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Lapua brass question

Tactical30

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
May 5, 2009
1,098
3
46
Eastern Ohio
I had to pull about 150rds of reloads that had brand new Lapua brass (6.5mm),Dont ask why its a long story. I had just got into reloading maybe 4months ago and never had to pull any bullets. After pulling them I should NOT have to resize the necks or anything, right? What about reusing the bullets? It doesnt look like there is a scratch on them, meaning it looks like there is no visible damage to the bullets when I pulled them. Are they o.k. to use again or will they have a drop in accuracy? What about the brass, should I just throw powder in then and start seating new bullets or do I have to neck size them?
 
Re: Lapua brass question

You will be fine re-using your bullets. The bullet's base is where it is sensitive to damage affecting accuracy.

Measure the O.D. of the necks of the cases and compare that figure to the O.D. of a loaded round (same brass). That will tell you if you have adequate neck tension. If re-sizing is needed, pull the de-capping pin on the die.
 
Re: Lapua brass question

Any time I pulled bullets from loaded cases, I have had to resize the necks so that the rounds would have adequate neck tension to hold the bullet. Without at least neck sizing after pulling the bullets, there was a significant reduction in neck tension. But the bullets should be OK depending on how you pulled them...if you use the collet puller, it is like a super crimp on the bullet, and although useable, there is a degradation in accuracy.

A kinetic puller doesn't squeeze the bullets, but I'm sort of nervous about hammering a loaded round to get the bullet out...with a cranky primer, it could go "Bang", and that would startle me lots more than I want.