Armory Sponsor
Posted: 1/18/2017 2:57:28 PM EDT
|
Hey Guys. Been reloading for 223 and 308 for several years now. Reloaded some rounds for my 6.5 Grendel last week and took it to the range today. Most were cycling and working fine. Had one thatwas very tough to eject and had to apply more than typical force to the charging handle. Next few were fine. Then, had one that was really stuck again. Â Pulled hard on the charging handle and the case ejected while slinging powder out. Bullet is now stuck in the barrel.Â
RSO wanted to drive it out there and I told him I was taking it home to take my time with it. I left the bolt locked back so I wouldn't slam the BCG across the powder stuck to the sides of upper and in the chamber. 1.  Why did this happen? 2. Best way to get the bullet out? Never had this happen to me. |
|
Quoted:
Hey Guys. Been reloading for 223 and 308 for several years now. Reloaded some rounds for my 6.5 Grendel last week and took it to the range today. Most were cycling and working fine. Had one thatwas very tough to eject and had to apply more than typical force to the charging handle. Next few were fine. Then, had one that was really stuck again.  Pulled hard on the charging handle and the case ejected while slinging powder out. Bullet is now stuck in the barrel. RSO wanted to drive it out there and I told him I was taking it home to take my time with it. I left the bolt locked back so I wouldn't slam the BCG across the powder stuck to the sides of upper and in the chamber. 1.  Why did this happen? 2. Best way to get the bullet out? Never had this happen to me. Sounds like OAL was too long. Bullet got shoved into the lands during chambering and they didn't let go when ejecting. Interesting to note, it now appears an AR-15 6.5 Grendel extractor is strong enough to serve as a bullet puller for at least one pull 
Tap the lodged bullet out with an old cleaning rod or wooden dowel rod. Run the rod into the muzzle end and tap the rod with a hammer. |
|
That depends on the cleaning rod. I think my hardened one piece stainless steel rod is stronger than brass.
The bullet should come out fairly easy. Yes a reverse cone tip on the rod would be nice but a flat face one should work good too. You very likely won't need a hammer. Position the rod tip about 6 inches away from the bullet and let momentum pop it free. Motor |
|
Quoted:
Dont beat on it with rod.. use press to walk it out.. impact energy with rod will make bullet expand in barrel If this is a typical .223 bullet as in spire point you would have to crush a lot of bullet nose before you started to make it fit tighter in the barrel. I don't see this happening especially not when the bullet is only stuck because it was loaded too long. Maybe if you had a squibb you could get some compression. OP: Good to see you got it without any drama. Isn't it nice to learn stuff and not have to pay a high price in $ or aggravation. 
Motor |
|
Quoted:
If this is a typical .223 bullet as in spire point you would have to crush a lot of bullet nose before you started to make it fit tighter in the barrel. I don't see this happening especially not when the bullet is only stuck because it was loaded too long. Maybe if you had a squibb you could get some compression. OP: Good to see you got it without any drama. Isn't it nice to learn stuff and not have to pay a high price in $ or aggravation.
Motor 
Live and learn! |
|
Quoted:
That depends on the cleaning rod. I think my hardened one piece stainless steel rod is stronger than brass. The bullet should come out fairly easy. Yes a reverse cone tip on the rod would be nice but a flat face one should work good too. You very likely won't need a hammer. Position the rod tip about 6 inches away from the bullet and let momentum pop it free. Motor I wont dispute that, but your SSTL cleaning rod costs alot more than a 3' chunk of brass rod. The one I use cost me like $5. And I know absolutely it wont scratch the barrel. And that is what i have done too. I stuck a round in my 308 awhile back, and I just dropped the rod on the point of the bullet a couple times, and it popped right out. I went to carbon fiber cleaning rods, bought one to test, then bought 3 more and threw every else in the junk box :) |
|
The OP problem is solved. So I'll go a little off topic.
The reason for hardened steel cleaning rods is to prevent foreign objects from becoming imbedded into the rod. Aluminum, plastic coated and all other soft materials can and do collect foreign material. When they do they act like long honing tools. I get your point though about having something inexpensive and softer than steel around just for these situations.
Motor ETA: Be careful with your carbon fiber rods. If you should ever notice that the gel coat has worn through exposing the raw carbon fiber either re-coat it or quit using it. Carbon fiber is more abrasive than steel. I know this as fact because I have machined many aircraft parts made of it. Even diamond coated carbide cutters ware cutting it. |
|
Quoted:
The OP problem is solved. So I'll go a little off topic. The reason for hardened steel cleaning rods is to prevent foreign objects from becoming imbedded into the rod. Aluminum, plastic coated and all other soft materials can and do collect foreign material. When they do they act like long honing tools. I get your point though about having something inexpensive and softer than steel around just for these situations.
Motor ETA: Be careful with your carbon fiber rods. If you should ever notice that the gel coat has worn through exposing the raw carbon fiber either re-coat it or quit using it. Carbon fiber is more abrasive than steel. I know this as fact because I have machined many aircraft parts made of it. Even diamond coated carbide cutters ware cutting it. Ill keep an eye on the rods. I shouldnt laugh, but i dont clean my guns often enough to worry about wearing out my rods. :) I only use that rod for tapping out bullets, otherwise it sits on the back of my bench tucked into a safe spot to keep it straight and clean. |
|
Quoted:
Dont beat on it with rod.. use press to walk it out.. impact energy with rod will make bullet expand in barrel Tapping the point of a bullet is extremely unlikely (probably impossible) to cause any expansion in the important part of the bullet before that bullet is pushed free. I'd rather tap than press, a press will require a lot more force loaded up before the bullet pops free and moves. That stored energy could cause some damage once bullet pops free. |
Armory Sponsor