How do i take pistol ammo apart?

nastybubba

nastybubba

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OK i have been reading as many threads as i can! a million pages of how to put rounds together but nothing about taking them apart . I just finished my 3rd batch of .40S&W and the batch is so weak that my XDM wont cycle. it goes boom, the bullet comes out but the slide wont eject the round. I screwed up....SO how do i take them apart and start over. do i take the plyers to them and start prying apart 900 rounds? Can i blow myself up with metal on metal prying? Is there a special tool i can buy? Thanks for any input.
 
Invest in a bullet puller for your caliber. I use the RCBS collet puller, works great. Dump out the powder. Deaden the primers with thin oil.
Or if you loaded the ammo your taking apart, recharge powder and reseat bullet.
 
rcbs bullet puller. Looks like a hammer. Unscrew the nut/collet from one side, insert the round, and put it in the hammer with the nut. Pound on a wooden surface. The bullet will pop out under inertia, and the powder will fall out, too.
Be patient. It's gonna take a while.
 
Buy a good scale. Get a bullet puller.

NEXT TIME: load 100 at a time until you've settled on a good load...

But I'm sure you've figured that out :p
 
nastybubba said:
I might as well pick up a good scale too. The plastic lee measuring device that came with the set is confusing as hell.
Click to expand...

I've got the rcbs bullet puller and it works fairly okay.

I upgraded to an RCBS Rangemaster 750. It's done me good so far, easy to read the digital display when standing at the bench.

You loaded 900, and now you've got to take them apart? I feel for you man. If you don't mind me asking, what's the load data on these cartridges?
 
Stevebot-7 said:
I've got the rcbs bullet puller and it works fairly okay.

I upgraded to an RCBS Rangemaster 750. It's done me good so far, easy to read the digital display when standing at the bench.

You loaded 900, and now you've got to take them apart? I feel for you man. If you don't mind me asking, what's the load data on these cartridges?
Click to expand...

Im on the night shift so dont have the complete data. it was from the lee manual. 40 S&W, berry bulltes 180 grain, winchester primers, 6.7 grains (i think) of tight group powder. They worked before in my XDM and glock 22. It had to be that goofy measure device. confusing.
 
Breaking down 900 rounds with an inertia puller is going to take time. If a collet type puller in the press would work, it would be faster and easier. Breaking down this much ammunition would warrant the cost of buying a good puller.
You will likely need to expand the cases before recharging with powder and reseating the bullets.
I have 3 powder measures: Lyman 55, RCBS and a Lee that I bought used for $5. I use the Lee most of the time. Did you use a scale to confirm your charge after you set the measure?
 
If it was me, I would shoot them out. use it to shoot bullseyes with careful aiming.

A better measure is called for. You don't want to make a 5 gr error in the wrong direction. been there. done that.

For about $10 you can by a Wolf recoil spring. The factory spring is 17 pounds. Wolf sells them as light as 9 pounds. A light spring would probably run your light loads.

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto%20Pistols/SPRINGFIELD/XD%205%20INCH/cID1/mID60/dID271
 
OK Alot of great ideas! Another question, In the manual it has minimum loads and max loads. should i start at the min or can i start at in the middle, half way loads? I also never thought to double check with the scale I just went by the lee measure device.
 
Get a better beam scale or a good digital scale.

I loaded up 3k of 9mm to light because I went on memory, But at least they cycle in my 1911.

Also go to hodgdon's website for load data with their powders. Tons of list data!
 
Ganderite said:
If it was me, I would shoot them out. use it to shoot bullseyes with careful aiming.

A better measure is called for. You don't want to make a 5 gr error in the wrong direction. been there. done that.

For about $10 you can by a Wolf recoil spring. The factory spring is 17 pounds. Wolf sells them as light as 9 pounds. A light spring would probably run your light loads.

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/SPRINGFIELD/XD 5 INCH/cID1/mID60/dID271
Click to expand...

:agree: I had the same problem with my XD. The same load that would reliably cycle my 1911 with a standard recoil spring would not function the XD. You'll save more than $10 worth of labour simply by going to a lighter recoil spring and using the rounds you've loaded. In fact if they're accurate you might want to stick with the lighter load. It will be easier on the gun.
 
I use the Hornady collet puller, the kinetic puller works but is messy and slow.

When working up a load for a semi-auto pistol, small test batches for function testing are your friend :)
 
nastybubba said:
OK Alot of great ideas! Another question, In the manual it has minimum loads and max loads. should i start at the min or can i start at in the middle, half way loads? I also never thought to double check with the scale I just went by the lee measure device.
Click to expand...

For the record:
I'm not stating that you should start in the middle, I'm stating that I have started with middle loads.

Min to max are separated by .5 grain, I found a Lee disk that was in the middle, loaded a few and checked them, (weight of powder, velocity and pressure signs) then went to town loading. Lee Pro auto-disk dispenser.

nastybubba said:
Im on the night shift so dont have the complete data. it was from the lee manual. 40 S&W, berry bulltes 180 grain, winchester primers, 6.7 grains(i think) of tight group powder. They worked before in my XDM and glock 22. It had to be that goofy measure device. confusing.
Click to expand...

You might want to get a reloading book or confirm the load you're using. 40S&W, 180gr bullet -> 4.2 - 4.7grs of Titegroup powder.
4.2grs cycles my STI Ranger2 and worked fine in my Norc. Haven't tried in in the CZ.

(E) :cool:
 
"Should i start at the min or can i start at in the middle, half way loads?"

What is the object of making ammo? If it is to make the best ammo possible for your pistol, then start at the START load.

I make about 20 rounds of each increment in 0.3 gr. from the Start to the Max. It is always surprising how bad one load will be and how good another will be, with same bullet and powder, just a different powder charge.

My MP40 shoots the 155 gr lead bullets much better than the 180s. This load of 3.5 is mild. A benefit of testing at the Start load.
TOKRANGETEST2.jpg
 
nastybubba said:
do i take the plyers to them and start prying apart 900 rounds?
Click to expand...

Holy crap, you loaded 900 rounds without knowing if your load functions and shoot ok in your pistol? I load ~25 rounds at a time to test loads. Once a load is proven, then I will load in bulk.


pilot_dc said:
Buy a good scale. Get a bullet puller.

NEXT TIME: load 100 at a time until you've settled on a good load...

But I'm sure you've figured that out :p
Click to expand...

Good advice! ;)


Mark
 
I went and picked up a scale this morning, A RCBS charge master combo scale , expensive but who cares, what a scale! I just decided to shoot off the 900 i made and start fresh. lesson well learned. Thanks guys.
 
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