[Blue Brick]

I would like to buy a regular commercial manufactured round and change the bullet. Is this possible without major tools? I know that you can use a type of hammer and take a bullet out, but how do you put one back? Can it be done with little expense?

[David Wile]

Hey Blue Brick,

When you mention taking a bullet out, it is commonly called pulling a bullet. There are two usual methods of doing that.

One is like you mentioned, using an inertia bullet puller wherein you place a bullet in a hollow hammer like appliance and bang it on a wooden block. The inertia of the moving bullet is supposed to keep it going out of the case when the puller strikes the wooden block. Some bullets are crimped very tightly and some are essentially glued in place, and it can be quite difficult to remove some of these tough ones.

The other common method is to use a bullet pulling die and collet. This requires the use of loading press as well as the die and collet. In most cases, I find it easier to pull bullets with the die and collet than the inertia puller, but I do use both methods.

Once you pull the bullets, a lot of folks might suggest throwing the powder away and re-charging the cases with an accurately measured load before seating new bullets in the cases. Why throw perfectly good powder away? Because once you pull the bullets, you can never be sure how much powder may have been lost from each round, and if you use a heavier bullet, you will have to reduce the powder load for a heavier bullet. The powder charge must be compatible with whatever bullet is used. That would probably require the purchase of a powder scale.

To seat your replacement bullets, you will need some kind of a reloading tool. It may be as simple as a Lee Loader, which is a terrible way to load bullets in my opinion. Or it can be a simple single stage press. Once again, it could be a low end Lee press, and again I do not like Lee products, but a Lee press will get the job done a lot easier than a Lee Loader tool.

If you get a press, you will need a set of dies for the caliber you are loading. Notice how I ended my last sentence? You are loading. Once you have bought a press, a scale, and a set of dies, you are actually in the reloading business. I kind of doubt that you wanted to hear this, but that is pretty much the facts of it.

The cheapest way of replacing bullets would be with an inertia bullet puller and a Lee Loader, but you would still need a scale to weigh your powder charges. And working with a Lee Loader is the pits.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm just curious, why would you want to replace the bullet in Factory ammo?

IN SHORT...
To answer your questions, "Is this possible without major tools?" and "Can it be done with little expense?" IMO, No and No...

To answer the question, " .....but how do you put one back?" You need a press, a die to expand the case neck and a bullet seating die which will also crimp the round. You will also need several measuring tools like a scale and a caliper.

I know someone will soon argue with me on this but it is my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

[Sgt.Dusk]

Not going to work.
And if you somehow manage to do that its not safe to shoot.

...so I agree with archangel....even though Ive taken 22LR bullet out and replaced it with FMJ....

[Blue Brick]

Thank you