Reloading pulled bullets?
- Thread starter cath8r
- Start date
I pulled about 40 rounds of ballistic silvertips that I loaded for my 7mag. They had the black lubalox coating or whatever it’s called. The RCBS collet pulled bullets had a slight ring of coating missing where the collet grabbed, and any part of the bullet shank that was in the case neck was stripped bare to the copper.
They sat on the bench, and when I eventually reloaded them, they still shot to the same POI and within 1” group. That being said, I had changed powder as well, so I can’t say all the variables were the same.
Had basically the same results with 2 other rifles in different calibres as well.
I would say there is little issue unless the bullet gets absolutely deformed.
I should clarify as well, my range and testing was done at 200 yards and 100 yards. If they were pulled and used for a longer range, maybe more discrepancies would become evident?
YMMV
They sat on the bench, and when I eventually reloaded them, they still shot to the same POI and within 1” group. That being said, I had changed powder as well, so I can’t say all the variables were the same.
Had basically the same results with 2 other rifles in different calibres as well.
I would say there is little issue unless the bullet gets absolutely deformed.
I should clarify as well, my range and testing was done at 200 yards and 100 yards. If they were pulled and used for a longer range, maybe more discrepancies would become evident?
YMMV
Well this statement is sure note worthy..........?
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I have many stashes of "pulled bullets" of various calibers and weights - many from my own previous "experiments" that were not working out. Since usually a lot cheaper to buy, than "new", I use them up when doing pressure test loads - either for a different rifle, or in multiple rifles of same cartridge, or for a new-to-me cartridge. I am pretty much a "'fraidi-cat" when it comes to excess pressure, so even though I already have (or had) a "good" load in one rifle, I like to use up 8 or 10 bullets to "work up to that" with a different rifle in the same cartridge. Most times I want to find a "top end" for pressure and try to get velocities at the same time (magnetospeed chrono)- so pristine bullet condition not as important, although I think bullet type is - for example cup-n-core versus Partitions versus bonded versus mono-metal. When looking for the "accuracy" load below the pressure limit in that rifle, I prefer to use "new" bullets.
And a load of nonsense.
I pull bullets from 7.62x54r and x39 and re-use them, if that counts. Back in the day, when the scare went out about the 7.62x51 ammo, CBC I think it was, my partsman and I pulled a boatload and re-used them. I also pull 8x57 bullets from dud rounds.
I use an RCBS collet puller. With care, I can usually pull a cast bullet, and there's no loss if it doesn't turn out. I usually just use pliers or sidecutters and stick the bullet up through a hole in the press for cast.
I use an RCBS collet puller. With care, I can usually pull a cast bullet, and there's no loss if it doesn't turn out. I usually just use pliers or sidecutters and stick the bullet up through a hole in the press for cast.
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- Location
- West Quebec
I have pulled several with a collet and care and had no issues..
I've shot thousands of pulled bullets. Mostly FMJ.
Back in the day, it was possible to pick up pulled 6.5x156, 30x150x200x220, 7.65 and 7.7x154-220, 8mm from 150-220 and even 50x350. There were pulled bullets and surplus powder from just about everything pre WWII, right into the eighties.
I still have several hundred 156 grn, cupro/nickel jacketed 6.5, a couple thousand 7.7 x174, pulled from 303Brit, some 8x190 round nose and more than a few others.
Some of these bullets were picked up by the pound and were about a penny each. All of them have either crimp rings or dents from that type of crimper visible.
They all shoot very well, or at least as well as they were intended to. The specs during wartime were quite generous.
It's a pretty common practice today for shooters to pull the bullets and reuse the powder from 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R to load cheap plinking rounds in different cases.
If you're pulling premium bullets, which I've done, I really haven't noticed any difference.
If you're pulling the bullets with a pair of pliers or clamping the bullets in a vice and working them loose, expect fliers as mentioned.
There are a couple of good types of bullet pullers to use, Inertia types (hammer) are the cheapest and if you place something on the bottom, don't damage the tips and save the powder. You should have a solid, hard surface, without give to use as a strike base.
The next type, are collet pullers and much more expensive. These can be clamped to tight on the bullets and may, but not likely cause some blemishes. The problem with this type is that often there isn't a flat surface to clamp onto, especially on some of the ELDs with very long ogives.
I use the inertia puller when I don't have more than 50 bullets to pull and the collet puller mounted in my press, when I have a lot of bullets to pull.
Back in the day, it was possible to pick up pulled 6.5x156, 30x150x200x220, 7.65 and 7.7x154-220, 8mm from 150-220 and even 50x350. There were pulled bullets and surplus powder from just about everything pre WWII, right into the eighties.
I still have several hundred 156 grn, cupro/nickel jacketed 6.5, a couple thousand 7.7 x174, pulled from 303Brit, some 8x190 round nose and more than a few others.
Some of these bullets were picked up by the pound and were about a penny each. All of them have either crimp rings or dents from that type of crimper visible.
They all shoot very well, or at least as well as they were intended to. The specs during wartime were quite generous.
It's a pretty common practice today for shooters to pull the bullets and reuse the powder from 7.62x39 and 7.62x54R to load cheap plinking rounds in different cases.
If you're pulling premium bullets, which I've done, I really haven't noticed any difference.
If you're pulling the bullets with a pair of pliers or clamping the bullets in a vice and working them loose, expect fliers as mentioned.
There are a couple of good types of bullet pullers to use, Inertia types (hammer) are the cheapest and if you place something on the bottom, don't damage the tips and save the powder. You should have a solid, hard surface, without give to use as a strike base.
The next type, are collet pullers and much more expensive. These can be clamped to tight on the bullets and may, but not likely cause some blemishes. The problem with this type is that often there isn't a flat surface to clamp onto, especially on some of the ELDs with very long ogives.
I use the inertia puller when I don't have more than 50 bullets to pull and the collet puller mounted in my press, when I have a lot of bullets to pull.
