I would add that powder is one of the worst aging components of the loaded round.

If it was pulled-down powder, subjected to God only knows what vintage and conditions, I would not use it.

Guns are too expensive to ruin with dangerous powder, even if no one gets hurt.

You crank off a load that exceeds the operating parameters of the weapon, it is damaging it further with every round. Eventually, something will fail, and your hands and face may be in the way.

Cheap copper-jacketed bullets (as long as they are the proper weight and dimensions) are okay.:D

Just my .02, YMMV.

TR

The Reaper and Gene, thank you. A friend and I was going to get about 16 pounds each. He is a 70, ex-Army and a long time re-loader and competitive shooter. I'll pass the information along.

I have used the bullets but not the powder yet.

Again thank you, I will check out the powder and see. I already posted the link to Hi-Tech ammunition. I agree saving $50 and loosing a firearm or a body part is not worth it. If I hear more, I will keep you apprised. I still have a fair amount of commercial powder on hand, one reason I never bought any pull down powder. I use to have a FFL and built up a large supply over time.

Hollis and TR:

I won't shoot 'pull down' powder. The powders I described were surplus and never saw the inside of a cartridge case before I loaded the same. I am sure the ones you buy are truely surplus as well.

I don't see anything wrong with reloading using surplus US powders. I would just follow the reloading data that will accompany the powder and would not exceed what the data states as a charge. I woujldn't make assumptions about the powder as I would a commercial powder. Something about the military stuff just doesn't extrapolate logically.

Pulled bullets can be put into a swaging die to even them out a bit. Basically a tip forming die that will expand the bullet back to the right diameter and tune up the tip. Expensive die to get and you need an adjustable hydraulic press to get any consistency. I almost bought such a die because I had several thousand 149 grain M-80 bullets I pulled over the years. The die will give you a better bullet than the original but by no means anything like a match grade bullet so I gave the bullets to a freind who blasted them away. I would not hesitate to blast with pulled bullets provided they had been put through such a die.

Gene

Gene,

One of the neat aspect of where I live is that I can just step outside and fire a few rounds. I can chronograph them and inspect the cases. I tend to load middle weight loads.

I need to email that company and find out the source of the powder. I let you know what they say.

Hollis.