Re-sizing cases after pulling heads?

[Cruinneas]

Hey all.

Looking for some help, and hope ye guys, and gals can help. If i pull the head off a loaded round, change the powder charge, and re-seat the bullet will neck sizing be required before seating?

I have a good few rounds that need "tweaking", and rather than fire off the case/primer, and start from scratch i would ideally like to simply pull the head, change the charge, and re-seat. However i am concerned about the neck tension having read many articles on how bullet pulling (with kinetic hammer) may or may not affect neck tension.

Currently supplies are limited so it's not as easy to simply restock on primers/powder or even cases. I'm using a Lee seating die, and have thought about removing the de-priming pin on the neck die, but i don't think that'll work. I'm also not crazy on the idea of de-priming live primers. I know if done slowly and correctly it should be okay, but again not really what i want to be doing.

My only real question, as above, is if i pull the head, change the charge, can i simply re-seat. Was thinking of measuring the neck before pulling, and again when pulled to see if there is a difference. If not to just re-seat.

Any help or thoughts is appreciated.

[ovenpaa]

I would neck size again after pulling the bullet but you can try and seat a bullet without sizing as an experiment.

[Alpha1]

Hmm when developing a load I shoot three shot strings I work up in small lots I never have enough rounds loaded that I need to start pulling bullits to alter powder charges not a good way to go me thinks. I think you need to re think your load development procedure.

[Cruinneas]

I developed a load for a new bullet to go with my new barrel. Testing went well, shooting strings of five, and ladder tests at 300, but all this had to be done on a short time frame due to my ability to get to the range, and the comp. that was coming up within a week.

I found a load that worked well at 300 so decided to run with it rather than risk missing the comp by trying out other loads. Without going into the boring details the rounds performed out to 600, but from 800 - 1,000 they feel to pieces. Found out i was too cautious, and the bullet was too slow, and hence badly effected by the wind.

Long story short, i now need to pull the heads of the rounds i have left, and reload with my new charges, and coninue testing. I have approx. 60 rounds still loaded, intending to use them in the comp. but now want to change them. So i done the appropriate load in increments, shooting, testing etc.

[Alpha1]

OK I hear what you are saying but I would never advise any body to pull a round alter the powder charge then try to resize the case even neck sizing then re seat a bullit. If you feel comfortable doing that then OK. My advice would be to shoot them off and then start again.

[Cruinneas]

OK I hear what you are saying but I would never advise any body to pull a round alter the powder charge then try to resize the case even neck sizing then re seat a bullit. If you feel comfortable doing that then OK.

Why?

My advice would be to shoot them off and then start again.

I'm not in the UK. My ability to get powder, primers, cases, heads, etc is nowhere near as good as what you have so if i "waste" such components i may face a long wait until i can get more. Hence my reason for this entire thread, and question.

I'm not trying to cut corners. I would happily use them for some practice at 300 if i could simply get more components, however for the next few weeks i cannot. So i'm asking can i do as i intend, would it work, and if not then i will shoot them off. These rounds will not be used for anything else other than continuing testing from where i left off. So a secondary question would be if i done this would they "work". In other words could i take any good results (or bad) as being a cause of the load or using brass that has had a bullet pulled, and re-seated?

[TattooedGun]

I have used bullets that have been pulled and not re-tensioned, effectively. I'm not sure its the "right" way to go, but it works.

[John25]

It is a perfectly safe and acceptable procedure to pull rounds.

As Ovenpaa says, re-size the necks if you want to retain accuracy, if you are plinking, then don't bother to re-size. (good neck tension/crimp is mandatory if you are magazine feeding)

Removing live primers is to be avoided if possible, although I have done it on numerous occasions. Just go steady, and, as you should during all your re-loading, wear some good safety glasses.


:cheers:

[dromia]

Why would you want to rip the bottom of your case?

Why don't you just pull the bullet and reuse?

When reusing pulled bullets in the same cases you could try a dummy reseat for neck tension to decide whether or not you will need to neck resize.

Me I'd just neck resize to be sure and to ensure a consistent neck tension.

[Andy632]

I don't bother resizing when I do it and so far I've had no issues.

I do it with RG 5.56 and MEN 7.62.
(I sell off the bullets rather than re-use them.)