Bullet cold weld to brass, real or myth?

[DartonJager]

I have been reading over the last 18-20 months about a phenomenon where the bullets for lack of a better description "cold welds" to the brass. I've seen a few articles by well known long range competitors, David Tubb chief among them claiming that bullets especially ones left loaded for extended periods of 3 or more months basically cold weld to the inside of the case neck and upon firing result in higher than normal pressures causing inaccuracy issues in the form of vertical stringing at longer ranges.

Any truth to this? and if so what does one do with their reloads that have sat for 6 months to a year or more? If this is indeed true and not a myth. I have about 50 300wsm taht have been sitting for about 7 months and I was considering using my kinetic bullet puller to lengthen my bullets a couple of 0.001's and then re-seat them to my desired length to in effect "break the cold weld" and eliminate any possible pressure spikes the cold well might induce.

So myth or fact and if cold weld is indeed a fact is my solution a wise choice?

Thanks,
Art D/Jager.

 

[venatic]

I definitely think that it happens but not so sure it's a big issue.... they may shoot better? If they are indeed cold welded they will be very difficult to move in the kinetic puller but you're idea is a solution that would correct the issue.
In the future if this is something you are concerned with just seat bullets long then seat them to correct length prior to use.

 

[jotrot]

It happen to me with new 223 brass that I loaded ton of and then sat for while and the charge was pretty warm and with the presure it was hard on primer pockets, Little bit of carbon in the neck helps on fired brass

 

[DartonJager]

Thanks for the replies, great advice venatic, will do exactly that.

 

[MagnumManiac]

It is most definitely true, but easy to avoid.
You simply use a dry type neck lube on your brass prior to seating bullets, or lube with a nylon brush during sizing.
I use fine powdered graphite during the sizing operation. I use closely matched expanders and honed neck dies for all of my reloading, some use mandrels, which are also lubed with graphite.
I have never had a cold weld issue since doing this, not once.

Cheers.

 

[kiwikid]

This is not the first time I have seen this mentioned on this forum and to be honest I have no idea if it is fact or fiction. One question I do have though is how do ammunition manufacturers over come this if it does indeed happen. I can imagine boxes of factory ammo sitting in warehouses and on the shelves of out of the way gun shops for months if not years. Any ideas ?

 

[bill123]

FYI in an interview, Tubb said that he loads large amounts of ammo in advance but seats the bullets long. When he's ready to shoot a batch, he re-seats the rounds he will use, breaking the weld and giving the bullets a fresh seat.

It's one of the Long Range Shooters of Utah YouTube interviews.

 

[MNbogboy]

Try to reseat your old loads (6 mo or more) . You most likely will feel or hear the snap when the bullet starts moving. Waaay more force than when initially seated.
Dissimilar metals = galvanic action = cold weld. Clean case & bullet = more. Atmospheric conditions also contribute t the effect.
Real yes. Pressure rise, maybe, maybe not. Accuracy can actually go either way.
More accurate may add to the case of increasing neck tension or crimping.
From what I gather most competition shooters are always using "fresh" ammo.
Think a good idea for lrhunters is to do the same. Practice in the spring with any leftovers. I do have one Rem 25-06 that loves old stuff...shoots good with fresh...but better with old and I can't duplicate it...go figure.

 

[Wedgy]

HBN coated bullets seems to help with this, I try to leave some carbon in the neck(no longer SS tumble or ultrasonic) and sometimes Q-tip the case neck with Imperial wax and I seem to get more uniform bullets seating pressures. Uncoated bullets and ultrasonic cleaned brass had very uneven seating pressures. Yes I have seen some very stuck bullets as I used to shoot a lot of military surplus ammo.

 

[FURMAN]

It happens. HBN, graphite lubing necks, not sonic cleaning all help. Factory ammo "avoids" this because even the most accurate factory ammo typically has very poor extreme velocity spreads which is typically what you will see with "cold welding" bullets to brass. Factory ammo is not tight toleranced enough to notice typically.

 

[Deleted member 103481]

What is everyone's timeline for how long is too long?

 

[FURMAN]

What is everyone's timeline for how long is too long?

I personally do not have that nailed down. I usually try not to load more than I know I will shoot unless going on a hunt far from home.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

If this is happening it sure doesn't seem to be an issue. I have ammo that I loaded years prior and occasionally use without issue.
Virtually every box of factory ammo is more then 3 months out from manufacture and most sits in warehouses or on the shelves for MUCH longer.
I have friends that don't reload. They typically buy a new rifle and enough ammo to last them through several hunting seasons.
And then there is that military ammo in .223, 308, 30-06 and so on that has been laying around for a decade or more.

 

[Wedgy]

If this is happening it sure doesn't seem to be an issue. I have ammo that I loaded years prior and occasionally use without issue.
Virtually every box of factory ammo is more then 3 months out from manufacture and most sits in warehouses or on the shelves for MUCH longer.
I have friends that don't reload. They typically buy a new rifle and enough ammo to last them through several hunting seasons.
And then there is that military ammo in .223, 308, 30-06 and so on that has been laying around for a decade or more.

We are talking about long range shots where a 50fps jump is 10" at 1,000 yards and 31" at 1,500 yards