So Maybe this is a Stupid Idea, but.......

[LRShooting]

So I messed up some NATO cases. I somehow managed to screw up resizing the first time so much that they wouldn't fit my gun. I resized a few for the 2nd time that I didn't load and they fit fine. I don't have a bullet puller, but ones on the way. Just a cheapo impact since all the 308 collets for the hornady puller are outta stock and will be 9-10 weeks. I did a little reading and a lot of guys are saying its almost more dangerous to unload ammo then to resize it while its loaded. Others said they would FL resize loaded ammo and have done so successfully, yet some won't because it feels funny doing loaded ammo and because they have heard too many horror stories about explosions from ammo due to various causes.
So I took the chance and went ahead and FL resized after taking out the decap pin. I went extremely slow and used saftey glasses just as precaution. I figured that Id rather resize cases slowly than hit them on a table with a impact puller fast. What do you all feel on the subject? I wouldn't wanna do it again, but if I have to, I want to do the safer option until I can find a .308 collet.

 

[243winxb]

FL resize loaded ammo

In what die? Body or bushing, i hope.

 

[LRShooting]

Lee Deluxe .308 set. Comes with FL sizer, collet neck sizer, and seating die. So whatever FL sizer that set includes. Are certain dies worse ideas than others for FL sizing loaded ammo? I could understand that a carbide die would pretty well be like a grenade since it would be more likely to shatter while the regular dies would be more like a rifle chamber except with a lot less pressure. The bullet will fit right through the top of the FL die with quite a bit of clearance if it was to go off.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

The only dangers that I know of with am impact puller are if you use a case holder instead of the collet provided with the puller. The primer can back out and hit the case holder.

 

[witchhunter]

So you resized a live round, with the bullet intact, in a full length sizing die?

 

[mxjunky78]

So you resized a live round, with the bullet intact, in a full length sizing die?

That's what I'd like to know as well. Seems to me the bullet would keep it from fully sizing or the bullet would seat deeper during sizing.

 

[hartcreek]

Seems like I remember that some dies do the sizeing when the powder is dropped so how is resizing a loaded round much different? I have recized some .357 Magnums that neede it and had no problems.

I cluld maybe see problems with a compressed load but other than that.......

 

[LRShooting]

That's what I'd like to know as well. Seems to me the bullet would keep it from fully sizing or the bullet would seat deeper during sizing.

Yes. The LEE FL sizing die is pretty easy to take out the decapping pin with a 1/2 wrench. The hole left is big enough to drop a .308 bullet through without a issue, so when I sized, the bullet just went through the hole. If it helps, Ill get a couple pictures of a dummy round in the die when resizing, and a picture of die without anything in it. Just let me know and Ill get them.

I cluld maybe see problems with a compressed load but other than that.......

Ive read that quite a few times now... I made sure to shake the round and make sure it wasn't compressed. It wasn't and I knew that already, but just to make sure.

 

[tyeo098]

FL sizing loaded rounds can be dangerous. The die becomes a chamber capable of containing the sideways pressure forces.

Bullet goes up, ram shoots down, physics.

I've never had an issue though, in the few times I've done it.

Accuracy will degrade though, as you are swaging the bullet down to the neck diameter (aka the reason you need to expand the case mouth.)

 

[LRShooting]

FL sizing loaded rounds can be dangerous. The die becomes a chamber capable of containing the sideways pressure forces.

Bullet goes up, ram shoots down, physics.

I've never had an issue though, in the few times I've done it.

Accuracy will degrade though, as you are swaging the bullet down to the neck diameter (aka the reason you need to expand the case mouth.)

Ha, you can be dang sure I had a iron grip on the handle and would have effectively made a bolt for the round. Theres enough leverage that I think a round going off would have made quite a impact against my hand, but probably wouldn't have taken it from me. I don't know for sure though.
Accuracy did degrade a lot though. It really pressed hard on the circumference of the neck and was super shiny coming out of the die.

 

[243winxb]

Do not size 308 loaded rounds in a standard Fl sizing die. If you must, use a Redding body die, it does not contact the neck area.

 

[tyeo098]

Ha, you can be dang sure I had a iron grip on the handle and would have effectively made a bolt for the round. Theres enough leverage that I think a round going off would have made quite a impact against my hand, but probably wouldn't have taken it from me. I don't know for sure though.
Accuracy did degrade a lot though. It really pressed hard on the circumference of the neck and was super shiny coming out of the die.

Did that with a 7.62 Tok round when my CZ 52 refused to eat reformed cases.

Look what pulled out

 

[USSR]

Do not size 308 loaded rounds in a standard Fl sizing die. If you must, use a Redding body die, it does not contact the neck area.

+1.

Don

 

[jmorris]

The only dangers that I know of with am impact puller are if you use a case holder instead of the collet provided with the puller. The primer can back out and hit the case holder.

I think you would have to be using it backwards for that to ever happen, if you were using it to pull a bullet it would just be trying to seat the primer further.

 

[homatok]

Sizing loaded rounds is a very bad idea! Not only will the bullet be sized down, the case will "spring-back" leaving the bullet loose in the case neck (i.e. little or no tension). Further, the lead "core" within the bullet will also swage down and the bullet jacket will "spring-back" more than the "core" leaving the core loose in the jacket. Under the right circumstances, when fired, the core can come free of the jacket and remain in the bore, forming an obstruction for the next shot. But in the end it is your choice. Good luck!

 

[rcmodel]

+1

Very bad idea to resize loaded ammo.
And not for safety reasons especially.

As noted, the bullet will be ruined because it IS going to get squished way undersize by the sizing die.

Think about what the expander does with an empty case!

It Expands the sized case to make it big enough inside for a bullet to fit in it!

rc

 

[Rule3]

Bad idea plus if you took the collet nut off the top of the sizing depriming die it is a PITA to put back in without striping it. So stop what you are doing.

Carefully put the die back together and wait for the "mistake hammer" it is much safer and the correct tool for the job.

Cease and Desist wait for you gauge and hammer. Clean some brass or something before you really hurt yourself. I mean that in a nice way

 

[Ks5shooter]

Yup what he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The bullet will fit right through the top of the FL die with quite a bit of clearance if it was to go off. Yesterday 07:41 PM

Yea, it will because the outside of the neck of your case is larger the inside. Your not taking into account the thickness of the brass in the neck.

The sizing die will resize the brass down to .004 or .005" smaller than it's supposed to be, then the sizing button expands it back out to about .002" smaller than the dia. of the bullet.

You swedged the bullets in your loaded rounds down to way under the bore diameter of your rifle and the bullet probably won't even try to grip the rifling.

Even though they chamber they won't be accurate at all.

 

[LRShooting]

Sizing loaded rounds is a very bad idea! Not only will the bullet be sized down, the case will "spring-back" leaving the bullet loose in the case neck (i.e. little or no tension). Further, the lead "core" within the bullet will also swage down and the bullet jacket will "spring-back" more than the "core" leaving the core loose in the jacket. Under the right circumstances, when fired, the core can come free of the jacket and remain in the bore, forming an obstruction for the next shot. But in the end it is your choice. Good luck!

I think this would only be a problem for FMJ's though. Am I correct? I know that they have a open base and so it would be plausible. Im using 155 grain SMK which is not open at the bottom.

 

[gamestalker]

If you try to fire those, you'll end up with hot gases blowing right past the the bullet the very instant they leave the mouth, not a good thing at all. As for accuracy, there won't be any to measurably gauge, as there will be no contact with the rifling other than the bullet bouncing around on it's way out. And velocities are going to be all over the place as well.

If you happen to pull one of those bullets that you resized in the brass, I would bet you they will fall freely down the barrel if you drop one down the muzzle.

GS

 

[LRShooting]

Bad idea plus if you took the collet nut off the top of the sizing depriming die it is a PITA to put back in without striping it. So stop what you are doing.

Carefully put the die back together and wait for the "mistake hammer" it is much safer and the correct tool for the job.

Cease and Desist wait for you gauge and hammer. Clean some brass or something before you really hurt yourself. I mean that in a nice way

Hmm, I didn't have to much of an issue with getting it back in. Maybe I am just lucky. Either that or Ive gotten use to PITA threads because of all the fine thread brass or soft steel fittings I screw on and off everyday with broke hydraulic and air lines.
That being said, and completely irrelevant to the topic lol, I knew I shouldn't have been doing it already because I was flinching and looking away while I was moving the handle at an extremely slow pace. It feels real funny messing with a loaded round in a way that is not intended. Impact puller comes tomorrow so no more FL sizing.

 

[Nick Antrillo]

If you must, use a Redding body die, it does not contact the neck area.

Yes, this is what the Body Die is for. It's the tool for the job. Go read about it in the Redding catalog.

 

[USSR]

LRShooting,

You really need to step back and do some reading regarding reloading, instead of just jumping in and doing some of the things you are doing. No offense meant.

Don

 

[LRShooting]

LRShooting,

You really need to step back and do some reading regarding reloading, instead of just jumping in and doing some of the things you are doing. No offense meant.

Don

With all respect, I have read countless books, articles, and forums at reloading for several months before I actually got a press and supplies. The problem is that I have never heard much about having that issue until I actually specifically searched for it. I am just starting out, but I hope ill eventually get things down. Stuff like resizing loaded cases was stupid on my part though with limited experience. Other stuff can be learned through mistakes, but resizing loaded cases can't have mistakes.