Newbie question - Re- resizing already loaded cartridges

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have just taken them apart and redone them. After 50 or so you will remember to check the brass for fitment BEFORE you start to reload in the future.
Actually I always end up making a dummy round with no primer that fits to reset the die if needed in the future. At least this has worked well for me for the last 30 years or so.
 
Wait, why can't you just take out the whole decapping assembly from the sizing die, and then just run the completed rounds up into the die? Is the concern that the bullets themselves will be deformed, dislodged, swaged? Is there something else I am missing? I loaded a few hundred rounds of 7.7x58 Japanese Arisaka and when I was at the range, three of them would not let me close the bolt all the way. It was close, but even with a little more-than-usual force, I could not close the bolt so I took them out and out them aside. I have been planning to just re-resize the completed rounds (after pulling out the decapping stem). I set my dies to only bump the shoulder back about 0.002 inches and I think these rounds probably just did not get bumped back enough? I don't know. Maybe the length is just a little too long and the bullets are hitting the rifling? It is once fired brass from that rifle, so maybe they should not need to be sized anyway and hence would not benefit from re-resizing?

But you can you just do that, remove the decapping stem and resize the loaded rounds?
 
When you resize the reloaded round you would undersize the bullet down so much it would not have accuracy and possibly drive the bullet into the brass a bunch if the bullet is long enough. You would probably stick the round in the die with no safe way to get it out as well. If you have to set the shoulder back or size the body down you have to remove the bullet if using your regular resizing die. Leaving it together and sizing only works with a dedicated body sizing die.
 
valleyforge.1777 said:
But you can you just do that, remove the decapping stem and resize the loaded rounds?
Click to expand...

Removing the stem will not change the internal neck sizing section of your dies. It is designed to squeeze down the neck to smaller than bullet diameter to restore neck tension for holding a seated bullet. A bullet will not fit in this section of your die without being forced through and reduced in size. You can easily see this for yourself by simply taking apart your die and trying to drop a bullet through it.
 
valleyforge.1777 said:
Wait, why can't you just take out the whole decapping assembly from the sizing die, and then just run the completed rounds up into the die? Is the concern that the bullets themselves will be deformed, dislodged, swaged? Is there something else I am missing? I loaded a few hundred rounds of 7.7x58 Japanese Arisaka and when I was at the range, three of them would not let me close the bolt all the way. It was close, but even with a little more-than-usual force, I could not close the bolt so I took them out and out them aside. I have been planning to just re-resize the completed rounds (after pulling out the decapping stem). I set my dies to only bump the shoulder back about 0.002 inches and I think these rounds probably just did not get bumped back enough? I don't know. Maybe the length is just a little too long and the bullets are hitting the rifling? It is once fired brass from that rifle, so maybe they should not need to be sized anyway and hence would not benefit from re-resizing?

But you can you just do that, remove the decapping stem and resize the loaded rounds?
Click to expand...
The resizing die will squeeze the neck down. The decapping pin also has an expander on it, so when you pull the case out of the die, it stretches the neck back out to a known/uniform diameter to accept a bullet. Trying to size a case with a bullet already in it will cause the bullet and neck to be squeezed down to fit into the die, and may cause it to get stuck in the die. Then, when pulled from the die (if not stuck in there forever), the bullet and neck will be undersized for the rifle.
 
KentM said:
Reloading .223 for an AR15.
So I have close to 100 loaded cartridges that won't chamber due to headspace problems. I've since adjusted my RCBS X-die to proper sizing, but what to do with those previously loaded carts? These days 100 primers are too precious to waste if I can still make use of them.

1. After I pull the bullets and the powder, can I decap and resize the cases and then re-use the primers?
or
2. Should I remove the decapping pin and re-size the cases with the primers intact? This is an X-die, if that makes a difference. This option seems to make the most sense.
Click to expand...

Boy oh boy I may have an old thread over on cast boolits illustrating why you wanna be careful doing all of this and no ... I would highly advise you not try to decap live primers.

I would also highly recommend you not deactivate those good primers with WD40 given today's primer shortages.

And never, ever, try to resize with the bullet seated ... and inertia pullers are difficult with small rifle cartridges. Get a puller.

I wouldn't try to use the reclaimed powder either ... although some do it, I fail to understand the reasoning behind that.

My thread on cast boolits is probably still there, in the archives, complete with pictures.
 
KentM said:
From the OP
What is a body die? Not heard of it before. I have an RCBS small base die and an RCBS small base X-die.
I fear a stuck case with a live primer in it, even though I lube with lanolin, so I’m leaning towards decapping since opinion seems to be that it is safe and the primers will be usable. Maybe try a dozen and see how they fire.
Click to expand...

They are commonly referred-to as small base body resizing dies and Redding makes the best ones imho.

They are invaluable when resizing 5.56 and 7.62x51. They are not cheap and they are hard to come-by these days but they are really nice to have when working milspec brass especially.

Let me see if I can't take a picture with part numbers real quick ....

16203311335088498476212948129439.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Sorcerer1
  • Locked
Can I resize with Primer already in place ?
Replies
16
Views
7K
billybob44
B
H
  • Locked
Priming before Re-sizing?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Gadzooks Mike
G
A
  • Locked
.308 decapper help
Replies
3
Views
618
cdrt
C
S
  • Locked
asking advice de-cap/ re-size & then tumble or just tumble
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
readyeddy
R
Centurian22
  • Locked
Noob die and cleaning question
Replies
11
Views
898
James2
J
Back
Top