I have some steel cased ammo loaded with copper washed fmj bullets . I also have other bullets of the same weight . Been thinking about using a collet to pull the original bullets and simply replace them with the other bullets . Anybody see a problem with that and i was thinking about a Lee factory crimp but don't know how that would work with a steel case and i don't even know if after pulling the original bullets the mouth with be expanded enough to start seating the new bullets . All comments appreciated .
Swapping bullets
- Thread starter Jaaska
- Start date
I have not done that with steel cases, but have with brass.
After pulling the bullet, you will need to deal with the residual crimp. I would dump the powder, size the neck, pulling the expander button through, then serve the powder and seat the bullet.
With a different bullet, it may or may not be necessary to adjust the powder charge. You cannot assume that just because the bullet is the same weight, the pressure will be the same.
Years ago, the NRA tested exchanging bullets starting with 150gr .30-06 military ball rounds. They directly substituted a number of different 150gr bullets. In every case, the pressures observed were higher than with the original ball load. Most were within reasonable limits, some were on the high side.
After pulling the bullet, you will need to deal with the residual crimp. I would dump the powder, size the neck, pulling the expander button through, then serve the powder and seat the bullet.
With a different bullet, it may or may not be necessary to adjust the powder charge. You cannot assume that just because the bullet is the same weight, the pressure will be the same.
Years ago, the NRA tested exchanging bullets starting with 150gr .30-06 military ball rounds. They directly substituted a number of different 150gr bullets. In every case, the pressures observed were higher than with the original ball load. Most were within reasonable limits, some were on the high side.
Did that with 150gr Hornady .312 in 7.62x54R Russian buddy shot a deer with the 91/30 sniper. To make pulling the FMJ's easier bump them with the seating die a tad to push the bullet back in the case a hair to break any sealant that may have been used to waterproof the ammo.Much easier to pull was no problem reseating the SP's with the RCBS die.
Brilliant!
Yep; beat me to it.
i wonder if its called Me ican American People Kind partitipation match now?
I've done it for the 54r and x39, the x39 was less problematic than the 54r. The bullet weighs the same but had enough differences in the dimensions that I tossed the powder, and did a work up ladder test.
Norinco 7.62x51 replaced 143.5gr FMJ with 30 caliber Hornady 130gr SP good accuracy ~2800 fps mv works fine in my rifle don't know if safe in other rifles results may vary. https://i.imgur.com/emPsSzD.jpg
