess that I have done it but my recommendation is to take the round apart, size the brass till it is right then rebuild the round. Sounds like work but it is the safe way to do the job.

 

[K22]

Can't remember the specific manual since I have several but I do remember the guote - "Resizing loading rounds is hazardous in the extreme."

You only have two eyes - is it really worth the chance?

 

[dooley]

Re "can a loaded round be body sized" using a Redding type body sizer I find it hard to think how a round could go off, I have reloaded for over 50 years now and done this many times, but I still don't like doing it. dooley

 

[MrMajestic]

Can it be done, yes. Is it extremely dangerous, yes! But then so is driving a car and getting married but people still do it! ;D That was borrowed from a well known Gun Crank but can't remember who, somebody help!
Honestly it is better to pull them.

 

[KenO]

I've done it also, I won't say its OK to do either.

But, a couple things I learned....
Use a good lube like Imperial, I stuck a case using spray lube.
The body die streaches the case quite a bit, so if its been a while since you trimmed, it could be too long. Be sure to check each round for case length after sizing.
No, I never trimmed a loaded round

 

[lpreddick]

i've done it also, but rarely since i got the hornady collet bullet puller. a slight aside...another thing NOT to do with loaded rounds: once had some loaded rounds whose cases turned slightly green and i thought they should be shiney, so i put them in my vibratory walnut shell case cleaner and the came out shiney. later realized just how stupid this was and also read somewhere that slow burning powder (the one used in these cases) is slow partly or completely due to surface coatings that can be removed by the abrasive effect of the vibratory cleaner!!! i pulled them all and shudder to think what might have happened if fired. safety, safety, safety!

 

[bozo699]

You guy's are killing me,.....you will stick a loaded round in a collet puller but are afraid to body size them ??? ??? ???
do you have a seperate room w/ space suit used to put primers in with ??? ??? I am all about safety, 100% but I think maybe paranoia may be taking over
Wayne.

 

[fdshuster]

Wayne: I pound on them with my impact bullet puller. The long length bullets that have full neck contact require some heavy duty smacking on a 27# block of steel.

Been doing it for longer than I can remember & never had an "unintentional discharge".

 

[bozo699]

Wayne: I pound on them with my impact bullet puller. The long length bullets that have full neck contact require some heavy duty smacking on a 27# block of steel.

Been doing it for longer than I can remember & never had an "unintentional discharge".

And ditto Frank, I do encourage safety for sure and if one doesn't feel comfortable or has tenants upstairs above them I understand but other then that I I would feel safe doing it for sure!!
Wayne.

 

[KenO]

There was a fellow on the old "Rifleman's Jounal forum" that was using an impact bullet remover in his basement, and it exploded. That is way more dangerous than a body die IMO, but to each, his own. We all have different comfort zones, many think that its stupid to reload at all.

 

[bsekf]

Interesting!!!! If you use plenty of lube to make sure the case does not stick; Be sure and wipe it all off.

I would be more concerned about de-priming a "hot" primer than resizing a loaded case. How do you guys, that suggested pulling the bullet and dumping the powder, handle the primer?

I have resized loaded cases and have always been more concerned about crimping a bullet in the case and causing a pressure spike rather than the cartridge going off in the sizing die. I reload mostly .473 dia. cases so I try running them through a 444 Marlin die first. If that does not solve the problem, I use a 308 FL die on 7-08, or 7-08 FL on a 260.....you get the idea.

Bill