What to do? - loaded ammunition for another rifle

[Dangermouse]

I have in my safe a not inconsiderable investment in loaded ammunition. Between Berger projectiles and Viht powder there is probably the best part of £250 sat there, and that does not count the CCI BR primers or the brass.
My situation is that the loaded ammunition was made for a Remingon 700 action and Border barrel combo. That rifle has now gone and I will be getting a new rifle any week now.
I have to admit that it has crossed my mind to see if the old ammo will chamber and see how it goes.. However my cavalier attitude is being put in its place by my older and wiser self which knows that is not a safe practice.

So what to do?
I only have a kinetic hammer at the moment. I have always assumed that pulling a round by such means damages a projectile in one way or another. I have a foam ear plug in the top to save the nose of the projectile from getting damaged but suspect that the walls of the projectile get damaged by the case.
Should I purchase yet another item for the bench? one of the bullet pullers that pulls and does not rely on force. I have no idea if they are any better.
Or perhaps just pull a dozen or so, reload with a low load and work up to my current load and check as normal for signs of pressure etc

My brass is currently all MEN, it is my aim to replace all of that with Lapua for the new build but even if I do get all that sorted it will do no harm to have some spare MEN rounds for those less than serious rage days and people wanting to "have a go"

DM

[Sim G]

I take it these were all FL resized? If so, I don't see an issue. Neck sized, pull it. Then resize the cases FL without the decapping pin and then use the components for practice ammo.

Foam plug in the kinetic hammer.... I like that idea. I'm going to steal it if that's OK.... I have some .44-40 soft point that need pulling!

[saddler]

Kinetic hammers are a slower way to pull loaded rounds. Never had ANY damage from using one in several decades of use...

OR

Just keep the ammo as is and use it in the new gun; carefully...if it chambers, fire 1 & check for pressure signs.

[DaveB]

If you full-length resized them and did not exceed the recommended propellant charges when you reloaded them, what makes you think they won't work in your new rifle? Was your Remington 700 chamber out of spec? What is the rifle you are going to be getting?

[Dangermouse]

The made up ammunition is all in fire formed cases to my old barrel. Remington chambers are notoriously long, however these were fired in a Border barrel that Mik Mak put on the action, so in theory should be tighter in tolerances. I guess that the only way to know if they will chamber or not is to wait until the rife is here. Afraid I am getting a strong feeling of I should be doing something in preparation of it arriving and idle hands can me mischievous!

Sim, The only down fall to the ear plug idea is that powder does get stuck behind the plug. Not a problem if you only use one kind of powder but potentially troublesome if you are using different types and are wanting to reuse our powder. I am thinking contamination issues.

The new rifle will be a CG M66 LTR with a CG M22 trigger and two barrels in .308 and 6.5x47L. There are a few other bits as well but I will let Ovenpaa do the "release article" as I am hoping that it will generate some more custom for him in this action. Of what I have seen so far it looks bloomin amazing.

DM

[Dougan]

I've reused pulled bullets before, and they seemed undamaged apart from seating marks...

...but I was told by someone not to reuse some powders that have been shaken up with a kinetic hammer, as it can break it up into smaller pieces and change the burn-rate...can anyone confirm if this is true?

[Hauptman]

I'd pull one or two, and after emptying out the powder, see if the cases chamber OK. If they don't, you're stuffed...............

If they do, then check the COL for the new chamber and compare with the loaded rounds. On the one hand you might need to re-seat the bullets a tad lower, on the other, you'll have a jump.
Either way is easier than pulling the lot.

What you really don't want to do is try chambering the cartridges in the new rifle, and risk getting a live round stuck in the chamber.

H/man

[Matt]

Hi DM

I was contemplating all of the options .....and then thought why??.....

You're buying a Ferrari, why stick Asda petrol in it (you know what I mean tongueout )



Easy answer is....

Buy a bullet puller that goes in your press, much easier, no damage to the bullet when set up properly, quicker and easier, wish I'd bought mine years ago

Pull the rounds and re use the bullets and powder if you want but start off with some nice new Lapua cases as you'll need to do load development anyway (or use some FLR cases for getting you started with your load development and then use the Lapua cases and re check etc...)

Saves all the messing around and you'll be glad you did it in the long run

Looking forward to seeing the pics of the new build

[rox]

Why not check for chambering, making sure the case headspace and jump are reasonably compatible, and if all is OK make a series to work-up from starting loads to the spec of your loaded rounds (you could pull a few to obtain identical brass if necessary). Safe, no wasted work, no wasted components.

..

[Watcher]

I've just unloaded about 70 rounds with a kinetic puller and there was no damage at all to the bullets (155 SMKs).