Re-using collet-pulled XTPs

I have pulled jacketed rifle bullets and re-used them with no significant change in performance. It didn't appear that there was much if any change to bullet dimensions, although I did not actually measure. But I have about 40 .357 Hornady 158-grain XTP HPs that I pulled with my RCBS collet style puller and the diameter of the bullet in front of the cannelure has been reduced and the bullet length has increased. I guess for higher end bullets like this I will opt for the kinetic puller in the future.

Just eyeballing where the ogive starts, I'd estimate that somewhere between 10% and 20% of the bullet's bearing surface is in front of the cannelure, and thus the total bearing surface of the bullet has been effectively reduced by that amount. I'm a little weak on internal ballistics so I don't now if that change will have much effect on trajectory and accuracy, as opposed to changes in neck tension, powder charge, crimp, etc. Assuming I wish to take the time to measure each bullet and adjust my seating die to make sure the bullet bases are the same distance from the case head as the safe load I've worked up, and check to make sure the nose of the bullets thus seated don't protrude beyond the front of my revolver's cylinder, is the deformation of the bullet nose likely to create much discernable difference in performance? For use as practice rounds I think they would be fine since I probably can't shoot the difference. How about shooting them over my chronograph? Is it likely that velocity will be affected much by the reduced bearing surface? I'm too cheap to throw them out.

 

I would reload and shoot them, even just as practice plinking ammo. I don't believe their is any danger in using them, they might not perform as well as factory new but they should still work.

ETA: If it makes you feel any better Remington made the Golden Sabre bullet that basically did what you did to those XTP's The bullet at the back is the larger groove diameter and the front half of the cylindrical part of the bullet is actual smaller the same as the nominal bore diameter.


Remington Gold Saber 45 ACP.

 

I would load them and shoot them as normal. I am willing to bet 90% of us could not shoot the difference on target. Let us know if you see a difference though.

 

If all you are doing is punching paper with them, I would just load them up and shoot them... albiet with a charge that is not tapping the top of data, and with a powder that isn't so sensitive to bullet seating depth.

 

I have powder coated cast bullets for my paper punching. If the pulled XTPs shoot the same on target as virgin bullets do, I'll keep them for their intended purpose, which is hunting.

I'll load some up , do a velocity/group size comparison and post the results.

 

I completely sympathize with being too cheap to throw them away. But you did say you only had 40 of them. By the time you build test loads, chrono them, shoot for groups, it doesn't seem like you'll have many left to put aside as hunting stock. I would just use them for a practice session and move on.

 

It sounds like the bases were unaffected. There will very most likely be no measurable affect. And if there was, you would need a sample size at least as large as your handful of 40 to have any statistical value vs the normals.

What's the purpose? If you're shooting paper at distances inside 25 yards I suggest you forget that you pulled them and carry on.

 

Load 'em and plink 'em.
If they turn out to be accurate, then maybe save the rest of them for their original intended use? Or not. But no need to throw them out.

 

I've already worked up the load. These are from rounds from ladders with three different powders. I hit pressure signs before I got to the top of the ladders.

 

I would use my normal load for those and shoot/analyze a few. Any difference than your "normal" load with this bullet? Do you use this bullet often, and have more on hand?