Hey guys, I'm new to the forum. I'll start out with a question if that's ok.
I bought a 30-06 700 Rem BDL and decided to take advantage of some 30-06 brass I had acquired a while back. I loaded them with IMR 4831, 56 grains (99% capacity), CCI 200, and top it off with a 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. According to Nosler the max OAL is 3.340 and in their test data they set them at 3.320.
Well I misread my caliper and accidently put them in a bit too far. I have them set at 3.220, one tenth off of the test OAL Nosler has. Are these too deep? Worth the risk of the extra pressure with that load density?
I can't say for sure but 100 thousandths seems to be more than I'd be comfortable with. Out of curiosity is this a load you worked up to or did you go all the way out of the gate?
Others here are better qualified than I am to answer the pressure question.
An RCBS collet type puller is a good investment for just such emergencies. Depending on how many you loaded it may be worth pulling the bullets, dumping the powder into a container and neck sizing so that you can re-load them. This would also give you a chance to start at a lower charge is you didn't already work up to that load.
I pulled the data from Nosler. It's a middle of the road load. Starting load is 54 grains at 95% density and max is 58 grains at 102% density. Don't let the 99% density into fooling you that it's a "hot" load.
While I normally use a RCBS collet puller(broke 5 of the inertia pullers in 25yrs,but still have one),a friend did virtually the same thing with 50rds of .308 he loaded,we used the inertia puller and gently tapped from about 3 minutes,bullet came out far enough to re-seat at proper depth.They shot fine and he killed deer with a couple.
That's a little on the deep side. My Lyman manual says for a 165 grain SPBT bullet - and I know you're loading a specific Nosler bullet - the over all length is suggested at 3.285 OAL.
Don't know how many you've loaded up, but you have a pretty easy option: pick up one of those mallet type plastic bullet inertia pullers. A whack or two will pull the bullet or back the bullet out enough to re-seat them.
I wouldn't waste the bullets by shooting them as-is or by using a puller that will damage them. Besides, it's always a great tool to keep on hand if you reload. Eventually you will load up something that you'll want to take down anyway. Every reloader has done it. My old RCBS puller (poor thing!) is so worn out I've got JB Weld holding the screw-on top together. Still works - but I will get another IF I can remember to get one......... They're not expensive.
Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate it. I've never tried just pulling them a "little", I always whacked away until they came out. I'll try pulling a "little" then reseating them at the proper depth.
EDIT: I've only got an inertia puller, I guess its time for a collet type.
Thanks Firpo. I have the same style but mine is old and seems to always damage the bullets a bit. Maybe its time for a new one. Thanks for all the replies guys.
Be sure to inspect the primer before you use the inertia hammer and that it is NOT a high primer. If it is a high primer, use a collet to remove the bullet, empty the powder, then fix the primer issue. That or ask Clint if you feel lucky.
Thanks Firpo. I have the same style but mine is old and seems to always damage the bullets a bit. Maybe its time for a new one. Thanks for all the replies guys.
I don't use any padding inside the inertia hammer. None of my pulled bullets have had any damage and I get to keep and re-use the powder. When finished with hammer, wash with soapy water and let air dry to prevent the static from holding grains when dumped out.
Some guys prefer the collar-type puller. May be a good platform, but you have to figure that if you've got something grabbing the bullet to pull it - you are going to leave marks or somehow damage the bullet. In my humble opinion you're better off sticking with the inertia puller for what you are doing.
The collet pullers normally don't leave any marks. They will though on softer bullets like 22 caliber. I can't comment on crimped bullets since I don't crimp any rounds.
so far I've never had an inertial puller fail to unseat even heavy roll, military crimp and red sealed projectiles, might take an extra swing or two, but good arm exercise.
Mine has never failed me either. I have been using this one for as far back as I can remember. The shaft has a slight "bow" in it from having to whack it pretty hard at times!
I've never used the collet type puller, and I make my observations from buying bulk pull down military .30 and 5.56 bullets. Some of these have had damage done to them from the collet. I've used the inertia pullers for years and have never damaged either a jacketed or cast bullet with them.
Put a foam ear plug in the bttom of the inertia puller cavity. That will cushion even the heaviest bullet.
BTW, the only time I damaged a bullet when pulling it was with a collet bullet pulling die (RCBS). Not tight enough and die severely scratched the bullet sides, and tight enough left "crimps" on the bullet...
I have both and use both from time to time. Both are RCBS (I live 35 miles from their factory, this is green country). I have never damaged a jacketed rifle bullet with the collet puller, and always use the inertia puller with lead bullets.
Besides fixing mistakes, whenever I set up to seat bullets and crimp, or when I'm setting up my OAL on non-crimped stuff, I always seat and crimp a few dummies without primers or powder just to get everything set correctly and to assure that the OAL is correct, cartridges feed correctly, etc. Later I can pull those bullets and reuse them. So I use the pullers as a matter of routine and have had good success with both types.
Yup, I have them in a green larger rifle cartridge flip top box right beside my trim station, caliper and case prep tools, next station to the right starts my presses.
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