Author Topic: Seating bullets upside-down (Read 487 times)

flabbydan · « **on:** May 11, 2005, 06:08:42 PM »

:? It's a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway. If you need to fire-form cases in a chamber with a really loooong throat, would it be feasible to seat a bullet upside-down in order to reach the lands? I have a 7mm TCU Contender barrel and would like to use up some 140 grain Core-Lokt bullets I have on hand to fireform some cases, but they won't reach the lands, even with the base of the bullet barely seated in the case. I know I could go out and buy some 160 grain or heavier bullets and try those, but I'd really like to use up the odd 140's. Obviously, I don't expect to get any kind of accuracy, but I was just wondering if there were any other reasons not to try this.
Dan

RugerNo3 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2005, 11:55:58 PM »

If you can't reach the lands with the bullet seated forward, the obverse is true as well.
Fireforming is best done with fast burning powders, rather then normal charges. Bullseye powder and the muzzle pointed straight in the air with NO bullet will do it. You might specify the cartridge you wish to form and get a better answer. If it is a bottle neck case beware of anyone suggesting fillers. Can't see wasting bullets for this.

warf73 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2005, 07:13:10 PM »

I've loaded boat tails backwards for 100yard shooting in rounds that are running 1100fps (just at) and not get the crackle of the bullet.

Note I'm not saying there isn't any noise from the bullet but very little.
Mostly you hear the bullet hitting said target, skunks and other night time critters.

Accuracy was very good considering.
I got groups just over 1 1/2" not quite 1 3/4".
Running just at 1100fps, and the bullet being seated upside down.
That wasnt too bad I didnt think.

The load was hell on skunks and such.

Warf

jhalcott · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2005, 07:39:37 AM »

Since flabbydan is loading a barrel chambered for the 7tc/u I'm guessing he's loading 7tc/u cartridges. Try a reversed bullet round in your chamber(no powder/primer) and see if it will touch the rifling. I used a bunch of similar rounds in a 308 rifle for fox.The reversed bullets acted like FMJ's. This really reduced damage to the hides.Usually exit holes were about or less than half an inch. I never worried about fire forming the 7tc/u. I got excellent accuracy with the first loads I tried,and better after the 1st firing.
Even won a sillywet match with un fired 7tc/u ammo!

flabbydan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2005, 02:39:54 PM »

:oops: I see what RugerNo3 is saying. I don't know what I was thinking. A bullet has the same amount of bearing surface, whether it's right-side-up or not.
I'm glad to hear you guys have had good results with this upside-down bullet thing, but I'll keep mine pointy end up.
I'm concerned that if I fireform my cases without the bullet seated into the lands they might stretch. The case head is below flush in the end of the barrel. I'd like to keep it in firm contact with the breech face of my Contender frame. I've heard of cases being ruined after the first firing because the cases get stretched in the web area, and then can't be reloaded due to possible case-head separation.