Do you have to resize brass if you never fire and pull the bullet?

[jlarose85]

Question for you guys, when doing load development and finding pressure, say you work up 6 increasing powder charges and find pressure on the 4th charge. How do you treat the last 2 unfired cases? I know I can pull the bullet and just dump the powder back in my keg, but do I need to resize the brass before using again? I'm pretty sure the answer is yes but I haven't run across this yet in reloading as I just started.

Appreciate it fellas.

 

[2buffalo]

Yes

 

[Rick Richard]

Yep

 

[jlarose85]

Appreciate it guys. I figured that was the answer. Just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[Roughrice]

I just neck size those to get the neck tension back.

 

[Terry Lightle]

I always have

 

[Varmint Hunter]

You could just reseat the bullets, but the neck tension will be lower. You could then use them for barrel fouling loads and you're good to go from there.

 

[Rick Richard]

It's all about CONSISTENCY. Can't expect ultimate results if not ALL are loaded with the same process steps.

 

[BrentM]

As all the rest said. If it is just fouling rounds you'd be ok but the neck tension etc is going to be off. It usually affects the shoulder a little too. Pulling the bullet pulls on the case. I just resize with the primer in and call it good.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I just neck size those to get the neck tension back.

That is what I do as well.

 

[Dean2]

Another vote for neck sizing if you are going to size at all. No point in having to lube an un-fired case. That said, neck tension may be slightly less but it won't be all over the map. It is very likely to be the same amount less on all cases. We are talking about rounds that haven't been neck turned. It is pretty easy to measure the outside and inside neck diameter to see how much tension you will have, or check it by feel by seating the replacement bullet.

We used to pull the FMJs out of 7.62 military ammo that we got for free. We would weigh the powder charges and even them up, and put 150 grain interlocks in their place to use for hunting. We could get .75 or better groups easily by doing that and we never sized the necks. We used the FMJs in 300 Win Mags for long distance coyote shooting.

 

[Roughrice]

Another vote for neck sizing if you are going to size at all. No point in having to lube an un-fired case. That said, neck tension may be slightly less but it won't be all over the map. It is very likely to be the same amount less on all cases. We are talking about rounds that haven't been neck turned. It is pretty easy to measure the outside and inside neck diameter to see how much tension you will have, or check it by feel by seating the replacement bullet.

We used to pull the FMJs out of 7.62 military ammo that we got for free. We would weigh the powder charges and even them up, and put 150 grain interlocks in their place to use for hunting. We could get .75 or better groups easily by doing that and we never sized the necks. We used the FMJs in 300 Win Mags for long distance coyote shooting.

I do the same with 5.56/223, 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x39 and they shoot much more accurately.