I need your help breaking down some old ammo

[lewmed]

 I guy I used to work with passed away and his son knew I shot 44 magnum so he gave me a bunch of loaded ammo his dad loaded many years ago. Not wanting to shoot his reloads I decided to break it down and save the bullets and primed cases. My problem is the 240 gr. cast lead bullets have gas checks and when I pull a bullet the gas check stays in the case and I have no idea how to remove them. There are a total of 500 loaded rounds all with a heavy crimp I pulled about 20 of the bullets but only got one of the gas checks out. The powder charge takes up about  3/4 of the case volume and the gas check is sitting right on top of the charge about a 3/8" from the case mouth any ideas how I might save these cases ?

[Fuzzy Sights]

Ice pick and punch through the GC and pull it out.  Would do this where I would not be directly exposed to any burning powder in case of a spark.  Or you could just fire the case with only the gas check in it.  All you are loosing is the primer, though primers are in short supply for the immediate future.

Good luck.

JW

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

You could pull the bullets and turn the gas check sideways in the case with a small pick and pull it out with a pair of tweezers or small forceps. Or you could fire a few rounds and see how they perform.

[lewmed]

 Thanks guys I couldn't flip the gas checks sideways it's a compressed load but the ice pick worked.

[wiguy]

 Is there any data with the reloads? Type of powder listed & charge weight? If so, I have dismantled a few, double-check things, weigh, & possibly shoot them.

  The last I did(243), I reduced the powder some, then reloaded the components.

[CzechnoWizard]

I have to imagine that firing the cases with only the gas check as a wad would result in one hellaciously filthy revolver plus the potential of the check getting cocked and coming out the gap in tiny pieces. I personally would not try this. ymmv

The ice pick was a better idea. You could also have taken a drywall screw and run it about 2 threads into the check  then pulled it straight out the mouth.

Now.....what fun might be had with the half pound of unknown powder that was collected out of those 500 cases? Hmm.......campfire starter?

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

I have to imagine that firing the cases with only the gas check as a wad would result in one hellaciously filthy revolver plus the potential of the check getting cocked and coming out the gap in tiny pieces. I personally would not try this. ymmv

I'm pretty certain shooting the gas check out was meant as a joke. Besides the OP already stated the pick worked so his problem has been solved.

[CzechnoWizard]

I have to imagine that firing the cases with only the gas check as a wad would result in one hellaciously filthy revolver plus the potential of the check getting cocked and coming out the gap in tiny pieces. I personally would not try this. ymmv

I'm pretty certain shooting the gas check out was meant as a joke. Besides the OP already stated the pick worked so his problem has been solved.

I hope so, but it was suggested twice. Never know who might read this thread 5 years in the future and take it as good advice

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[lewmed]

 After breaking down about 1/2 of the ammo I came across a box with a label inside that read Winchester 240gr LSWC gas checked bullets .431"diameter with 26.5 grains of W-296 CCI large magnum primers FOR RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK. Those rounds would have nice little bombs in my S&W revolver.
 
 
 

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

After breaking down about 1/2 of the ammo I came across a box with a label inside that read Winchester 240gr LSWC gas checked bullets .431"diameter with 26.5 grains of W-296 CCI large magnum primers FOR RUGER SUPER BLACKHAWK. Those rounds would have nice little bombs in my S&W revolver.

You'd have probably been fine if you're shooting an N frame S&W. I wouldn't try it in My L frame or one of the Lightweight guns. Thing is that's a full power load he cooked up there and that's why he used the gas check bullets. You'd lead the barrel severely pushing un-protected lead based bullets that hot. I never go full house on my magnums unless I'm loading jacketed bullets. Lots of guys using H110/W296 too these days. I'm still loving My 2400 for the hot stuff.
But anyway since you didn't trust the rounds you did the right thing.

[lewmed]

  A cast 240 gr LSWC with about 8 grains of Hodgdons Univ. is about as hot as this old man shoots anymore I'll leave the hot loads for the younger guys and gals. That load is accurate in my model 69 and my vintage model 29's it has alight recoil and doesn't leave lead in the barrels.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

  A cast 240 gr LSWC with about 8 grains of Hodgdons Univ. is about as hot as this old man shoots anymore I'll leave the hot loads for the younger guys and gals. That load is accurate in my model 69 and my vintage model 29's it has alight recoil and doesn't leave lead in the barrels.

I'm shooting my 240 gr cast lswc on top of 7.5 grs. Unique in my S&W 69. I tried some full power loads just for kicks and they will make your hand hurt in a hurry. That's a great platform for the .44 spl but it's just impractical for the full power magnum loads.