Brass separation when pulling a bullet

[musgy]

Hi all, I was trying to salvage some components today when I had a strange problem. Using either an impact puller, or collet puller the bullet would come away with the case neck attached.

These are 30-30 AI I believe. I do not know how long ago they were loaded. After the first three came apart, I checked the rest of the cases, & some have splits at the base of the neck. At this point, I think the brass is junk, but wonder if there is some way to save the bullets? Also, what would cause this type of failure?

Stacey

 

[Spawn-Inc]

cool, never seen that before.

what i would try is getting a seating die and try seating them a bit deeper to break any corrosion or sealer (if any was used) then try pulling the bullet.

 

[farmboy108]

The brass is likely thinner there than normal because of the stretch to Ackley improved. But I like the advice above as a solution.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

if that doesn't work you could also get some side cutters and cut a bit below the shoulder then use needle nose pliers to try and roll the metal off like a spam can opener does.

 

[mkrainc]

I had the same thing happen to me with some old 30-06 someone had given me. I would recommend doing as I did. Pull all the bullets. Let the ones separate as they may and throw everything away. I did that for safety reasons.

Can't shoot them. I was told by the person who gave them to me, that some out of that batch of ammunition was discharged in someone else's rifle, and the necks stayed in the chamber. The shooter had to dig them out of the chamber.

For the price of bullets, not worth the risk in my book.

 

[BCRider]

I'm guessing that the fella that did the case forming didn't anneal them correctly so there were stress cracks in the shoulders which you've found in a dramatic manner. The cracks and splits you're seeing in the other rounds tends to support this idea.

Either that or they were reloaded and shot too many times and should have been discarded a few loadings back.

It's likely not worth your time to make up anything to catch the lip on the broken off pieces and push the bullets through.

 

[musgy]

I tend to agree that these are a loss. I only got 8 of 20 to pull. The rest are in the scrap lead for casting pile... The brass will all be recycled. I sure don't want to risk using any of them.

Thanks for the opinions guys.
Stacey