i was making some .38 wad cutters, and I wasn't thinking. I made a dumb mistake with my seat/crimp die, and the result was what looked like a .38 wadcutter bottlenecked down to .32. I can't get the bullet out with the bullet puller, I can't shoot it out, and I can't throw it in the trash. What do I do with it?
Normally I would say shoot it BUT,just read an analysis of a blown up .357 Ruger-it was fired with a .38-wadcutter-2.5gr Bullseye....the wc wasn't flush or above but approx. 1/10" too deep and they figured the pressure was over 60,000....Now I have to refind article to post here.
if squemish.. take a pair of side cutting wire cutter pliers ( ***** ), and just cut the cartridge in half under the projecile, dump the powder in the yard, straighten the case out with a dowel, slip it in a revolver and pop the primer ( or just deprime live.. I do it.. some people won't.. )
then you have half a case with a popped primer to toss in your brass scrap. then you can snip the case longways where the projectile is, toss that ribbon of brass into your brass scrap, then toss the lead slug into your lead scrap to remelt.
took longer to type it, than it will to do it.
PS.. deactivating by drowning in oil or water is not 100%.
I have a handfull of 762x54r with RUSTY cases. ( bad storage from previous owner ).. it was one of those paper / twine wrapped 15 packs..
each case is rusty enough.. bubbled rust.. that it won't chamber.
I have pulled a few down. in every one I pulled, the powder was dry and burned, and the berdan primer popped just fine when hit with a nail with the case in a vice.
so dumping it in water IMHO.. is not a fool proof deactivation method.
Name them the Flintstone 32-38 Masher.... pretend they are the newest advancement in cartridges...... and shoot them out of a 357 just like you actually intended them to look like that .....send results to a gun magazine......
I've been reloading for over 25 yrs. and the last thing you want to do in this situation is fire the round! You can blow up the gun(and maybe yourself) by overpressure but alot of people forget that an UNDERPRESSURED rnd. is just as bad. I've seen plenty of bulged barrels. What I do is cut the brass with a hacksaw (slowly)or use a tube cutter so you don't heat up the powder...then you can pour the powder out,pull the primer and reuse it and toss the lead or save it for a melt down. Nice n safe and you save the powder and primer.
I concur with Twicepop. Put it somewhere on your loading beach. I have my own wall of shame to remind me that reloading ammo can be dangerous if ones mind has that momentary laps of reason.
I finally looked at it long enough. I drilled a 3/8 hole in a piece of 1x3, inserted to the base of the crimp, and sawed it off. I removed the remaining lead with the bullet puller, and took it inside. I was going to make a 38 LC from the case, but it was too short, so I used a 9mm trim die and made a 38 short loaded with 1.5 gr Trail Boss. I hated to waste the case and primer.
if squemish.. take a pair of side cutting wire cutter pliers ( ***** ), and just cut the cartridge in half under the projecile, dump the powder in the yard, straighten the case out with a dowel, slip it in a revolver and pop the primer ( or just deprime live.. I do it.. some people won't.. )
then you have half a case with a popped primer to toss in your brass scrap. then you can snip the case longways where the projectile is, toss that ribbon of brass into your brass scrap, then toss the lead slug into your lead scrap to remelt.
took longer to type it, than it will to do it.
PS.. deactivating by drowning in oil or water is not 100%.
I have a handfull of 762x54r with RUSTY cases. ( bad storage from previous owner ).. it was one of those paper / twine wrapped 15 packs..
each case is rusty enough.. bubbled rust.. that it won't chamber.
I have pulled a few down. in every one I pulled, the powder was dry and burned, and the berdan primer popped just fine when hit with a nail with the case in a vice.
so dumping it in water IMHO.. is not a fool proof deactivation method.
Eating lunch n thinking...bad combo...butthose rustu rounds...if you habe a tumbler, use sand only and ceck every 15 min. Should work and not hurt anything if they had any neck tension. Just do good job of wipe down to ensure no hidden sand dust ib primer grooves that might do something if that is even possible. Just a thought...munch..unch...munch
Write an article on the nifty new wildcat handgun cartridge you've created and submit it to (insert name of gun/shooting magazine). They'll probably want some technical details so I suppose you'll have to shoot it.
Just don't submit it to be published here, a bunch of folks will want to tear it down, then you will have at least one who will want you to send it to a school for grading.
Definitely dont post a gun article on a gun forum. (head slap) :/
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