General reloading questions

[stello1001]

Hey all,

I'm somewhat new to reloading but been very successful and having great results thus far. For the most part, I'm good as far as the whole process goes. I just have a few questions and I think I know the answers but would like to get a 2nd opinion from more experienced loaders.

Firstly, below are some brass cases I have. Which of these have crimped primers? I've searched online and looked at pictures. I think I know which are crimped but again, prefer 2nd opinion.

We're going to call these brass pieces A - H from left to right so there's no confusion.

First pic is A B C D E F G H.
Second pic is A B C D E F & half of G
Third pic is C D E F G H

Lastly, I have ammo loaded from my previous barrel. It had a long throat as it was nearing it's end of life. Therefore, ammo is loaded too long for new barrel and the charge is a bit much. I will pull loaded rounds apart and load them to new barrel recipe.

Because they've had a bullet seated in the case for months, should I resize case/neck or will I be good to just seat bullet at new depth? Obviously this would be done after dumping powder and re-charging with appropriate charge weight.

Thanks a bunch...

**edit to add**

Should have thrown these in there too.with the crimped primers question. This is fgmm 7.62

And this...

I should have also mentioned this is all for bolt guns. I do not have any AR style rifles. And whatever brass I end up reloading from these posted above, will be for bolt gun.

 

[6x45]

B and F for sure possibly D

I’ve pulled a lot of bullets and just seated them back into the same case. This is mostly bolt gun stuff. If it’s for an AR the neck tension may be too little and the bullet might set-back during the violent ride up the feed ramp. You can use a crimp die if it is for an AR.

 

[stello1001]

B and F for sure possibly D

I’ve pulled a lot of bullets and just seated them back into the same case. This is mostly bolt gun stuff. If it’s for an AR the neck tension may be too little and the bullet might set-back during the violent ride up the feed ramp. You can use a crimp die if it is for an AR.

You bring up a really good point. I will go add it to my OP that this is strictly for bolt guns. I do not have any autoloaders.

Thanks

 

[6x45]

FGMM is crimped. Not sure about the Norma, but I don’t think it is.

 

[RegionRat]

B is a full crimp, and F is a stab crimp.

BTW, if you decap carefully, you should be able to tell the difference.

Because they've had a bullet seated in the case for months, should I resize case/neck or will I be good to just seat bullet at new depth? Obviously this would be done after dumping powder and re-charging with appropriate charge weight.

It would always be best to start with an unmolested case, but since these are being pulled down to have the powder dumped why not just size the necks?
Even then, I wouldn't use these for anything critical other than a test to see how they did versus ones the were prepped properly.

Downstream, you may consider having the ability to measure seating force. Then you would be able to determine how the neck prep affects the performance.

Good Luck and welcome to the rabbit hole.....

 

[Doom]

Only military calibers will be crimped. So 223/556 NATO and 308/7.62x51. Oh, 50BMG.

 

[stello1001]

Only military calibers will be crimped. So 223/556 NATO and 308/7.62x51. Oh, 50BMG.

I know that

**edit to add**

But some boutique type ammo makers may put a primer crimp on AR cartridges that may not necessarily be military. Like the grendel for example, which is a popular AR cartridge.

And on those that put a full crimp that just look like a circle around the primer are the toughest for me to ID because even non-crimped primers look like they have a circle around them.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

I know that

**edit to add**

But some boutique type ammo makers may put a primer crimp on AR cartridges that may not necessarily be military. Like the grendel for example, which is a popular AR cartridge.

And on those that put a full crimp that just look like a circle around the primer are the toughest for me to ID because even non-crimped primers look like they have a circle around them.

The two that are crimped are 308Win and 5.56.

Grendel isn't crimped.

 

[RegionRat]

Also note that unfired "F" sample with the stab crimp has visible sealant.