Stupid question of the day

[kestak]

Greetings,

This is a stupid and rhetorical question only. NO ONE should try it.

Often, I get on a 223 round with a light strike. I disassemble the round, keep the bullet and brass but discard the powder.

Lately, I weighted the powder in the cases and to my surprise, whatever the headstamp, the powder inside weighted between 23.5 and 25.5 grains. I know each brand uses a different powder because looking at it, it looked different. Sometimes it was very obvious, sometimes it was a slight difference in color.

My stupid question #1: Can I reuse this powder by simply putting a new primer?

My very stupid question #2: Because it is really very close to the same weight, what would it do it I put all that powder in a can then throw 24.5 grains of the mix and reload it?

(Like our Great ruler says in his speech reading his 2 tele-prompters, and me, I am not lying like him...) Let me be clear! It is a rhetorical question. I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. It just lingers in my mind what would it do?

Thank you

 

[qajaq59]

My very stupid question #2: Because it is really very close to the same weight, what would it do it I put all that powder in a can then throw 24.5 grains of the mix and reload it?

It could fire properly or it could take your fingers off because the mix is volatile. Either way I sure wouldn't try it. Powder is a lot cheaper then surgery!!

 

[Walkalong]

I would question why I was getting the light strikes and fix that.

I would never reprime a case with bullet and powder no matter how unlikely it is that the primer would go off.

As long as you know what powder, toss it back in the jug, if you are 101% sure.

But as I said, find and fix the light primer strike problem.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

I think I badly explained myself. I pick up the brass in the range buckets. I don't have malfunctions with my guns.... If I do, I fix it.

I was explaining using a kinetic hammer to remove bullet and powder, deprime the striked primer that may be light strike or misfired primer (I see it often too) then I rebuild the round. I may be stupid sometimes, but I am not an idiot...hehehehe

About the powder, there is no way for me to know what it is. Which powder RP uses? or what powder Atlanta reloading arms uses? What about the powder in PMC or FC?

Like I said, it was a rhetorical question. I was just curious.

Thank you

 

[dmazur]

"Dumpster diving" for misfired cartridges sounds like a bad idea.

IMO, such things should be treated the same as brass found on the ground, except for the extra effort in removing the bullet, primer and powder.

Since the primer didn't fire, you have to treat it as live. Hearing protection, extra care when slowly depriming, etc.

Powder is fertilizer at this point. As already mentioned, you don't have enough information to try to reuse it with any degree of safety.

Since the bullet is intact, you might consider reusing it for plinking, after weighing and measuring it to get an idea of which data to use.

Bear in mind that bullet manufacturers use different profiles and a .223 70gr may have a different ogive location even though length is similar. Dangerously high pressures can result if "unknown" bullets are forced into the lands.

(We have rain barrels for misfires at our range, and these are periodically emptied when they get too full. I'll have to ask how this disposal is done. I've never seen anyone diving for the "pennies", however... )

 

[qajaq59]

I'll have to ask how this disposal is done.

I was told that in CT the state police burn them. Not sure what is done in other states or at the private ranges.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Indeed, you are right about the bullets. I weight each of them and reuse them for plinking. Not very accurate most of the time, but for the close range training/shooting it is perfect.

With the brass, this is the only element I reuse. I don't deprime live primers. I simply put the cartridge into a gun (with no powder and no bullet) and strike the primer. The primers who misfired don't go most of the time. The light strikes go almost all of the time. I wear ear protection but the bang is more like the paf of the things we were using when we were kids to play cobows/indians in our fake guns.

Thank you

 

[Walkalong]

I pick up the brass in the range buckets

Agh. Pull the bullet, toss the powder on your lawn, deprime, use the case.

 

[Moosie]

Do not under any condtions use the powder for another shell. Bullets are salvageable for plinking, cases are ok to reuse.

 

[R.W.Dale]

There really isn't that much drama here provided the same round with the same powder/ bullet is reassembled with a new primer.

Much like pulling FMJ bullets from surplus and replacing them with a SP of the same weight. Or making "Mexican match" ammo


Now this said would I bother #€\! no I have much better things to do with my time than repair crap ammo.

Now I wills say that this part is indeed a very very bad idea

My very stupid question #2: Because it is really very close to the same weight, what would it do it I put all that powder in a can then throw 24.5 grains of the mix and reload it?

 

[sonier]

the powder could be slightly burned as well , making a squib load and follow up shot could blow the barrel, pull the bullet weigh the bullet save the bullets, reuse the brass.