Have you ever tweaked Milsurp ammo?

But I would remove the mil-spec. bullet and substitute a commercial bullet of the same weight...
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That, for me, would negate most if not all the savings of playing around with this ammo in the first place. Bullets are by far the most expensive component after new brass. At least brass can be reused (if not berdan).

Going back to collet pullers, I've also seen praise given to the Hornady cam-lock puller. Apparently much more repeatable once set up and available here, too. Not cheap, mind you... but still a bit cheaper than the RCBS.

With my track record of having to dismantle rounds, I may well go for it. I think it is still something that would be best used on a fixed press rather than my hand-press which sees the most action right now.
 
Buddy does it with is nagant ammo. redoes all the charges and matches the bullets by weight. Like others have said - the cost of some of the components alone is more than the cost of surplus ammo

takes up some time, but he enjoy it.
 
All the "tweeking military ammo" done that I know of was done to improve the ammo, mostly for hunting. Why would anyone disassemble a military round and replace/reload with the same components. Won't be saving any money, and the only "improvement" would be consistent powder charges...
 
Why would anyone disassemble a military round and replace/reload with the same components. Won't be saving any money, and the only "improvement" would be consistent powder charges...
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As I've already explained, complete milsurp ammo for my .308 costs less than just the bullet I usually use if I am handloading.

I'm not expecting clover leaves at a mile. But if I can improve the ammo by reassembling with a more suitable, more consistent powder charge, the bullet seated closer to the lands, the neck tensioned nicely, I may get a cartridge that is accurate enough to make it worth doing.

If that still sounds unreasonable to you fine, but I suggest you have go at reloading at Estonian prices before you knock it!!
 
Why would anyone disassemble a military round and replace/reload with the same components. Won't be saving any money, and the only "improvement" would be consistent powder charges...
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If you pull, average the charge, and load back up with weighed amounts verses thrown, you have effectively equalized the "lot" of ammo your working with. If your able to set the OAL longer and gain .5 - 1 MOA accuracy in your rifle, another plus. Now shooting 200 of these same type loads for twenty cents each, verses hunting loads which run a buck fifty each is plenty of reason.

Thing is components aren't as widely available nor as inexpensive in some places as they are in others. We take for granted that we can run down to the "local" shop and pick up several types of powder, primers, or other components, usually within 10-30 minutes of the house in most cases. We don't have to worry about having too many of one to keep from getting enough of the other, or getting a permit for another type or allotment either. We have it pretty good even with the shortages and price gouging we were still better off and had it easier than a lot of folks do elsewhere.
 
Mexican Match can make average ammo much better , by simply changing the bullet to a better quality one.

Pulling a 55gr FMJ and replacing it with a better quality 50gr Ballistic tip will produce a noticeable increase in accuracy.
 
Mexican Match can make average ammo much better , by simply changing the bullet to a better quality one.
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I agree, but OP doesn't want to use good/replacement bullets. I'm reading he just wants to make the military ammo more "consistent"...:rolleyes:
 
I'm reading he just wants to make the military ammo more "consistent"...
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In which case I assuming your choosing not to read the other comments I made about prohibitive pricing.

If you want to give advice, great. It's appreciated.

But don't then take offence if that advice is not taken to its fullest, especially when there is a valid reason...
 
Yes I understand reloading components are very expensive where you are. That is really a sad situation (not sarcasm).

).I pulled the bullets,weighed the charges,got an average across a decent sampling,dropped the charge weight down a couple grains and worked back up to an accurate load
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This is pretty much what I had in mind, but keeping the original 168gn bullets. These are Finnish surplus, I believe. The packaging certainly is.
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Reading that I understood that you were going to/want to pull the bullets and use a more consistent charge by averaging the charges. Does that mean that you're not going to pull the bullets and average the charges using the same powder? Or are you going to pull the bullets and reuse the powder and bullets?If so your criticism about my posts seem to be kinda worthless/out of left field...

So, how is this statement incorrect?
I agree, but OP doesn't want to use good/replacement bullets. I'm reading he just wants to make the military ammo more "consistent"...
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Seating Berdan primers is no problem as long as the primer is the right diameter, but many Berdan primed cases use odd (to us) size primers (e.g., .303 British). But decapping Berdan primers is another story. I have tried the water method and ended up with a cold shower I didn't really need. I have also used the Berdan decapper that uses a sharp punch. That worked better and is fairly fast, though obviously a lot slower than the Boxer decapper that is part of a press.

I eventually acquired Boxer brass for everything but a few odd-wad calibers, and I have enough factory ammo for those.

Jim
 
If so your criticism about my posts seem to be kinda worthless/out of left field...

So, how is this statement incorrect?
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On the face of it, it is not incorrect.

However, you've omitted the smiley that you initially used in the post I quoted, although you've kept the inverted commas.

Like it or not, as simplistic as they are, those smileys are very well designed at conveying tone. That is why we have them.

Inverted commas also convey meaning. That of "so called".

Between those two I get the clear impression not of statement of fact, but of more a derisory tone. To my mind that is worthless/out of left field...
If I read that particular post again, it still carries the same tone for me, despite the subsequent clarification.

Ultimately only you know what you really think and exactly what you wanted to convey. And how.

If you tell me it was all matter of fact, nothing more and I've misunderstood, then I'll apologise. If not, then my criticism stands.


But decapping Berdan primers is another story. I have tried the water method and ended up with a cold shower I didn't really need. I have also used the Berdan decapper that uses a sharp punch. That worked better and is fairly fast, though obviously a lot slower than the Boxer decapper that is part of a press.
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I'm sure when the days get darker again, if my plan for this ammo has worked and I find myself with a plentiful brass supply, I may investigate whether or not standard boxers fit these cases. If so it would be a cheap supply of brass too if not the best quality. Good to have a Plan B.
 
I assume you know that Boxer primers, regardless of size, can't be used in Berdan cases unless the anvil is reamed out. That can be done, but is yet another reason I just toss Berdan cases. There is another problem, though. I don't think there would be a problem with pistol loads, but there could be with rifle loads. If you convert Berdan brass to use Boxer primers, you end up with 2 or 3 flash holes. Now it is something hidden, and most folks don't even think about it, but the flash hole in factory ammo is tightly controlled. If it is oversize, the flash can ignite the powder too fast and increase pressures significantly. The same would be true if the Berdan anvil were reamed or drilled out in addition to the original Berdan flash holes.

Jim
 
I assume you know that Boxer primers, regardless of size, can't be used in Berdan cases unless the anvil is reamed out.
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I know that in principal but have never done it. I suppose careful drilling of a flash hole would do it.
 
So, the quote function does not transfer smileys as the original post. Does that change what was written? I have no criticism of your needs/wants to "tweek" military ammo (and truthfully, I couldn't care less), but I read what you wrote (just the black letters/words, and not the stuff "between the lines") that you wanted to reuse all the components in an attempt to create better, more accurate ammo. Do me the courtesy of reading my posts the same way, what was written, not what you surmise I may have written.

Done with this...
 
Do me the courtesy of reading my posts the same way, what was written, not what you surmise I may have written.
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And that is exactly what I have done.

Nevertheless, as you say what I read in post 27# was nothing more than a summary of my aims with no implicit opinion in how it was written then, as I said I would, I take you at your word and apologise from my subsequent response.
 
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