Cold weld, bullets stuck to case neck

[SeabeeKen]

Dusty,
What do you recommend for ammo that may possibly sit for a while before being shot?
Clean the necks real good after sizing?
Coat the inside of the neck with something?
I have experienced the “cold welding phenomenon” in the past also and would like to avoid it.
Thanks
Gary

I found that a q-tip wet with Lee case lube swiped in the case neck and allowed to dry works for my hunting ammo that sits on the shelf. Had some 338 cold weld so bad one time that it deformed the bullets when seating them deeper to break the bond. No problems since using the case lube inside the neck. IME

 

[CharlieNC]

I experienced this with Hornady bullets, but not Noslers which were loaded at the same time. Rather than trying to figure out a way to prevent it, I load long and seat to depth before shooting.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I while ago I broke down a bunch of old ammo that I had loaded 20 to 30 years ago. When they were loaded the necks were completely cleaned of carbon and they were run through a ultrasonic cleaner. What I found was that none of the bullets had cold welded to the necks.

The only thing notable was that some of the ammo had the powder charge compressed and where the bullet made contact there was some some green discoloration on the edge of the bullet.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

The light(very) neck brass moves before the bullet weight! Hmmmm! Makes sense but I bet most of us don't look at it that simply.

How would someone even prove that or measure it?

I believe you're over thinking it. It's no different than saying a light object will move before a heavy object...in a wind storm..for example. Of course, no account for brass weld or hoop stress/friction.

The guy that posted on this is a very sharp guy, though.

Now imagine being jammed hard into the lands, too. I just think it's an interesting perspective is all. Something to ponder when we think about neck tension etc.

 

[K22]

As CharlieNC said, if you are worried about "bullet weld" but like to load over the winter or on bad weather days for a future shoot or hunt, just seat the bullets long and reset before you go shooting or hunting. Just make sure you mark the cartridge box to note that reseating is needed.

While I've never found the need to do this, nevertheless, I would think that this practice should resolve the "bullet weld" fear forever.

 

[jonbearman]

I had some 30-40 do that so I seated them deeper but it only worked on a few so I pulled the rest and the jacket stayed welded into the case. I have never seen it that bad since but it sure blew my mind.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Lou Murdica had a video a few years ago. Where he shot one case in his tunnel. As he reloaded the case, he would swab the inside of the neck with dry moly. Talked with him a couple years ago about this. He said it keep the bullet from sticking. I had a Lyman 310 tool, that I would pop the seal on Lake city match ammo.
Felt it shot better breaking the seal. So yes, seat long and seat to length when ready to shoot!

 

[Webster]

The light(very) neck brass moves before the bullet weight! Hmmmm! Makes sense but I bet most of us don't look at it that simply.

How would someone even prove that or measure it?

Cannot believe this has never been resolved at least to the point of analyzing the surface for the composition of corrosion debris or chemical films if present. I would take a new clean case and bullet no powder or primer, seat the bullet and compare this to a round that was loaded for a year. Where I worked, we had world class surface analysis equipment and could do a great job on characterizing the surface chemistry.

 

[Greg Y]

This one isn't coming out...

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[jds holler]

I had surplus ammo from the 50's once that had glued bullets and I think primers also. Maybe that's the answer to provide consistent but not welded bullet seating. jd

 

[Big Mc]

Cartridges loaded in 2013. Component list new 17 rem nickel brass, Woodchuck Den 29 gr bullet, H414. Rifle Rem M700 Lilja barrel, reamer custom for this brass lot. Last couple weeks I grabbed cartridges from the bulk loading as I use multiple rifles (calibers) for coyote. Well I shot a few coyote and thought I would reload the once fired cases, I noticed a very small longitudinal crack in the neck. I had once fired (2013-2018)unprocessed brass in the bulk bag (ziplock)of cartridges, so I neck sized and loaded them. Shot on paper, zero confirmed no cracks. I took 15 of the remaining new 2013 cartridges and set my seating die .003-0.004 deeper. When I seat there is an audible and can feel the "snap or pop"(doesn't crack the neck) at the end of the ram travel. So I pulled 5 bullets, didn't dump powder, neck sized and expander mandrel(.171) the case neck. Reseated(same cbto) the original bullet for each case. 10 I used the grip n pull to partially pull the bullet(to avoid a powder spill and the resizing step) I than applied dry graphite lube to the bullet. I had dry lubed the pulled bullets of the first 5 also. Well I shot a couple of each and no neck cracks. I saw no poi change on target. So I will continue the partial pull, lube and reseat as I need cartridges until the remaining join the once fired pile. I can't replace the bullets so I don't want to risk ruining any, but don't want to throw away once fired brass either. Cold weld, bullets stuck to new case necks, not sure what to call it?

I lube the necks with Mobil One and a Q Tip . Never had a cold weld Ammo 5 to 6 years old. Just my two cents Tommy Mc

 

[DShortt]

I read this with interest. I've never identified cold weld to be a problem but that doesn't mean it's not possible.

I'm from Missouri and I fit the state motto to a 'T'. Show me.

I'm not questioning others, their knowledge or experience. I just find the seemingly unending variables and problems fascinating.

 

[DShortt]

I had surplus ammo from the 50's once that had glued bullets and I think primers also. Maybe that's the answer to provide consistent but not welded bullet seating. jd

If it was Mil-Surp ammo I'd expect that the primary consideration during manufacture would be function and not accuracy?

 

[Steve Blair]

My old ammo (7+ years) shoots ok.

 

[jds holler]

So -- Perfect time for this thread..

I'm messing with a friends 6 Rem, and waiting for some brass that a couple of you gentlemen are sending to me. In the meantime, I decided to take some of the Remington factory shells my friend had and pull one down and use it to find the lands, and even pull bullets and check charge weights and such just for kicks. I'll probably load them with my own powder and bullets and go shoot the rifle while I wait for my brass to show up.

Using my RCBS collet puller, and doing ten shells -- three of them I simply couldn't pull with the collet. Thought I was gonna tear the top off my bench. The bullets would pull out of my tight fitting collet, and I had to resort to the "seat deeper, then pull" method.

These factory shells are the standard Remington Express, one box dated 2012, the other 1998. I was actually working with the 2012's.

Now in my happy place, I'd like to think that upon ignition, the explosion in the cartridge causes instant expansion of the brass - body, shoulder, neck- completely making bullet weld and even neck tension a moot point.

Whadaya all think?? jd

 

[K22]

I read this with interest. I've never identified cold weld to be a problem but that doesn't mean it's not possible.

I'm from Missouri and I fit the state motto to a 'T'. Show me.

I'm not questioning others, their knowledge or experience. I just find the seemingly unending variables and problems fascinating.

If you look long and hard enough for a problem, you'll find it.  The internet is a target rich environment for looking.

Like you, I haven't found this cold weld problem yet, but I'll keep looking. 

PS: You guys from Missouri have the attitude I admire - show me.

 

[swimster]

I Hbn coat most all my bullets. Would the Hbn help prevent this phenomenon? Any thoughts.