[moooose102]

ok, i admit it. i am cheap. no big deal. i was thinking, i have a couple of previously shot bullets (45 auto fmj's), that are in good shape. not deformed, but you can see the rifling. would it be safe to fire these again?

[presspuller]

NO!!!!

[Walkalong]

You can melt the lead out of them and use it for casting lead bullets, but I highly recommend not shooting them as is again.

[jcwit]

Just curious, why not? Don't ever plan on trying it, just wonder.

[jimbob86]

They are almost certainly not .451 at the bottom of the rifling marks, and the odds of the rifling matchin up exactly the next tim around are small........ not .451= no gas seal.

That and there are probably minute pieces of sand/dirt embedded in the bullet's surface, that can't be good to run thru you bore at high speed......

[ReloaderFred]

jimbob86 nailed it. There is debris imbedded in the jacket and you won't get a good gas seal.

I just collect them and melt the cores out and make good cast bullets from all the fired rounds I salvage from the range. It's just a pain to cut through plated bullets so the lead can get out........

Hope this helps.

Fred

[zxcvbob]

It's just a pain to cut through plated bullets so the lead can get out........

Get one of those short (18" or 24") aluminum-handled bolt cutters from Harbor Freight next time they go on sale. They work great for cutting FMJ and plated bullets in half before melting.

[rcmodel]

Why bother cutting them in half?

At best, they might melt a little faster.

At worst, the nose section would be pinched shut, and wouldn't let all the melted lead run out.

All you need to do is throw them in the pot, stir them around, and skim off the jackets when they float to the top. The open base or nose will let all the lead out.

rcmodel

[zxcvbob]

I've scrounged some fully-enclosed bullets that had no place for the lead to escape.

[ReloaderFred]

It's the plated bullets (fully encapsulated) that I'm talking about. JHP and JSP are no problem, just melt and skim. The plated bullets have to be cut to allow the lead inside to escape. I use end cutters, which goes right through them, but it's still a pain to sift through and have to mess with them, even though I shot most of them in the first place.......

Hope this helps.

Fred

[ants]

Hey Fred. I set 'em on an anvil and give 'em a slight whack with a 5 lb sledge. They smash with a mild strike to the size of a nickel and break the plating open.

You're gonna be happy when you try it. Mash a hundred in two minutes, throw them in the pot.

[ants]

By the way, moooose.

I wear 'Cheapskate' like a badge of honor.
You are welcome to share any and all cheapskate technology with us.
We'll do the same.

[zxcvbob]

By the way, moooose.
I wear 'Cheapskate' like a badge of honor.

Have you discovered "Promo" powder yet? Loads just like Red Dot, but it meters a little better because it's heavier.

[rcmodel]

Oh!
Plated bullets!

I see said the blind man! :o

rcmodel

[presspuller]

Changes are good also that those bullets are not round any more. It would probably take an indicator to tell but I would hate to shove a not round/oversized bullet down my bore.

[moooose102]

ok, got it. thanks! if only i made my own bullets. not quite ready for that venture yet. i have JUST started using cast bullets.