OAL of factory cartridges?

[bboswell]

Due to lots of things I was forced to store my reloading equipment for an extended period. But I'm now ready to set this back up.

During this time off I have acquired a fair size stash of HSM 300 RUM and Nosler 280AI. Both of these shoot good for factory ammo but neither really show what I expect from the given rifles.

I think I know this answer but want some other educated opinions.

Would it be safe or advisable to use an inertia bullet puller on these factory rounds to increase AOL (not completely pull the bullet ) and then reseat to 0.010" off the lands?

[Matteo]

Inertia puller is likely to completely pull some bullets anyway. If I were going to pull them, I would pull them completely and weigh every powder charge and take an average weight. Then measure it back in with a hand scale(505 would work) to be more precise than the volumetric factory charge. Also look at the powder for identification clues( shape, color, smell, etc.). Then split a case neck , insert the desired bullet and repeatedly load it into the rifle to be used and measure chamber length. Then make sure you are below the chamber length and that the bullet will stay in the case given its dimensions (sometimes the bullet is too short). Also be sure it will fit into your mag at that length as well as eject at that length. With that being said, I would add a disclaimer that you should always follow specs and loading any differently could be dangerous. I am not a doctor and I don't even play one on TV and I did not stay in a Holiday inn express last night.heheh

[Cottonfish]

Depends on the type of crimp, or lack thereof, applied by the factory. Most factory bottleneck rifle cartridges seem to be taper crimped, so you'd loosen that up and neck tension would be all over the place after you re-seat, unless you applied a mild taper crimp back to the re-seated bullet. And if they are taper crimped, you'd likely have to whack 'em real hard to unseat the crimp, probably pulling some completely as Matteo suggests above. Don't know about you, but I've had a hard time finding a way to keep bullet noses from deforming in an inertia-style puller, even using some kind of cushion in the end of it. I'd say pull 'em, neck resize, measure and adjust the existing powder charge for consistency, and re-seat without crimp to your desired depth.

Stu

[bboswell]

Depends on the type of crimp, or lack thereof, applied by the factory. Most factory bottleneck rifle cartridges seem to be taper crimped, so you'd loosen that up and neck tension would be all over the place after you re-seat, unless you applied a mild taper crimp back to the re-seated bullet. And if they are taper crimped, you'd likely have to whack 'em real hard to unseat the crimp, probably pulling some completely as Matteo suggests above. Don't know about you, but I've had a hard time finding a way to keep bullet noses from deforming in an inertia-style puller, even using some kind of cushion in the end of it. I'd say pull 'em, neck resize, measure and adjust the existing powder charge for consistency, and re-seat without crimp to your desired depth.

Stu

I have had the same damage issue when pulling lead nose bullets but the 300 RUM are Berger’s and the 280AI are Noslar Accubond with the polymer tip so that should be OK.

But I didn’t even think about the crimp because I never crimp my loads, when pulling my loads it takes several good whacks to completely pull the bullet so I was thinking 1 or 2 whacks would move it enough I could re-seat. I know don’t think that will work with the crimp because of variable neck tension issues.

Thanks Guys!

[M16]

I'd just shoot the darn things. No way would I pull factory ammo.

[Randy]

I'd just shoot the darn things. No way would I pull factory ammo.

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