Pulling loaded rounds to adjust powder charge?

Save them for winter if you can , if you feel that you have to pull the bullets, then adjust the decapping rod, so it doesn't contact the primers. You can visually verify that there is no powder remaining in the case after dumping the powder, and if necessary tap the case mouth on a non metal table top to remove any remaining powder.
 
I guess something worthwhile is if anyone can cross reference to good data or quickload etc. I don't have the water capacity of Sako brass but it's 3390 fps, 18.5" 1 in 9 twist barrell, -5c, 3000ft elevation, 40gr v-max, 27.5gr Winchester 748, CCI small rifle primer.

Data ranged from 26-28gr, some of it old enough to possibly be a different w748 formulation.

I would have to find my notes but I thought the velocity from a carbine was a bit faster than expected. But maybe not? Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

I didn't chrony in warm weather to see ∆V
 
I load and shoot 29.0 grs of WW 748 with 40gr bullets in multiple 223’s. Thousands of rounds over the years. Can’t get enough 748 in a 223 case to hit high pressure even with IVI cases.IMG_9805.jpeg
 
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I load and shoot 29.0 grs of WW 748 with 40gr bullets in multiple 223’s. Thousands of rounds over the years. Can’t get enough 748 in a 223 case to hit high pressure even with IVI cases.

Interesting. Maybe I'm just too conservative. What kind of velocity @ barrel length are you getting?
 
That was why I picked 748 for 308 and 223, all the max loads were compressed and still below saami pressure. It really looked like the same as black powder in pistol cases, literally can't fit enough in to be dangerous.

27.5 is a light crunch fit, is 29 to the top of the neck?
 
It’s a full case. Using a drop tube on the powder measure. Just enough room at the top of the neck to start a bullet. It will get 3800fps in a 24” barrel. Gas guns really like this load. Never checked the speed in one though
 
So if I'm reading between the lines correctly I need to stop being a pvssy, pull the bullets, fill the cases properly full and re-seat them? Lol

Seriously though, thanks for the feedback. I think the wide range of max loads on the limited light bullet/w748 data made me extra cautious.

If I had fire formed case water capacity would something like quickload have an estimate of pressure?

I remember when I was looking for data someone else had mentioned Sako brass in 223 being on the faster end for him as well.
 
What are you calling "signs of pressure?"

Even the 29.5 grains of W748 aren't going to give you pressures high enough to be dangerous.

Is the load you're presently using accurate? Are velocities extreme?

If the load is producing good accuracy, with velocities within reasonable parameters, don't worry about it, just keep shooting it.

You likely went through a development process to get a load combination that worked well in your rifle

W748 in 223rem with 40 grain bullet loads have been used for a long time, simply because it works so well.

Winchester and several other reloading manual publications quit printing data in their manuals for bullets weighing less than 55 grains about ten years ago, if memory serves.

They mostly went to spherical powders, with similar burn rates, such as BLC2/CFE223, etc. They went with these powders for a couple of reasons, but mostly temperature sensetivity when it got cold. W748 wasn't giving consistent velocities in the cold, which has always been an issue with this powder. The other issue was getting enough powder into the case to get the best velocities/accuracy combination.

I went back into my manuals to check which W748 load I used with 40-45 grain powders in the Remington 700, short action, put together in their Custom Shop.

My load was 29.0 grains W748, using a drop tube, over 45 grain Hornady Spire Points, over CCI 450 primers. Velocities were just around 3200 fps, and accuracy was excellent in -30C to +30C temps. I didn't like shooting or hunting when it got colder or hotter than that.

Depending on the batch of primers, all of which were very consistent, some of them would flatten and some would partially flatten.

This was all from a 23 inch, heavy contour barrel, appx 15 years ago, which was right around the time I sold the rifle to one of the ranchers whose property I hunted on.
 
I have an elderly Winchester Ball Powder pamphlet - Page 1 it says not to use this data for 748BR powder - instead to use yellow pamphlet data from Feb., 1969. This pamphlet is dated Nov. 1976. Page 53 - .223 Remington (5.56MM) - with 52 grain HPBT bullets, 748 powder - they are showing Max of 25.5 grains powder for 3,160 fps muzzle velocity and 40,500 CUP - I do not know how to convert CUP to PSI for a .223 Rem - not the same units, nor the same test procedure. For 53 grain H.P. bullets, they show 26.0 grains of same powder for 3,200 fps and 43,500 CUP. On page 50 it says, " All rifle velocities quoted have been measured in standard SAAMI barrels of 24 inch length, except as follows -", then the pamphlet only lists .30 Carbine 20" barrel
 
if you are not experiencing stiff bolt lift i would just shoot them and stay on days with mild temps
there will be no problem they are not going to be any hotter than what they are flattened primers is not accurate way to determine pressure unless the primers are flowing and filling up the primer pocket
 
And how do you plan to remove the case lube without potentially damaging the primer ?
Pull bullet, dump powder, size case with decapping pin removed, charge with lighter load, seat bullet and wipe the lube off. How is it any different then any other load except for dumping the powder and leaving the primer in place? Nothing is getting anywhere near the primer.
 
Seems like you’ll be out the cost of a collet puller and a long afternoons labor to recycle a couple hundred bucks worth of components.
How about keeping them in a cooler of ice packs as you plink away at gophers out your window. Could probably get through them in a short afternoons labor on a good field.
It’s unlikely that you’d have anything catastrophic happen, every factory weatherby round I’ve fired has flattened the primer.
 
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