Another odd question

plinker 777

plinker 777

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Hey guys, so I'm handloading some .44 Rem Mag again today and while fondling the Barnes projectiles it struck me when looking at the flat base.
'What if I invert 6 bullets and shoot them as wadcutters in my 629?' I didn't load any like this for 2 reasons a) I would have had to made another cannelure groove for a crimp. And b) I was concerned that I may either raise the psi as the bullet is now taking up more case volume and or the flatbase may damage the barrel's forcing cone face by going backwards first.

Has anyone loaded FB projectiles backwards to make wadcutters? Is this a 'thing' or a really dumb way to hurt oneself?

:cheers: Plinker
 
I've done it with 357 mag and didn't have any issues but i didn't use full power loads. I took a factory 223 round and flipped the bullet and didn't have an issues with pressure.
 
I read an article about this very thing a while ago but unfortunately don't remember where it was. Anyhow, what they found is that the "stopping" power was significantly increased without much decrease in accuracy up to 25yds. As I recall they were using cast lead bullets and had no other problems. Also I've been thinking about trying this, too!
 
I've read about folks doing this to get rounds that punch cleaner holes in target paper. In those cases they pushed the bullet all the way in. And if you do that you'd want to reduce the powder level because you're filling more of the casing and that affects the peak pressure.

You'd likely want to start with lower starting loads for .44Spl and carefully work up if you need to.

As far as full power Magnum loads? I would suggest not. And you won't be able to get a full charge of H110 into the case anyway due to the bullet taking up much of the room.
 
:cheers: Thanks guys. I'm loading with IMR 4227 and a full weighed magnum load appears to fill the case just over half full so I think the Berrys bullets I'm using would fit inverted and flush (or near flush), but it would most likely fill the case where the intended round has an air gap (space).

I've loaded all my cases now, but next time I think I will load 6 or 12 with 44 special loads and inverted bullets. I'm thinking it can't be good for the forcing cone though. :)
 
It's a thing. Experimenters like Hatcher and Keith did stuff like this without hesitation 100 years ago, before the lawyers started putting warning labels on everything in an attempt to scare people out of being open-minded, creative and independent.
 
Yep, the shoulder on semi wadcutters hits the forcing cone just as hard and abruptly as backwards bullets would do.

If those are full house max loads of the 4227 check the first couple for signs of squashed and flowing primers which indicated a strong over pressure situation. If you get them I'd suggest just pulling those rounds instead of continuing. No need to risk damage to the gun or you.
 
BCRider said:
Yep, the shoulder on semi wadcutters hits the forcing cone just as hard and abruptly as backwards bullets would do.

If those are full house max loads of the 4227 check the first couple for signs of squashed and flowing primers which indicated a strong over pressure situation. If you get them I'd suggest just pulling those rounds instead of continuing. No need to risk damage to the gun or you.
Click to expand...

Or to the poor unsuspecting bastards on either side of you on the range!!!
 
BCRider said:
Yep, the shoulder on semi wadcutters hits the forcing cone just as hard and abruptly as backwards bullets would do.

If those are full house max loads of the 4227 check the first couple for signs of squashed and flowing primers which indicated a strong over pressure situation. If you get them I'd suggest just pulling those rounds instead of continuing. No need to risk damage to the gun or you.
Click to expand...

Good advice Rider. AP your point also taken.
 
I have read accounts of hunters in Africa using reversed rifle bullets to get more penetration when they ran out of solid / non expanding bullets but still had a supply of soft points, but the game was too big for softs. Not exactly recommended, but something of an emergency work around.
 
I have also been informed that during WW1 the first armour piercing ammo was an inverted bullet done by troopies in the trench. The flat base hitting first and the spire point inertia would punch through the relitively light armour of the day.

I'm just trying to have the berry's bullets I have perform the double duty of a wadcutter and a truncated bullet.
 
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