Loading pulled bullets

[Trapper6L]

Just a heads up for those that buy pulled bullets for plinking or whatever. I got an order from American Reloading for 1000 9mm 115gr Hi Shok bullets. If I didn't have previous experience with pulled bullets, I could have easily just reached in the box and start stuffing bullets in cases. But I know better and here's what happened. In the mix there were also 116 each 147gr bullets of the same Hi Shok bullet. Had I not been checking, I could have stuffed these 147gr bullets on top of a max load of Unique for the 115gr bullets. A major boom would have been in my future or at least a majorly damaged pistol. So heads up, if you're loading pulled bullets, make sure to check that they are all the same size and weight. Your life may literally be on the line.

I'm not dissing American Reloading here and that's not the intent of the post. They have humans working for them just like most industries and they are prone to human mistakes. At some point we have to take responsibility for what we do as well. When reloading, you have to be focused and eyes wide open. If you're not capable of that, quit reloading before you kill or injure yourself.

[Kenk]

Absolutely, serious anelness is your friend when it comes to reloading

[The_Shadow]

Exactly!  I know I had some 0.224" pulled bullets from RMR (Mixed lot) that had many different bullet styles and weights in the mix.  I weighed and separated them prior to loading any.
They had some 55 grain that were different styles, the had 60, 62 and 64 grain that looked very close only the weights were different...
Some were steel core others lead core, so yes you have to check everything!

[blaster]

I have started weighting the pulled bullets I buy too. the 180 gr. HST bullets that I have weighted ranged from 112 grs. ( the obvious one that made me start weighting) to 180 gr. with a bunch from 160 to 175 grs. in odd weights! I am guessing that Federal had a run of bullets that the lead core didn't get poured right. I didn't find any that were over 180 grs. but the variation of odd weights make me think that it is not just a matter of some 155 & 165 gr bullets getting mixed in with 180s. some you can actually see that the lead is low in the jacket.

[gadabout]

I also buy a lot from American and have been in your shoes!! I weight every bullet and some are so close it's scary. Some of the quantities are even stated as having a few wrong weight bullets mixed in but American is good about stating this to look out for. I love the company and buy all my bullets from them mostly.  Craig
P.S. I load light in general so could reload some wrong and live to tell the tail I think.

[blaster]

I just weighted up a bag of 180 gr HST s today. most were 178-79 grs. point something. the lowest was 162 the highest was 185.3. there was only 2 bullets at 185 gr. and 5 around 165gr. but had about 20 that weighted around 175 gr.

[gadabout]

Just thought of one more thing. Some of the bullets come in with dirt in bedded on the bullet or in cracks etc. This also has a bearing on the weight.  Not much but some. Craig

[Univibe]

If I bought bullets and there were 4 or 5 different kinds in the batch, I'd find a new supplier

[The_Shadow]

UniVibe, the ones O bought were sold as a mixed batch of pullet projectiles at a very reasonable price point.
It also gave me several bullet types and weights to play with...
Companies have even accidently mixed up new bullets and then sell them off so they don't have to deal with the mixups...

[Taterhead]

Good advice! Another thing to do us check diameter on the full length of the bearing surface.

Also, many pulled commercial pistol bullets are excessively crimped. I just went through a lot of 9mm fmj rn that had been swaged to .354" or smaller. Thin-walled FC cases had zero purchase, so setback was easy with that brass.

Another time, I received some .224" bullets. They were .224" except at the heel. The heel was .226-.227. So the heel acted like a neck expander. It pushed through the neck, leaving no tension fit on the .224" shank. The bullets would have some seating force as the heels passed through the neck, then would fall into the case.