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

[C-130 Dude]

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.

There are two issues here. 1. Your neck tension will be affected requiring neck sizing. 2. Pulling the bullet will stretch the sholder requiring set back. Use a full length die with neck bushing and get both done in one step. Always start from the same starting point when reloading. It's about consistency.

 

[Mikecr]

I predict that neck tension won't change.
Regardless of what interference you set the neck at, bullet seating expanded necks to cal, with spring back gripping.
So you pull a bullet, the neck springs back to ~1/2thou interference, now you seat another bullet into that interference.
It's exactly as it was before you pulled the bullet.

 

[Alibiiv]

If you're looking for accuracy then by all means neck size. I don't have neck size dies so it's FLR for me without the expander in the die then mandrel die the necks. I also do not use a pulled bullet for anything other than for fire-forming, or plinking loads. I really haven't noticed any differences with pulled bullets, however I always strive for consistency. If I'm using pulled bullets I'm playing and not serious.

 

[liber]

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.

Some folks do it differently, but I ALWAYS pull 'em and reload with the selected load.

I ALWAYS run the case through a case gauge to check, even if I don't fire it, I just do that as an extra precaution when I reload.

I don't neck size, but the neck gets sized by the expander, and then the neck gets proper size from the die. I just bump the shoulder (FL sizing), but the neck needs to fit and be within length even if it's new brass. I ALWAYS check my loaded case in the case gauge also. I have seen cases that fit before you seat the bullet, and it doesn't fit in the gauge, or it's a tight fit. I pull those also, if I find them. And finally, crimping will sometimes prevent a case that passes the gauge to fail.

I know this may seem to be a redundant way of reloading, but so far I haven't blown off my face.

Some folks only reload 5 or 10 rounds a year and don't practice at all, but I try not to be one of them. In that regard, pulling a few bullets is no big deal for me. Once I find my load, I will most likely stick with it all year or even more. I've been using a 308 load for about 10 years.

 

[C-130 Dude]

I predict that neck tension won't change.
Regardless of what interference you set the neck at, bullet seating expanded necks to cal, with spring back gripping.
So you pull a bullet, the neck springs back to ~1/2thou interference, now you seat another bullet into that interference.
It's exactly as it was before you pulled the bullet.

At least in my experience, I respectfully disagree. I pulled down 1500 new .308 mil rounds a couple years ago that I got from a contract cancelation. All were LC 14, 15, and 16. I measured every one to determine neck tension and sholder bump. Not one passed spec. All required full length resize and neck tension reset. I used a full length die with neck bushing to do the job. 90% also required trimming. And lets not forget removing the mil crimping. I ended up with 1425 usuable cases due to some having neck cracks and body denting. After the math, I spent about 29 cents per case. The bullets and powder had already been removed by the contractor. Every case required removal of sealent and some powder stuck in the sealent. The primers were to be considered unservicable. Having said all this, not sure I would go through it all again. Very time consuming. And that sealent was a real bear to remove, even using various solvents.

 

[liber]

At least in my experience, I respectfully disagree. I pulled down 1500 new .308 mil rounds a couple years ago that I got from a contract cancelation. All were LC 14, 15, and 16.

I don't know about your LC brass, but I've been reloading and shooting LC 308 Match brass for years. I bought a bunch of it from a gunsmith I know. I think those cases are harder than Lapua, by far. I don't have an annealer, so broke a press handle trying to resize...

I was trying to resize a 308 case into 8.6 blackout. The Hornady 6.5CM cases resize just fine, but are not near as tough as those LC 308 Match cases. Are those the cases you're reloading? I think the cases I have came from Camp Perry, but not 100% sure.

To RCBS's credit, it was a Summit 2000 press that I've used for 15+ years, and they sent me a replacement handle for free. I didn't expect that, but they didn't have the original handle for sale, only the short one. I use a roller lever handle on it, so no worries...impressive support considering I bought the press used for $100...

 

[david g ranes]

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.

I have used cheap 223 factory shells and pulled the full metal jacket bullet and reseated an hornady v max in it they shoot really good for what I use it for. Actually they shoot better than I expected for an automatic rifle and never had a problem with bullet movement. Maybe in a bigger case I don't know. David

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

Just back out the decapping pin and run the case thru the die

 

[Beluebow]

I predict that neck tension won't change.
Regardless of what interference you set the neck at, bullet seating expanded necks to cal, with spring back gripping.
So you pull a bullet, the neck springs back to ~1/2thou interference, now you seat another bullet into that interference.
It's exactly as it was before you pulled the bullet.

I'm gonna agree with this.

It seems to have less affect if you're running lighter neck tension vs heavy.

I watched Doug Skogman pull bullets, reseat a different bullet, and win the Europeans National Championship.

 

[C-130 Dude]

I don't know about your LC brass, but I've been reloading and shooting LC 308 Match brass for years. I bought a bunch of it from a gunsmith I know. I think those cases are harder than Lapua, by far. I don't have an annealer, so broke a press handle trying to resize...

I was trying to resize a 308 case into 8.6 blackout. The Hornady 6.5CM cases resize just fine, but are not near as tough as those LC 308 Match cases. Are those the cases you're reloading? I think the cases I have came from Camp Perry, but not 100% sure.

To RCBS's credit, it was a Summit 2000 press that I've used for 15+ years, and they sent me a replacement handle for free. I didn't expect that, but they didn't have the original handle for sale, only the short one. I use a roller lever handle on it, so no worries...impressive support considering I bought the press used for $100...

I anneal and full length size with bushing EVERY time. No exceptions. I measure the sholder bump and case mouth tension of every case and trim as required. I prep all my cases the same way. I always start from the same starting point. This is my way of controlling variations and ensuring consistency as much as I can. Is it time consuming and sometimes a PITA, yes. But I never need be concerned about my cases or where I start from.