How Do You Sort Out Mixed Ammo?

[DeadCalm]

This isn't a realoading issue, although many reloaders will have an idea or two on this.

A well-meaning assistant (aka, wife) helped me clear my gun bench and in so doing mixed two batches of factory ammo into a single zip-loc.
batch #1: Federal Premium 230 gr. Hydra-Shok
batch #2: Federal Premium 165 gr. Hydra-Shok

How does one get them back into their designated categories for bullet weight? I have no powder scale. I couldn't mike enough difference on total cartridge length to know what was what. Maybe I should take them to the post office and ask them to weigh them on those great scales that they've got?

Thanks for your help.
Ross

 

[model 649]

Sure, you can do it by weight as you will have enough of a difference to pick up easily. Other than that, sometimes(with my handloads), I can see the heel of the bullet inside the case by the slight bulge it imparts as it is seated(when viewed carefully along it's profile). A 230 gr. bullet is noticeably longer than a 165 to my eye. The best way here, to me, would be the scale. I assume both types have the same case appearance, for instance, brass? So you don't have an obvious visual cue? Perhaps one group is older and more tarnished?
Josh

 

[Lupinus]

go to walmart and spent eight bucks or so for a cheap little foodscale for the kitchen. It should be accurate enough to give you a large enough difference that you can tell the larger and smaller loads.

Im assumign they are the same caliber and just different weights and charges?

 

[Sam]

I think it pretty unlikely that you have more than 100 rds total in that sack, so the expense can't be that much to expend the ammo.
Do yourself a training favor.
Set up a 50 yard slowfire target, and shoot all the stuff in accord with that discipline and event.
You should have 2 nice distinct groups and a some bullseye practice.

2 boxes of ammo isn't worth getting yer knickers twisted for.

Sam

 

[Poul D'eau]

Look at the side of the case. The 230 grain will be a longer bullet and you should be able to see where it stops in the shell.

I did the same thing with some 185-230 grain golden sabers.

 

[Gunpacker]

Make a balance beam

Visual depth of case distortion is good if you can see it. If you can't, you can make a simple balance beam by drilling a piece of wood with 3 holes. One on the center, and one on each end equally distant from the center of the stick. (popsicle stick) Carefully measure holes, they must be equally distant from the center hole. Hang the stick on the center hole and it will balance on a nail that is horizontal to the ground. Then figure out a simple way to hang a bullet on each end. Make weight of everything so that the apparatus hangs level when unloaded. You now have a balance beam. Put one bullet on each side, and if they balance, they are the same weight. If not, you know the heavier. Leave a known on one side, then simply try each bullet against the known.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Just gid rid of them at the range and replace them with some good stuff from Buffalo Bore or Cor-Bon.

 

[Azrael256]

Just gid rid of them at the range

That's what I usually do. I don't like to keep defensive ammo sitting around for more than about a year. I've burned a couple thousand rounds of surplus stuff that was older than my dad without a problem, but I'm just kinda paranoid about defensive ammo. It's cheap enough that it's not a problem to change it out regularly. I think Sam has the right idea about how to do it. It's kinda fun to run through a mixed magazine just to see what happens.

 

[Mannlicher]

just shoot them up at the range......... or spring for a scale if its that important.

 

[DeadCalm]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did, in fact take model 649's advice and checked for bullet bulge of the case. To make it even easier there is a cannelure-type ring around the case where the bullet bulges. Never noticed that before.