Help with re-using improperly reloaded cartridges

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

I have a bit of a newbie problem here and am hoping for some guidance.
I made up a set of stepped 9x19 rounds. 6 rounds of each powder weight x 5 or six different weights. So I have about 30 or 36 rounds. Turns out that I improperly belled the mouth of the cases (I pushed the die in far too deeply) and the bullets are a bit looser in the case than I would like, even after rounding the lip of the case back to the bullet (sorry for the missing terminology, it's late and my brain is not working well).
So I would like to pull the bullets (no problem), perhaps preserve the bullets (they look find but opinions are welcomed), perhaps reuse the powder (again, I suspect the powder is fine but I'd definitely like advice here) and now here's my actual question.
After emptying the cases, I'll have a mis-sized case (too large) with a working primer. Can I resize the case back down to spec with the new primer in it? I presume I'd have to remove the decapper from the die when resizing. I use Redding dies and haven't checked to see if the decapper section can be removed. Is that safe to do? Is it riskier to pop out the (still good/active) primer to start from scratch? That sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Any tips would be appreciated.
And yes, it was a boneheaded move. I got that part.
B

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes, you can remove the decap pin and resize. You can also safely deprime live primers and reuse them.

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

Ahh, using the standard decapping tool I can pop them out with risk of them popping off nor will they be deformed? Excellent.
And I presume I can reuse the powder and bullets as well. The bullets seem obvious for re-use. Regarding the powder, these haven't been loaded but for a couple of months, we have dry weather and they've not been out of my garage.
Thx,
B

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Yes, they will come right out and not go off. They will not be deformed. You can reuse all components.

 

[Havok7416]

Inspect everything before you re-use it, but it sounds like everything will be useable except the cases.

When you push the primer out it may leave a small dimple on the outer surface, but this will be pushed flat again when you reseat the primer.

 

[mr wack]

I think at some time or other we have all made these kind of boo-boos,,,
Just pull the bullets save the powder and decap ,,,,slowly,,,, and re-use all components and go shoot,,,,,

 

[dave from mesa]

Not sure why you want to remove the primers. Why not remove the de-capper and try to resize the case? If that doesn't work (don't know why it wouldn't) then remove the primers.

 

[joem1945]

When I have to pull down ammo I use the Hornady Cam loc bullet puller. To punch out the primer I use a universal decap die. If the primer were to go off there will ne no pressure build up.

 

[LiveLife]

+1 on removing the depriming pin and resizing the primed cases.

Many of us resize and prime cases in separate step then use resized/primed cases to reload.

 

[345 DeSoto]

+2 on removing the depriming pin and resizing the primed cases.

 

[Havok7416]

The reasonthe OP is not reusing the case is because he said there is not enough neck tension and the bullets are loose. No sense reusing the case at that point.

 

[mdi]

Coltpythonelite;

Yes, you can remove the decap pin and resize. You can also safely deprime live primers and reuse them

.

Yep. done that a bunch of times...

 

[Sunray]

B!ngoFuelUSN also asks if he can reuse the case. And the answer is yes. No need to remove the primer. Just the decapper pin, FL resize and start over. As long as the belled case will fit in the sizer die.

 

[gamestalker]

Don't waste time de-priming them, just remove the decapping pin and resize them.

Then carefully bell the mouths just enough to allow the bullets to seat without shaving.

GS

 

[TfflHndn]

I've over-belled a couple times (when switching from .38 to .357 without checking my expander stem for instance. Re-sizing took care of the excess flare that would otherwise have meant insufficient neck tension. So long as the brass will size, it should be reusable.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

After emptying the cases, I'll have a mis-sized case (too large) with a working primer. Can I resize the case back down to spec with the new primer in it? I presume I'd have to remove the decapper from the die when resizing. Seems he is reusing the brass.

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

The reasonthe OP is not reusing the case is because he said there is not enough neck tension and the bullets are loose. No sense reusing the case at that point.

Well I was asking (if I wasn't very clear) if I could use reuse the case. Though too much if has been stretched to a larger diameter due to the misuse of the die that bells the opening (and inserting it too deeply in to the case), I was wondering if resizing it will bring it back to spec, and allow me to reuse it.
It's not that I mind discarding 30 or so cases if need be (i.e. if they are dangerous or not likely to function properly) but am curious about whether they can be restored. Part of my interest is to gain a better understanding of how the dies function, the durability and safety envelope of the primers, and (in particular) the elasticity and durability of the brass.
Keep those ideas coming please. I really appreciate it.
B

 

[B!ngoFuelUSN]

B!ngoFuelUSN also asks if he can reuse the case. And the answer is yes. No need to remove the primer. Just the decapper pin, FL resize and start over. As long as the belled case will fit in the sizer die.

Sounds like you and a few others answered my question (I didn't read to the bottom of the thread before my prior post). Again, in the interest of learning, does anyone have a sense of how much stretching and shrinking a case can take before the brass loses its elasticity and loses strength and/or starts to crack?
I realize that this is an uncalibrated question (no metrics of any type) but was looking for some guidance. For example, if I made this same mistake five times in a row, would resizing still work? I assume that something similar to this cycle happens every time you go through a reloading cycle as you resize and then 'bell' the case before inserting and then taper crimp it. Is that brass 'abuse' the primary reason for the limited duty cycle of brass?
B

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It's hard to say how many times you can resize 9mm brass before the cases fail because the brass from different manufacturers will be different. for the most part I lose 9mm brass before the necks split or the primer pockets become unserviceable.

I suggest you resize 3 or 4 without depriming and see if the load correctly. If yes of course do them all that way. If not you will have to remove the primers so that the sizing can be done correctly. I have a feeling you won't have to deprime especially if this is once fired brass.

Don't obsess over this, stuff happens to all of us. The trick is not to make the same mistakes more than once.

 

[splattergun]

The loose fit / lack of tension might not be totally due to over-flaring, although that is certainly a probable contributing factor. It might be that the sizing die is not turned in quite enough, resulting in cases not sized down enough.

Try making a few dummies (no powder) by sizing (without the depriming pin), just enough flare to seat the bullet. I fit's still loose neck tension, then you'll need to adjust your sizing die.

 

[IWAC]

The short answer is "Yes", like so many have said. I have belled the mouths of 357 magnum cases so they looked like a weird trumpet, and I thought they were probably stretched beyond all repair, so I discarded them.
It depends...listen for the little voice saying "not a good idea!" Try resizing a few, and see how it works. If not, deactivate the primers, squeeze the case mouth shut, throw them away.

Be safe!