Shooting neck sized ammo out of different rifles

TheM4chef

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Hi folks I am selling my bolt gun that I've got about 200 rounds of match ammo loaded up for it that are neck sized.

Do I need to pull the bullets and fl resize for the new rifle or can I shoot them out of the new rifle without harm? I'm going from a rem700 308 to a tikka t3x in 308.
I'm running 44.5gr varget under 168 Hornady hpbt match in norma cases so I'm below max if that matter.
I don't want to scrap the ammo or waste time pulling bullets if I don't have to.
 
You will have to try them to see if the bolt will close on them first ...my remington 22-250 will not chamber neck sized reloads for my Savage model 12 VLP 22-250.
 
If your reloads don't work in a different rifle, a Redding Body Die can be used to fully size them without having the pull them apart.
 
Most likely the bolt won't close. I loaded up some rounds for my 243 and a buddy had his there too. Completely forgot and tried to chamber one and it was super tight. Managed to fire off the round and that was it.
 
Try them. Close bolt slowly. A small bit of resistance won't be an issue. If you think about it the chances are two out of three you won't have a problem.
 
I doubt they'll chamber,,,,unless you're really lucky. Cross your fingers and give a go. Pulling bullets is quick if you use a RCBS puller. Doing it with those hammer type of pullers would be a noisy and a royal PITA. I hate to have to use one of those for that many rounds.
 
Try them. Close bolt slowly. A small bit of resistance won't be an issue. If you think about it the chances are two out of three you won't have a problem.

It could be as dangerous as using someone else's hand loads in your rifle. My hope would be it won't chamber, you pull the bullets, salvage the powder, FL resize without a decapping pin and reconstruct while working up a new load.
The bolt may close but the bullet could be jammed into the lands.
Create a dummy round and check where the bullet seats to the lands then measure that against your loaded ammo.
As a safety feature, you would be wise to work up a load for the new rifle and see if it will accept the current load.
If it does then you might try the loaded ammo in the new rifle as RMacD said to see if it will chamber.
 
It could be as dangerous as using someone else's hand loads in your rifle. My hope would be it won't chamber, you pull the bullets, salvage the powder, FL resize without a decapping pin and reconstruct while working up a new load.
The bolt may close but the bullet could be jammed into the lands.
Create a dummy round and check where the bullet seats to the lands then measure that against your loaded ammo.
As a safety feature, you would be wise to work up a load for the new rifle and see if it will accept the current load.
If it does then you might try the loaded ammo in the new rifle as RMacD said to see if it will chamber.

I only have the hammer style puller so a puller die would be useful.

Will using lanolin to relube the exterior react wroth the primers at all?
 
There is a good chance the ammo will chamber. Make sure you put a dab of grease on the back of the bolt locking lugs.

Run a test with a new, dummy round to see if your Rem ammo OAL is acceptable for the Tika. The bullet may very well be seated too long. You might have to seat your bullets a bit deeper.

If the bolt closes, fire one shot and see if it extracts ok. If there is any resistance on the bolt handle, stop, go home and pull the bullets. Your ammo is loaded very hot. Too hot for some of my rifles. It might work ok in the Rem, with the chamber deep throat, but not the Tika.

Do you know anyone with a 308 body sizing die?
 
As Iong as the new rifles chamber is bigger, and your OAL doesn't jam the bullet in the rifling, then it will work fine, otherwise be prepared to size them all with a body die, or pull them, or seat bullets deeper. You won't know until you try it... I'd pull one apart and see if just the case will chamber, if It does, then seat the bullet same OAL in the empty case and try again. If that works go to the range and shoot.

I found a box of old neck sized 6.5x55 I had loaded for a long gone M38. Luckily I have quite a few 6.5's and they fit in one of them.
 
It could be as dangerous as using someone else's hand loads in your rifle. My hope would be it won't chamber, you pull the bullets, salvage the powder, FL resize without a decapping pin and reconstruct while working up a new load.
The bolt may close but the bullet could be jammed into the lands.
Create a dummy round and check where the bullet seats to the lands then measure that against your loaded ammo.
As a safety feature, you would be wise to work up a load for the new rifle and see if it will accept the current load.
If it does then you might try the loaded ammo in the new rifle as RMacD said to see if it will chamber.

His hand loads. He is below the max load by 1.5 grains based upon published data. Unless he is over the suggested OAL for his bullet, jamming in lands is not likely to me an issue. If he is already exceeding OAL then by all means make up a dummy round to check. Remember both chambers will be within SAAMI specs. The issue for neck sized cases in a different rifle is often case diameter or, less likely, the shoulder to case head length, in other words the shoulder is not pushed back far enough to fit the new rifle's chamber. My experience with neck sizing for several rifles is if it goes in okay and even with a small bit of resistance it will extract.
 
If they chamber they should be OK. If you're concerned about powder charge, load a few with lower charges. One of
Each a grain apart should be lots. If they are seated too long, seat them deeper. That should address any concerns.

More than a few loaded rounds have been resized in body dies. Not saying it's right or wrong, just saying.
 
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