Bullet seated too deeply. Can I still shoot it?

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Dr. Sandman

Dr. Sandman

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I'm learning to use my dies and I seated this bullet way too deeply. Can I still shoot it? Should I try to pull the bullet out somehow? It's a .357 mag. From left to right Commercially loaded S&B, my goof up, reloaded homemade bullet, reloaded mag tech bullet. Thanks in advance.
 

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I'd just let that one go unless you have a bullet puller. A reload is measured in cents, blown up gun measured in hundreds, hospital trip measured in thousands or multiples there of. How did you even get it that far in there?
 
Doc, hate to laugh but i have done the same thing when i forgot to manually advance a turret properly and ended up on the decapping die. Pull or keep on bench for a reminder.
 
I don't think I'd shoot either of the 2 in the middle. The one with the bullet seated too deeply is likely to blow up your gun. The one next too it looks like it'd likely jump the crimp and lockup the cylinder, assuming you're shooting those from a revolver and also assuming that the one with the deeply seated bullet doesn't blow the gun up first.
 
I've reloaded for around 10 years now and only messed up maybe 20 rounds or so in that time, about half of those crushed via single-die crimp/seat operations. I've never bothered to buy a bullet puller as it costs more than the value of my collective salvage. I supposed if I ever mess up a full box or something I will get one, but until that day, I'll just keep them in a drawer of lessons-learned.
 
Sooner or later you will want/need a kinetic bullet puller. I am guessing now would be a good time to consider it. There is no way you should even think of shooting that cartridge. I like how MEHavey called it, it's a bomb. :)

Ron
 
piling on to the kinetic bullet puller. A RCBS whammer is money well spent.
Every new reloader who asks is told in no uncertain terms that in is not'if' you will need a puller, but 'when' you'll need one. You've found your 'when'. :)
 
Sir, based on this question and your other post, I suggest that you review your manuals and concentrate on reloading only at this time and not mess around with bullet casting.;)

There is a part of reloading known as COL which is very very important, The amount of powder in the case needs a volume of space to ignite and burn, build pressure and then the bullet leaves the case and goes down the barrel. You have a pipe bomb sitting there!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=799612

NO do not shoot the round!
 
Don't feel bad, I have done this to a .38spcl load, right back up into the powder charging die. I thought I was going into the bullet seating die. Don't get distracted even for a second!

I used the kinetic hammer and some love taps to get it back out far enough to reseat the bullet and crimp it. It fired just fine.

I'm a newbie too and still learning. Be safe though, just remember its not just the charge, or the bullet, its also the pressure, less space/more pressure. Its gotta go somewhere!
 
Keep it on your bench as a reminder. I have a 454 casull case with a 55 degree flair on mine for that same reason.
 
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