Re-working loaded brass

[C.Smith]

I have 3006 rounds loaded up for a rifle I no longer have, but I still have a 3006. These do not fit in the rifle because they were necked sized for the other one. I want to pull all the bullets and full size resize these using just the sizer die and no primer punch.

Does anyone see any issues with doing this? Will it affect the loaded primers still in the case or should I go a head and pop those out as well?

Corey

 

[Guest]

You'll want to just resize without the primer punch pin in them. Be careful and wear saftey glasses, of course. If your dies won't allow you to separate the expander ball from the pin, you'll have to get a new die, but even that's cheap compared to the risk of decapping all those live primers. Just pull the bullets, dump the powder into the original container, and resize. Then you're set to work back up in this rifle. Good luck.

 

[bullet]

Problem in full resizing and leaving the primers in is the fact that after resizing you might have to trim the brass. If you do not have to trim the brass as dubyam said you are good to go.

 

[Divernhunter]

I have done this more than once. MY RCBS dies(& redding/hornady/lyman) make it possible to remove the decap pin. I also put in a broken pin so that the expander ball has something to clamp down on. THEN I got smart and just screwed the complete assembly up higher so the decap pin would not reach the primer. Works just fine. Never had a primer go off and if one did it would not be a big deal or hurt you or your equipment.
You will not NEED to trim the brass. Some people get too worried about it and if you are one then measure each case. I build very accurate ammo and do not trim like some do. You can trim with the primer in on a RCBS trimmer but I am not sure about other brands. Again IF a primer went off it would not hurt you or your equipment.
Something else. IF you plan to use the same load just resize some cases and prime them before pulling any bullets. OR if you have 2 presses then pull with one and resize it so the next one can have the powder dumped into it. Then you only need one case extra to start with. Then as you pull the bullets(using a collet type puller) you can use a powder funnel and dump the powder into the ready brass and save doing that process again. Be sure to look into each case after dumping the powder to be sure all the powder is out. A gentle tap on the case usually gets it all out.
Been reloading since 1962 without a single "accident" I did have my first dud last weekend. New primers and a good hit on it. Just a faulty primer. Heck I still have some primers from the 1960's and never had a dud with any others. You can be sure that carton of primers will not be used for hunting ammo. Never take chances.
Of course safety glasses should be used.

 

[woods]

You can push the shoulder back without pulling the bullet with a Redding Body Die.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve done it more then once.
Take it slow leave the decapping stem out of the die so it can vent if needed.
As long as trimming isn`t needed I don`t see any problem with what you want to do.

 

[C.Smith]

Well thank you for all the wonderfull advise, I was hoping I would be able to do it (and I thought I could, just needed reasurance) and not have to waste the primers.

Corey