I have been very pleased with the accuracy and ballistics shooting my 257 Wby Mag using reloaded brass with the 85 Gn Nosler Varmint Ballistic bullets. Since I have a couple of unfired boxes of Wby ammo made by Norma with 100 Gn bullets, would it be safe to pull the factory bullets and replace them with the lighter 85 Gn ones? How about replacing the cheaper Federal bullets for my 30-06 in 160 Gn with the new 168 Gn ELD-X tipped bullets? Just curious as I am not sure what powder or quantity the factory shells use.
Pulling factory bullets for lighter ones
- Thread starter Jetjock
- Start date
How can you make such a general statement without knowing what powder is being used? OP, without knowing the exact powder used ( and even then the manufacturers have access to different batches of "blended powders" that home reloaders don't) I would advise against what you are suggesting unless you load the round with a known powder to a published load. If you don't... well hey it's your life. Just my $0,02
Pulling factory bullets for lighter ones
Why bother? Its easier and safer to load the round you want by following known loading charts. Further to this, commercial ammunition does not always use the same mix of powder. I find it to be idiotic and unsafe to load anything with unknown variables. To save a couple cents on rounds and risking damage to the gun or yourself is just plain dumb.
Why bother? Its easier and safer to load the round you want by following known loading charts. Further to this, commercial ammunition does not always use the same mix of powder. I find it to be idiotic and unsafe to load anything with unknown variables. To save a couple cents on rounds and risking damage to the gun or yourself is just plain dumb.
I would definitely not keep the original powder if you replace the bullet.
Keeping the same charge with a heavier bullet might produce excessive peak chamber pressure. Keeping the same charge with a lighter bullet gives you no guarantee of accuracy, because the charge in the commercial cartridge was balanced for the specific bullet it came with (and specific primer, and neck tension, and...). Changing the bullet changes that balance, there's absolutely no way to predict whether you'll maintain the accuracy you had.
I suggest you just shoot your commercial loads for practice, keep the brass and reload them with the lighter bullets you want and an appropriate charge of your favorite powder. You'll have to develop your own load for accuracy.
Keeping the same charge with a heavier bullet might produce excessive peak chamber pressure. Keeping the same charge with a lighter bullet gives you no guarantee of accuracy, because the charge in the commercial cartridge was balanced for the specific bullet it came with (and specific primer, and neck tension, and...). Changing the bullet changes that balance, there's absolutely no way to predict whether you'll maintain the accuracy you had.
I suggest you just shoot your commercial loads for practice, keep the brass and reload them with the lighter bullets you want and an appropriate charge of your favorite powder. You'll have to develop your own load for accuracy.
I wouldn't do it. But if you do, dump the powder and then reload with new powder suitable for the bullets you use. You can find reloading information for the 257 and 30-06 at the Hodgdon site.
Sure you can do it.
For the lighter bullet, just pull and replace.
Before seating the lighter bullet, I would neck size a bit. Take out the decapper rod from a FL die or a neck die, and size about half the neck. This will make the ammo reliable.
With the 30-06, to go from a 160 to a 168, drop the factory powder charge by 5gr. I would also neck size, as described above.
What you are describing is called making Mexican match, which usually involves pulling a military FMJ and seating a match bullet. We have also made soft point hunting ammo the same way.
For the lighter bullet, just pull and replace.
Before seating the lighter bullet, I would neck size a bit. Take out the decapper rod from a FL die or a neck die, and size about half the neck. This will make the ammo reliable.
With the 30-06, to go from a 160 to a 168, drop the factory powder charge by 5gr. I would also neck size, as described above.
What you are describing is called making Mexican match, which usually involves pulling a military FMJ and seating a match bullet. We have also made soft point hunting ammo the same way.
^Correct in most instances including this one.
OP, are you sure it's worth the hassle? After you pull the bullets you have to resize the necks to uniform it and set tension. This powder charge likely won't be optimal for the new bullet weight and velocity could be a fair bit lower than you are expecting. Quite a bit of mesing around for no guarantee of satisfactory results.
I think you'd be further ahead to shoot the factory loads as they are, and reload them with your own bullets next time.
It boggles my mind that some of the members actually condone this practice!
The OP has 36 posts to his name, I think he should be advised differently.
The fact that he is even asking the question should be a clear indicator where he is coming from.
Even when swapping out the same weight bullets you could have much higher pressures, c'mon guys.
IMHO
The OP has 36 posts to his name, I think he should be advised differently.
The fact that he is even asking the question should be a clear indicator where he is coming from.
Even when swapping out the same weight bullets you could have much higher pressures, c'mon guys.
IMHO
Ganderite has a METRIC ASSLOAD of experience with this process. I would take what he says to the bank.
Boltgun
People that know Ganderite personally can voutch for him, I don't know him personally, I do respect his opinion but don't agree with it.
When it comes to giving advice to inexperienced handloaders like the OP I prefer to err in the side of caution or before you know it I would be giving him my favorite duplex loads.
Maybe one day I will but it certainly won't be over an open forum.
BB
When it comes to giving advice to inexperienced handloaders like the OP I prefer to err in the side of caution or before you know it I would be giving him my favorite duplex loads.
Maybe one day I will but it certainly won't be over an open forum.
BB
That's reasonable BB.
I have been shooting since 1984....Ganderite has forgotten more about reloading than I have ever known. He has worked for/consulted for more than one ammunition/powder mfgr and firearms mfgr from long before I started shooting up to this day. He knows his stuff
Boltgun
Boltgun, Why all the love for Ganderite, I told you I respect the man I just don't agree with him.
I know I don't know you but if Ganderite worked for any of the explosives companies here or in the US I might have crossed paths with him.
If he was instrumental in introducing the 338 Lapua to the North American market or developed the first loading data then I must know him but I don't think I do.
I respect the man I just don't agree with him.
BB
I know I don't know you but if Ganderite worked for any of the explosives companies here or in the US I might have crossed paths with him.
If he was instrumental in introducing the 338 Lapua to the North American market or developed the first loading data then I must know him but I don't think I do.
I respect the man I just don't agree with him.
BB
