switching bullets

[moooose102]

ihas anybody ever bought a box of loaded ammo, and pulled just the bullets out, switched them for a different bullet, and put them back together again? either to keep the bullets to use in another project, or because you did not like the bullets the shells came with?

 

[Remo-99]

Do you often like to gamble Moooose102?
Those factory loads would have been tested, to ensure safe pressures, with those exact same components it was loaded with.
Changing any single one of them could cause an unforeseen pressure issue.
I don't see any problems, if the bullet profiles are close, ie if they don't seat any deeper into the case reducing volume, and they are not seating closer into the rifling. Not to mention increased bearing surface and identical bullet diameter.

But Are You Willing to take those chances?
I wouldn't be willing to risk damage to my gun or person. But that might be just me.

 

[ants]

That's called "Mexican match ammo". I'll bet my own ancestors invented it.

You buy cheap military surplus, and buy a box of expensive match bullets of the same weight.
Then pull the mil-surp bulets and replace with match bullets. Keep the mil-surp fmj for blasting ammo.

It works. Not as accurate as Federal Gold Match, but surprisingly good.

Just make sure the match bullets are the same weight or lighter than the bullets you pull.

 

[qajaq59]

Now that's a great way to get hurt......

 

[moooose102]

i am not doing it! i was just curoius if anybody had. ///but, the thought had crossed my mind (several times) to buy a box of ammo, to get the bullets that i wanted that i can not get over the counter (winchester). but it is a teeribly expensive way to go just to get some special bullets.

 

[Bozo]

If you are buying the ammo to get the special bullets they use, then why don't you just shoot the ammo? It is already loaded.

 

[Walkalong]

+1 for ants

Folks do it regularly. Just switch similar bullets of the same weight.

I have some surplus powder that I got from some corroded ammo. I weighed a number of the charges and got the average weight. I would have no problem using it in the same caliber with the same weight bullet. Same goes for the bullets from those cases. Pulled .308 bullets. Fine for plinking. I just polished them up and boxed them up for future use. I could use the same powder and bullets in good cases. I don't shoot a lot of .308, and it is still sitting there, ready to go. When I run out of ammo, I'll use it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ants is certainly correct, Mexican Match is a safe and effective "product."
And if you have a lot of surplus and a lot of time, you can salvage as Walkalong describes.

But the OP is so coy about just what his objective is, I kind of wonder what is going on.

 

[Remo-99]

Jim, mixing unknown components is something I've done myself, although I won't freely admit to it, usually it's an educated guess at best, but still a guess none the less, reducing either the powder charge or bullet weight will often keep you on the safer side of things.
But it's not a practice that I would suggest to someone who may or may not be fully aware of the problems that can arise.

 

[Remo-99]

To further add, I, like many others will try to my/their best ability, to give text book answers to questions asked by the originator of the thread, including information from personal opinions and experiences, where possible. (Which may vary somewhat between views).

Sorry moooose102, to use your thread, in pointing that out.

 

[moooose102]

you are probably not going to offend me. i am 50+ years old, have had enough insults thrown my way over the years to sink a duck. if i deserve them, i learn something, if i dont, i just consider the source. i see no insults here.

 

[Walkalong]

you are probably not going to offend me. i am 50+ years old, have had enough insults thrown my way over the years to sink a duck. if i deserve them, i learn something, if i dont

That covers a lot of us here.