Re-Building a factory load???

[cloverleaf]

I have a "friend" :? lets say, who is really itching to try some 85 gr. CT bullets and time is short and a reloader is not available. My "friend" is thinking about pulling the 100 gr. bulets from a few factory rounds with the pliers and replacing them (probably with the pliers again) with the 85 gr. CT's just to see how they shoot. Assuming that my friend is reasonably steady with the pliers and can use a caliper accurately, and assuming that he dosent spill the factory charge is this "do-able", should it be done? Or is my friend looking to blow his head off and or ruin his barrel? Friends dont let friends do dumb stuff....thanks for your opinions. CL

 

[Guy Miner]

A reloader is available.

If you're in a city, there's somebody reloading within a mile of your location. Get some dies and do it right.

Ask around at the local gun range, gunshop, gun club. Somebody has got a reloading setup and will make time to do it right.

Regards, Guy

 

[Waffen]

It's not going to work and even if you could correctly seat the bullet (you won't) it's still a good chance it's going to be an overcharge.

When using a 85gr projectile you will use more powder than if you are going to shoot a 100gr projectice, so in theory if you could correctly seat it then yes it would go boom, but it wouldn't be pretty.

Basically the best you can hope for with something like this is a stuck case or sticky ejection after shooting the case. The worst is a blown up gun or injured shooter.

There has to be somone around you who reloads. If you shoot at a public rifle range look for a guy who has a plastic ammo container, or is writing notes on a peice of paper. Chances are this person is a reloader.

My advice is to definatly NOT do this. In fact don't even mess with de-milling factory rounds to salvage the powder. The powder they use is not of the canister variety thus meaning there is no load data out there for the powder. Which basically means you would really be flying in the blind.

I don't understand why you absolutly must shoot 85gr bullets as opposed to 100gr bullets but if the need is that urgent I would just make another range trip before doing what you plan on doing with some Factory 85gr bullets.

 

[Guest]

That, my friend, is pure lunacy. First of all, there is no way your 'friend' will get the bullets seated appropriately. Second, the bullets are going to be marred by the pliers, so they will not shoot well, regardless. Third, the charge weight is going to be completely out of proportion to the projectile, and may create a dangerous situation, either low or high pressure. Imagine pulling the trigger, and hearing a squib sound, and then trying to figure out how to get the 85gr slug that is now lodged in the bore out, while at the range. That's just about as bad as blowing the gun apart, isn't it? And if he is not careful, that's exactly what would happen, the next shot will strike that lodged bullet and then "Whoa! Nellie!!!" to quote Keith Jackson.

Consider that for about $100, a Lee Challenger reloading kit can be purchased and a set of RGB dies, and a pound of appropriate powder, and then you and your friend can do it right the first time.

What exactly is he going to do if he likes the round, keep working with the pliers every time he wants to go shoot them? I would not go to the range with someone with doctored factory fodder no matter what. I don't even like going to the range with unfamiliar handloaders, because of the potential for losing an eye or a finger.

DON'T DO IT!!!!!

 

[cloverleaf]

O.K.- nuff said, I (err, my friend) values his head and his rifle barrel to much to start doing somthing stupid. 100grnr's will do everything the 85's will. My "friend" was just itchin' curious and not very patient. Two qualities you better get a handle on if you want to reload and live. I get the message DONT DO IT, DONT DO IT, DONT DO IT!! THANKS FOR THE REPLIES CL

 

[JD338]

Your "friend" is living on the edge if he starts doctoring factory ammo.
dubyman is spot on, get a Lee Loader and all the components for $100 bucks and do it right.
I hope your "friend" has his insurance premiums paid up, he might need them!

JD338

 

[Guest]

Just an update, you can get a handheld press from Lee for about $20-30 mail order, and it will likely load a handful of rounds without much trouble. Still uses the same dies as the bench mounted presses, but no bench to worry with. It's just too easy to screw up when you're being careful, no sense in trying to walk across a razor...

 

[JDMAG]

I have a hand held loader from Lee and it works great.
have your "friend" read dubyam's quote on "life is tough" :grin:

 

[FOTIS]

DON'T DO IT!!!!!

+1

 

[elk country]

Hello,

I redo factory 270 Win. loads all the time. I use the factory 130gr. load (I bought a bunch for really cheap) for antelope and pull some bullets and seat a 130gr. Partition for a backup load for elk. After pulling the bullets, I resize the case with the pin removed to not remove the factory primer. Then I dump the powder back in and reseat a new bullet. The accuracy is around 1" @100yds. with the doctored load and I've never had a single sign of pressure. I just need to move the scope a little to the right and go hunting. Others may disagree but I believe that doing this is absolutely safe as long as you substitute a bullet of the same weight.

Elk Country

 

[Guest]

Generally, you will likely be safe, but bullets of the same weight do not all generate the same pressure with a given charge of powder. Many variables exist, such as jacket alloy/hardness, bearing surface, and even heel shape can play a role in determining pressure. I would caution everyone to be extremely careful fiddling with factory ammo. You are basically handloading with an unknown powder charge, which is a potential disaster. I know, most of the time it is perfectly safe, but I don't want to be there the one in a thousand times it isn't. Consider the following:

Powder - $20 per pound
Bullets - $25 per 50
Brass - $30 per 100
Keeping all your fingers and functions - PRICELESS

There are some things money can't buy. For everthing else, there's hard work, saving, and American Express because they make you pay the balance at the end of the month.

Alright, all fiscal philosophy aside, I think people understand my meaning.

 

[JD338]

Hello,

I redo factory 270 Win. loads all the time. I use the factory 130gr. load (I bought a bunch for really cheap) for antelope and pull some bullets and seat a 130gr. Partition for a backup load for elk. After pulling the bullets, I resize the case with the pin removed to not remove the factory primer. Then I dump the powder back in and reseat a new bullet. The accuracy is around 1" @100yds. with the doctored load and I've never had a single sign of pressure. I just need to move the scope a little to the right and go hunting. Others may disagree but I believe that doing this is absolutely safe as long as you substitute a bullet of the same weight.

Elk Country

This is not always the case and dubyam is spot on. PT's can generate more pressure due to the solid jacket Partition. The fact that most factory loads are loaded down for liability reasons has worked in your favor this time.
Since you are going through the efforts to pull bullets, why not just replace the factory powder with a known powder and work up a load.
You might be able to cut your group size in half with a known safe load.

JD338