DedOn Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I have about 1000 rounds of poorly made 9mm reloads that a friend of mine bought at a gun show years ago. He gave them to me and I have hung on to them thinking the components were still good and could be used. I recently picked up a 550 to start getting into reloading and started with 45 and 223, the rounds I shoot the most, but started thinking about all that bad ammo sitting there. I do have 9mm guns and will start reloading 9 next. So the question is what to do with the complete cartridges? I believe they are left too long or there is the wrong bullets used. Should I pull the bullets and reuse the brass with primers already installed? Is the powder useless as I have no idea what it was loaded with? As I said just getting into reloading so advice would be appreciated. I have been scouring the site for months now and have searched but couldn't find anything close to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigred1 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I think after you pull the first 100 bullets your gonna realize the juice isnt worth the squeeze. What ever you decide, do not try and reuse an unknown powder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraj Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 The bullets, Cases and primers could be reused. If your going to pull that many I would look into a Hornady collet bullet puller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Pull em, the powder is trash. I pulled ~100 tonight and that was plenty for one sitting, it took about 40 min. If you're interested, I would break them off a little at a time each reloading session: maybe pull 50 at the beginning and 50 at the end. The 550 makes it easy to reload primed brass, so you're good there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 they are too long or wrong bullets used. That's a big difference (too long or wrong bullets). I'd pin down the problem before I made a decision. Exactly how long are they? If they're too long - it might be possible to shorten them in your new press? Depends on how they're crimped. What's wrong with the bullet? Diameter? Weight? If they can't be used in 9mm, I wouldn't pull them and use them again in another 9mm? Possible they were "WRONG" for your friend's pistol, but okay for yours? Kneelingatlas gave some good advice - IFF you're going to pull them and save the components - no need to pull them all in one session. Good luck with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Just pull them, never use an unknown powder !!! As above, check out the bullets - use if good - pull the decapping rod out of the size die and reload the primed cases. I'd try a few empty cases and make sure the primers function properly - go bang - before I'd load any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Can you take a picture of the loads and post it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bayougump Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 I've collected so many over last year and half its not funny, I think I'm gonna do what atlas said, just pull a few every session and eventually get them all outta the crap bin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicocrawler Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 It never pulled that many.....when I find a unfired at a match and no one claims it I'll take it home and pull it, usually reuse the case and bullet if the bullet is weight and style I use then I burn the powder outside to dispose of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Don't burn any powder you are going to discard, it makes good lawn fertilizer !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinz Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 If the rounds fit my case gauge, I save them and shoot them in a Ruger Blackhawk that's appropriate for the caliber. If they don't fit the case gauge, I pull them apart on the spot. That way, there is no accumulation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DedOn Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thanks for all the replies, some good advice on here. I will get some pics of the ammo on here tonight when i get home from work.. I wish I had more answers as to why they wont cycle properly. They will chamber and fire as far as I remember, they just wont feed right. The bullets that were used are plated hollow points as far as I can tell, which have a very steep shoulder on them and look to be left long. I haven't had a chance to even measure them as it just occurred to me last night as I was laying down to bed. Like I said I have just been getting into reloading and have gathered a whole lot more knowledge recently much in thanks to this wonderful forum and all the very knowledgeable members that are most generously sharing that knowledge with the rest of us. I was going to pick up a collet puller anyways, so I guess I'll go that route and check them out as I pull them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterthefish Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 I was going to pick up a collet puller anyways, so I guess I'll go that route and check them out as I pull them. Collet puller is the way to go. I prefer the Hornady cam lock style - pulled about 100 38 short colts in 15 mins the other day - they were loaded with 3.4 GR Titegroup and 158 Gr Berry RN loaded at about 1.140. Quickload showed the pressure at about 110,000, which is probably ballpark since they blew apart the 627 of the guy I got them from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 If the rounds fit my case gauge, I save them and shoot them in a Ruger Blackhawk that's appropriate for the caliber. If they don't fit the case gauge, I pull them apart on the spot. That way, there is no accumulation. This is not the recommended procedure. Guess you've never heard of a double or triple charge with a very fast powder? You are playing with fire... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DedOn Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 So this is the ammo in question. Looks to have the right oal at 1.10 if not a little short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) Looks like 3 or 4 different bullets, each requiring a different (probably) OAL. And, I think I see 3 different OAL's. If they "chamber and fire" properly, not sure why they won't feed. Seems to be an entirely different problem, to me. Springs, underpowered, mags, etc etc etc??? I wouldn't start pulling them yet. Are any of the bullets feeding? Which do you have the most of? I'd try to get them feeding and shooting properly. Does factory ammo or your new reloads work? I wouldn't necessarily label them all as "BAD AMMO" just yet. Edited January 16, 2015 by Hi-Power Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 That's a strange looking bullet profile... A huge hollow point with a long shoulder, 1.1" isn't too bad, but I bet those bullets would have to be seated to an inch or less to chamber in CZ. What types of 9mm pistols do you have? You could seat them deeper to fit your chamber, but not knowing what powder or charge is inside I would use caution... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshxdm9 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 They look like berry's 124gr hollow points Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) If I had those rounds and wasn't willing to shoot them up, I would pull them apart, save the primed cases, dump the powder, and give the bullets to a friend to use as feed stock for his bullet casting. I just have a kinetic bullet puller and a 4x4 hardwood post to beat it on, but with the right technique, it's easy for me to pull 300+ rounds an hour, once I'm in Zen mode. I just pulled 1800 rounds of a load I no longer use, salvaging everything: Primed cases with Federal primers, jacketed bullets at 12 cents each, and N320 powder, which at local gun shows is currently going for just under $40 a pound. For me it was worth the five and a half hours (in three sessions) to get $350 worth of reusable components,, especially since they are my favored ones. Your situation is a bit diffferent so YMMV. Edited January 16, 2015 by kevin c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DedOn Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Looks like 3 or 4 different bullets, each requiring a different (probably) OAL. The pic with multiple bullets was to show them in comparison to some other 9mm (Honady, and some factory rman). All of the the funny looking hollow points are all within .02 hovering around 1.1 That's a strange looking bullet profile... A huge hollow point with a long shoulder, 1.1" isn't too bad, but I bet those bullets would have to be seated to an inch or less to chamber in CZ. What types of 9mm pistols do you have? I have an XD sub compact that eats everything but these. You could seat them deeper to fit your chamber, but not knowing what powder or charge is inside I would use caution... I thought about seating them deeper so they feed but didnt want to run into compression issues not knowing what powder and how much of it there is. Maybe I'll pull a couple and see how much powder is in them and if there is room to seat deeper. Yes these will seat if dropped into an open chamber and will go into battery with no problem. They seemed to fire alright too as far as I remember with a similar recoil impulse as other 9 so i'm sure the charge is within reason. It's really just the shape of the bullet that is not allowing it to cycle through a semi. We did try them in a couple other guns as well but it's been so long I can't remember what they were, but I know they wouldn't work in any gun, so I wrote them off as not good ammo. I think the verdict is that I am going to pull a few of them and check them out a little further. Weight the powder, check how full the case is and if there's room I'll seat them down a little further and give them a shot. If that doesnt work pull the bullets and reuse the primered brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Just pull them....exactly how many bullets do your fingers cost? In the long run (even in the short run), it's not worth the chance. Pull them, dump the powder for fertilizer, reload with your powder and oal, and rock on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 What he said up there ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 i usually end up with some un fired rds after matches when i'm picking up brass. i pull the bullet, discard the powder, reuse the primed case and reuse the bullet for making dummy rounds ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wgj3 Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 How ab finding someone with a 929 and letting them blow through em the fun way. Swap with 'em or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinz Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 If the rounds fit my case gauge, I save them and shoot them in a Ruger Blackhawk that's appropriate for the caliber. If they don't fit the case gauge, I pull them apart on the spot. That way, there is no accumulation. This is not the recommended procedure. Guess you've never heard of a double or triple charge with a very fast powder? You are playing with fire... I thought we were talking about about questionable casings/messed up rounds, NOT questionable powder charges! Of course I'm not a proponent of Russian Roulette! If I misunderstood the content of the thread I apologize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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