Thread: Pulling projectile - neck tension?

Hi guys,

loaded up some 143gr ELD-X with a new batch of AR2209 and this batch is 100fps faster compared to the older lots. Since I found out too late, I have ammo mixed up from old and new AR2209 so the only way to fix this is to pull the projectile and start again with an averaged out, large batch of AR2209 and see how fast that one goes and tweak it accordingly for accuracy and in my app for LR shooting.

Questions I have is:

- How can I pull the projectiles without damaging them so I can reuse them?
- After pulled, will the neck tension be still good or do I have to resize the brass again?
- If I have to resize, can I pull the decap pin out of the die and do it like that or do I leave it in and push the life primer out? Danger of primer going off?


Cheers,
JaSa

I have pulled lots of mil surp brass and replaced the powder and projectile. I have a hornady puller that when set up right doesnt mark the projectiles but you will still get the odd mark.

I resized with decapping pin removed so I could utilize the primer.
Ammo was as good as any starting from scratch.

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I see you’re in Waikato. If you are close by I can pull the projectiles for you. I’ve got the correct size collet. Doesn’t take long.

I made my own 6.5 puller. Get a pair of cheap pliers like the movable jaw type ex a car or motorbike toolkit. Close jaws and drill a 6.5mm hole through where jaws meet. Place masking tape over the drilled hole (now in two halves) to protect projectile. Put loaded round in ‘empty’ press so projectile protrudes through hole where die would fit. Grab hold of bullet with pliers and reverse the press handle by pushing up. The pill will pull out easily. Every so often, replace masking tape to preserve projectile from scratches.

Hornady collet puller, the projectile will be virtually unmarked. I have reloaded without resizing with no issues and still accurate, but probably don't want to use the reloaded rounds for load development

I always resize after bullet pulling as the neck tension usually gets screwed up. No need to de-cap the primers.

One trick we discovered especially if they are tight or bonded in (such as some mil surp) use the seating die to push them into the case a little bit before pulling them. It breaks the grip / bond holding them in. Only has to be a millimeter or so to loosen that way you break the grip without marking it as it is pushed rather than gripped / pulled.

Lots of good tips here. You need to resize the necks in most cases. Particularly if the case was originally resized with a collet die.

whats wrong with a "kinetic" bullet puller with something soft(screwed up paper?)in the end in case of over enthusiastic operation?

Originally Posted by widerange

whats wrong with a "kinetic" bullet puller with something soft(screwed up paper?)in the end in case of over enthusiastic operation?

Nothing wrong with kinetic bullet 'pullers' which are possibly superior in terms of avoiding damage to projectiles, however minute that damage. But if you have to pull substantial numbers it can be tedious.

I have an ear plug in my "kinetic" bullet puller. Cushions the projectile well and doesn't trap a lot of powder. Just pull the ear plug when finished and clean out the remaining powder.
Agree about the tedious part - 20 is my limit.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

I always resize after bullet pulling as the neck tension usually gets screwed up. No need to de-cap the primers.

I actually just tested the difference in neck tension a couple of days ago, when I pulled some bullets from some un-used 223 ammo from a load development ladder, checked the outside diameter of the cases that I pulled bullets from and compared to a freshly sized neck, considerable difference, if you had mixed up some of each into the same batch the neck tension and therefore bullet release would be quite different which I'm sure would make a noticeable difference, particularly at distance.

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for all your replies !
Plinky kindly offered to pull the projectiles for me and I will resize the cases without the de-primer rod in afterwards just to make sure everything is as it should be.

...or better still, remove the expander altogether. I never use them at all as I think they induce runout. I expand my cases with a K&M expander before collet neck sizing to give 2 thou of tension every time.

I just never enjoyed dragging an expander back through a freshly sized neck, esp the knurled Redding ones.

Just my opinion, and I know there are lots of very good reloaders out there using them, but my groups shrinks markedly when I ditched them.

Cheers