New to Reloading with Newbie Question

[kcofohio]

I was just about to ask how big your hands were!

Do the bullets set back when chambered? Is the real question we’re looking for.
If they don’t move in use it won’t really matter if your meat hooks can crush ’em.

^^What he said! ^^

 

[Skgreen]

I took some brand new factory Winchester .223 55gr FMJ cartridges ,,,. These rounds had a COAL of 2.196" and I was able to push them back to 1.650" and probably could have moved them more had I kept pushing. Plus these factory FMJ rounds do indeed have a cannelure.

Sounds to me like you would have pushed those in all the way as well except that you were compacting the powder,,,

The thumb test doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible to move the bullet,,, More like 'improbable',,,

 

[71GTO]

"The thumb test doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible to move the bullet,,, More like 'improbable",,,

Skgreen

I am finding that the "thumb test" is like a lot of other things with reloading, it requires quite a bit of experience as well as an education. There are certain things that manuals and videos can't teach and must be learned through hands on experience because so much seems to rely on getting used to a certain feel or touch. I'm sure I'll get there eventually, but I just want to make 100% sure that I am going to make safe ammunition for my sake as well as anyone who may be shooting next to me. Thanks

 

[Blue68f100]

Push the bullets when they are setting on a set of bath room scales then you will have a force reading.

Another test is to measure one, chamber it, then eject and measure again. Then compare to your original length for movement.

 

[bullseye308]

Load one in the mag and let the bolt fly closed under its own spring pressure. Measure it first and do this 3 times. If the round changes less than .003” I’d call it good. Obviously this is intended for an AR type rifle.

 

[71GTO]

Load one in the mag and let the bolt fly closed under its own spring pressure. Measure it first and do this 3 times. If the round changes less than .003” I’d call it good. Obviously this is intended for an AR type rifle.

bullseye308

Thank you for the suggestion and actually that is my plan because the "thumb test" that I have read about so many times is not reliable at all as there are too many variables involved (personal strength being a big one), that makes it fairly useless, at least in my experience.

Not to beat a dead horse, but I tried to remove the bullets from the 12- cases that I was able to set back with just thumb pressure. I use a Hornady Kinetic Bullet Puller to accomplish this and have broken down 100's of loaded rounds using it.

Normally it only takes 2-3 good wacks on a solid oak board to accomplish this, but with the all rounds that I was able to "set back", it took between 4-6 solid hits before the bullets finally gave way. This tells me that there had to be more than ample neck tension on these rounds, which definitely proves to me that the "thumb test" is absolutely useless as a test for set back. I only wish that I had done as you suggested before breaking these rounds down, but I have no doubt that "letting the bolt fly" would not have caused any setback.

Luckily I had left my seating die set where it was when I loaded the last 6- rounds so I will seat another 6- rounds, load them in the magazine and cycle each one through my AR. If each one passes this test than I will have piece of mind to continue on to the next stages of reloading and hopefully produce some safe and somewhat accurate rounds.

I know that dropping and weighing powder will probably create a whole new set of headaches, but I have studied this a lot and am up for the next challenge!

Thanks again for everyone's help in this matter and hopefully no one will mind if I have more questions in the future. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to contribute some of my learned knowledge and experience to the newbies! Tom

 

[Skgreen]

Lots of opinions out there. Hard to quantify a lot of the aspects they involve.
Also hard to determine if they are wholly, partially, or 'not even' applicable to ones situation as well.
(FWIW, I never have 'thumb tested' a round, but I knew if I turned the cartridge upside down and the bullet fell out, I had a problem!!! )

RE: hopefully no one will mind if I have more questions in the future
Ask away! Lotsa folks here with a lot of experience that are more than happy to share it / help out!!!

RE: maybe one day I'll be able to contribute some of my learned knowledge and experience to the newbies!
We were all new at one time and judging by your posts, I predict 'that day' will come quicker than you may think.

Have fun and be safe!!!!

 

[bullseye308]

Don't feel too bad. We all started at the same place. Some of us started before the internet and had to figure it all out from books alone. We will be glad to help.

 

[Demi-human]

, but I have studied this a lot and am up for the next challenge!

Hey...

Be gentle with the scale...

 

[71GTO]

Don't feel too bad. We all started at the same place. Some of us started before the internet and had to figure it all out from books alone. We will be glad to help.

Lol those days were tough for sure. I still can't believe that I made it through school with nothing more than a set of Britannica Encyclopedias and a dictionary in our house. To this day I still say the best thing I ever received was my first Library card as it opened up a new new world of knowledge and adventure. The kids growing up nowadays have no clue how good they have it as far as accessibility to knowledge goes.