Due to not having as many small rifle AR primers I want to pull the bullets from Federal M193 rounds and dump the powder and reload with new powder and better bullets. Have never done this before and looking for guidance on the best way to do this. Plenty of rounds but all full metal jacket bullets that I need to be hunting bullets. Thanks for any information.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Brass will need at least neck sizing. Using the unknown primer, work up your load as you would with any new load development. Get book data or reputable manufacturer's online data, not something of dubious value from Internet pros.

Do I need to expand neck after pulling bullet?

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Only if you're loading cast bullets. For jacketed bullets, depending on whether you have a neck size die or full length size die, the neck must be sized to hold the new bullet with adequate tension, particularly if you are using the ammo in an AR or other semi-auto gun.

If you are using a full-length die, that's fine, just pull the decapping rod so you don't knock out the primer, then full-length resize. You may or may not need to chamfer the case mouth. You'll be able to tell quickly whether this is necessary. It probably won't be. I check cases with an inexpensive case gauge. Many think this is an unnecessary step, but it takes a fraction of a second and will insure 100% reliable chambering.

Crimp if you wish; I've never found this necessary or desirable with the .223/5.56 regardless of the rifle. If you doubt this, try it both ways, shoot 100 yard groups and go with what is reliable and most accurate.

A couple of observations.

The primers are not unknown, They're Federal! (most likely 205!)

On the crimp: look at the crimp closely! They use a roll crimp that is nothing like our reloading dies can reproduce. So your ammo will won't have the same case finished length as theirs, in other words you may need to trim (and hopefully you won't!)

I had friends on military rifle rifle teams. They were issued M118 Ball ammo ( LC 168 grain FMJ ammo) They would pull the FMJ and replace it with Sierra Matchkings 168's and recrimp as is. It never equaled Gold Medal Match, but was much better than M118!

Ivan

You might consider trading Factory ammo for primers and save lots of labor for the same results.

Nosler Partition 60gr & IMR 4895 ought to work. Or CFE 223, or Benchmark (Nosler's favorite)...

Cheers & Good Luck!

P.S. That trading idea is a pretty good one, IMHO! It would be nice to find someone who would "give you odds": say 4 to 1?

Used be called "Mexican Match".....why dump the powder? the real weak point is the bullet.

Randy

I agree with Randy. I've made thousands of Mexican Match rounds for the M1 Garand and the M14 NM rifle while shooting for local or military teams in days gone by. I've also done it with M196 rounds to make prairie dog ammo for my 223/5.56 rifles.

The only proviso I can add to the above comments is that before you pull the bullet. Run it in a seating die and push it down a smidgeon. This will break the seal and make pulling the bullet easier.

To be honest, I've never bothered neck sizing when making MM ammo for match shooting or varmint shooting.

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Keep your powder dry.

How about this -

Remove the depriming pin from your sizing die. Neck size only. Bevel the case neck. Reuse the powder.

Thanks for the replies! Some real good people here.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Like Sharfschuetzer, I never bothered with any neck sizing either. The casing has not been fired and formed to the chamber of the rifle yet.

I have used Mexican Match on 1000 yard Palma matches where accuracy is king and stayed in the Master class.

Randy

Primers should be a CCI41 no? And the powder may be WC844 (H335).