safe way to 'fix' an 'error'...

[Arbo]

was loading some .223, on two of them I got distracted (or brain farted) and didn't do the stroke to seat the primer, but didn't realize it until after I finished those two rounds...

So I have two that are loaded (imr 4198) and bullet seated and crimped... I set them aside in a little plastic box, and it seems the best way to deal with it is use a bullet puller, then pour out the powder... then put the cases back in the pile to be re-processed.

Just want to make sure that is 'right'. It seems that putting them in the press and seating a primer while they are otherwise loaded would be unsafe and potentially deadly. Right?

 

[Reefinmike]

deadly- no.
slight chance of a mini pipe bomb going off and throwing brass all over you- yes

Ill admit, Ive done it a couple times without even thinking on some of those pesky winchester 38 cases with super tight primer pockets that lead to high rising primers. In just a year ive been through about 20,000 primers and crushed about 25 all sorts of funny ways and never had a pop, but it is potentially dangerous. Now I just sort out all the winchesters, prime em separately, put the primed cases in a tray, run my finger along the top and find the ones that didnt seat all they way and give them some extra umph on the press.

but yes- pull the bullets, throw the powder back in the hopper, resize and then put the primer back in and go from there...

it sucks, but ya gotta be safe

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You are correct in thinking the safe thing to do is pull the bullets but you really don't have to reprocess the brass. Just do a quick necksize, seat the primer and load as normal.

BTW, it's only 2 bullets so what's the big deal on pulling them?

 

[Arbo]

Thanks, yeah, for me, it's safety first.

Not sure about the question of it being a big deal... I don't think I ever said it was... so I'm confused by that comment.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks, yeah, for me, it's safety first.

Not sure about the question of it being a big deal... I don't think I ever said it was... so I'm confused by that comment.

All I meant was it took you longer to make the post than it would to pull bullets from TWO rounds. It' was just a light hearted comment, sorta like "two rounds, that's all" !! LOL

 

[James2]

I have loaded for many years and have never once had a primer go bang when seating it and I have put them in upside down, and sideways. When you put one in sideways, you can't easily get it flush and you can't get it out of the shell holder until you put it in more, so I have really crushed them in sideways and still haven't set one off. Not saying you couldn't but it seems unlikely, yet I would pull the bullets too before putting a primer in. Afraid it wouldn't be pretty if one went off with powder and bullet in it.

I have one collet bullet puller in 30 cal. This is the way to pull bullets. It leaves no scar on the bullet and is easy. Drawback is you need one for each caliber. I have never used one of those "hammer" pullers, nor do I plan to buy one. Usually I use a pair of pliers and the press. The only problem with the pliers is it may mar the bullet a little.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Like James2 I have mutilated my share of primers. Even discovered a way for my press to slice them into pieces. They are far more tolerant of abuse than most give credit. And I have never known of one to go bang during seating. But one thing I won't do is install one on a round with powder and bullet installed. Some things aren't worth the risk, even if the odds are one in a million. My fingers have been good to me, and I hope to keep it that way.

 

[FROGO207]

FWIW I use a hand primer and never have a problem with high primers. I feel the primer seat and have IMHO better control over the process. I also batch process all my rounds using a SS press. I fill one loading block with brass primer up to visually verify primer insertion. Then when charging it I move it to another loading block in a different location. I am right handed so I work left to right as this seems to work best. A reloader needs to be extra aware of each stage of the process to avoid any problems IMHO. OP please review your process to help keep you safer if possible.

 

[Walkalong]

Primers are hard to set off, and I have crushed a few jamming them in sideways when they flipped on me (military cases with the crimp not quite removed all the way), but why chance it on two rounds. There are stories of overly sensitive primers that have gone off easily. Just because it hasn't happened to most of us, doesn't mean it can't happen.