How do I neutralize a loaded round without firing it?

[Cassidy]

If I escalate grain powder loads in a series of single rounds to learn the max pressure/load for a given case/bullet/rifle, and if I reach the max (signs of excessive pressure in the case/primer), how do I neutralize the remaining higher load rounds without firing them (since the powder loads in these remaining rounds would be too excessive to shoot).

 

[Erik Cortina]

I pull the bullets out and dump the powder out.

 

[Cassidy]

I have read about some nasty accidents that have occurred pulling bullets out of loaded rounds - some has discharged. Is there another way? I recall someone dumping the rounds in oil for a few weeks to neutralize them but dont know if it works. What's the best method other than pulling the bullet and risking discharge (even if you've done it forever without incident).

 

[Erik Cortina]

I use a Hornady collet puller.

Other than that, I don't know.

 

[LHSmith]

I've pulled hundreds of bullets with an inertia type puller with no problems. Conceivably someone could "hammer" the wrong end ....but you would have to be incredibly stupid to pound it against a pointy object. Primers are subject to inertia in any repeating firearm. You could get Davidson bullet pliers...but they may mark the bullet. Did you "read" those stories on the internet?

 

[BoydAllen]

I have used inertia and collet bullet pullers as well as the Davidson plier type. They all work, and I cannot remember ever hearing or reading of an accident with any of these methods. I have been loading for around 30 years, and have read everything that I could lay my hands on on the topic. If you are the nervous sort, a collet puller should calm your fears. The one that Hornady sells is probably the quickest of that type that I have seen.

 

[expiper]

Hop-along,,,this reminds me of the guy I used to race with a long time ago....he drove a racecar like a mad man,but,was afraid to put the fuel in it our of a can!!!.....dont listen to what ever/who ever told you the scary storie on the internet,,,,the advice you have been given here is correct,,,,Iv been loading for 50 yrs (top that Boyd) and I havent been involved in law suit YET !!.(there is 120 yrs of experience in reply 5-6-7+Eric and Smitty )....Roger

 

[Outrider27]

+ 1 on what Boyd Allen said. 40 years and never had a problem using an inertia puller, but if it makes you nervous, get a collet type puller, as he suggested.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I use a Hornady collet puller.

Other than that, I don't know.

That's what I use now. Went through two inertia pullers.. Never had an issue.. Or heard of anyone having an issue.

If it is a problem for you, then toss the rounds in the trash.. End of problem

 

[Lapua40X]

Well, Cassidy, I've been reloading for 54 years (congratulations there expiper - you're still a kid ) and have pulled more bullets than I can remember. I pulled about a hundred of them this week. I don't like inertia pullers and rely on my collet pullers to do the job. The proper collet and shell holder should always be used for the particular caliber. Considering the correct shell holder will have an opening that encircles the primer, allowing nothing to contact the primer during the process, I don't see how anyone could set off the round "accidentally" using a collet puller.
Side Note: If you're gauging whether your loads are too hot purely by evidence at the base of fired rounds you may find that, before the evidence appears, you're already over max. Just something else to worry about. :

 

[expiper]

there you hav it,,another vote for a collet style puller ,,,quik,convenient,safe,doesnt ruin the bullet,etc,etc, I use a Davidson plier style at the range for pullin a few quik ones...but at home and if Ihav to do several the collet style is best....thanks 40x,,you made me feel like a kid again!!! I think I'll change my diaper and get my pacifier and hit the hay!!,,its getin late here in the east, to one and all a "good nite"...Roger

 

[jonbearman]

How many rounds do you have to pull? What caliber are they? I have been pulling bullets in all concievable ways for 30 years and have never had one problem yet.

 

[Joe O]

The Hornady collet puller is the slickest,and I reuse the bullets.I use a tomahawk mainly for pistol ammo,but it will work on rifle rounds.

 

[dansig]

I use a bullet puller hammer, never had any problems and I've pulled hundreds of bullets from loaded rounds.

and even if a loaded round would ignite nothing really bad happens, the hammer might be destroyed and there will be a loud bang, but when the round isn't in a tight chamber then the bullet just popps out like a champagne cork.

 

[fdshuster]

Cassidy: I've been loading ammunition since 1960, have dis-assembled many hundreds of rounds using an impact hammer bullet puller & never had a round go off. As for damage to the bullet? Does not happen. I have wadded paper in the bottom of the puller that cushions the bullet & they come out without a mark on them, cannot be told from new.

You did not say what type of cartridge you would need to pull, but if it's a round nose, like 45 acp or any other handgun round, a collet puller will not work. The collet will have no gripping surface on a round nose bullet. Another example that would not work with a collet would be a 38 spcl. with a flat nosed wadcutter bullet. Some rifle rounds also cannot be used with a collet since the bullets may be seated deeply into the neck with very little, or none of the straight side, full bullet diameter, above the case mouth.

Amen to the side note by Lapua 40X. Sounds like you are "experimenting" to find the maximum powder charge (?) before something really bad occurs. Leave the experimentation to the testing labs with all the needed equipment, like pressure chambers, and sophisticated and controlled methods. Follow the loading advice in the published manuals, starting with the minimum & progressing "up", but not over the maximum.

 

[fr3db3ar]

Here's another for both the inertia and collet puller. No issues and have never heard of any.

 

[ReedG]

Like all these other guys, I can't imagine why anyone would have any scare stories about pulling bullets. I have only used an RCBS collet puller and several hammer/inertia types and don't see any possibility of "horror stories" in their use. I have settled on the hammer/inertia type because I have had times over the years, most recently with a .22 Hornet, where there wasn't enough of the bearing surface sticking out of the neck to get the collet on. A 30BR with "zero" freebore can be a bugger sometimes, too.

I put a small sieve of the tea strainer type over a container, dump the contents from the puller (which contains the bullet and the powder) into the strainer, which passes the powder and separates the bullets. Once you get into the routine it works very well. Recently did 218 30BRs that came from another shooter with new brass loaded with factory bullets. Pulled them all to recover the cases!!

I do wish somebody would design an easier-to-use method of holding the cases during the inertia pulling, but the expandable collet does work well. It's the screwing and unscrewing of the cap that could use a little work.

 

[SmokinJoe]

I'll give you my method of doing this task, assuming you are doing a significant amount of load development, get a good powder thrower & a Wilson seater die/arbor press, then take primed brass to the range and load 2 or three at a time, working your way up until you feel you are as hot as you want to go. If you are loading a larger caliber with large grain stick powder, you can get some glass vials & stoppers, then pre-weigh charges & take them to the range & load a few with each charge working your way up as with the other setup. Another thing is reading primers - flatness is a good indicator of pressure in most rifles, but if you have a very "tight" rifle, it may not give you the warning signs so well. Instead, look at the sharpness of the primer indentation. As the loads get up to max level there will be virtually no radius from the flat face of the primer into the firing pin indentation. Of course there can be many variations on this method, too, because primers vary in hardness & cup strength, but if you are using one primer & comparing these characteristics, it gives a pretty good indication of pressure.

 

[Immike]

We don't throw loaded ammunition in the trash at our club anymore since a round went off when the garbage man compacted his load. We have barrels just for brass on the line.

 

[NORTH OF 53]

Well I have been loading for a Hundred and forty three years,,,,, ok maybe not that long but for a while and just pull the damn bullets with a good puller and relax. The odds of a bullet going off may not be Zero but close enough and probably less than getting hurt while just out testing loads in the first place or on the drive home.