Swapping Lehigh bullets into loaded ammunition

[crazy]

I already have loaded ammunition. Would it be safe to pull the bullets and replace with nonlead bullets off the same weight? Or would the be a kaboom in my face sentence.

[Imageview]

This would not be advisable.

[Tommy Gun]

Probably not a kaboom situation amd more of a pressure sign situation depending how hot you loaded them.

[Sandspider500]

Most non lead bullets are made of copper. Copper is almost 79% as dense as lead. So for an example, if you had a 147gr xtp 9mm bullet, and you had a company machine a bullet from copper that was an exact copy of that, it would weigh 115gr.

Another example, I have some Barnes 9mm 115gr hollow points, they have a large hollow cavity and are .693 long. I cast a 145gr deep hollow point bullet and it's .648 long.

What cartridge are you reloading for? Lehigh has load data if you need it.

[Divernhunter]

I would not advise that.

[divingin]

Are you talking about re-using the primed brass (i.e. standard reloading without the size and prime) or are you talking about Mexican Match reloading (keeping the existing powder charge and replacing just the bullet)?

In either case, cartridge, firearm type (and individual firearm), and reloading experience will all have a bearing on the decision.

Since you say replacing a lead bullet with a non-total-lead bullet, are you going solid copper or jacketed? Is this to come up with a hunting round, or simply to avoid shooting lead bullets?

If going all copper, the bullets are longer for an equivalent weight. In addition to overall length, reduced case capacity due to seating depth comes into play.

TLDR: If you don't know what you're doing, probably don't do it.

[crazy]

Thank you for the feedback. My intention was to load some rounds for pig hunting. Calibers would be .308, .270. I would like to load Lehigh all copper tree hugger friendly bullets. My thought was to use ammo that I have and just pull the bullets and seat and crimp the Lehigh. Replace the old with the new with the same weight. The reason for asking was to see if it would be safe. The consensus seems to be no. While I am not a handsome man, I would like to keep what little beauty I have left. So I will refrain.

[crazy]

Most non lead bullets are made of copper. Copper is almost 79% as dense as lead. So for an example, if you had a 147gr xtp 9mm bullet, and you had a company machine a bullet from copper that was an exact copy of that, it would weigh 115gr.

Another example, I have some Barnes 9mm 115gr hollow points, they have a large hollow cavity and are .693 long. I cast a 145gr deep hollow point bullet and it's .648 long.

What cartridge are you reloading for? Lehigh has load data if you need it.

I already stated that I am not a handsome man and maybe not the smartest either but your post confuses me. I had said that I would like to swap bullets for the same weight not size. I do understand that copper would be physically large.

[Sandspider500]

Okay, so you do understand that the copper bullet of the same weight will be longer. So you also understand what happens when you make the combustion chamber smaller right?

[Imageview]

For use in large game hunting the bullets need to be expanding as well as lead free. I have some 45-70 rounds I could use for squirrels but not pigs because they are lead feee but not expanding as an example.

[crazy]

Okay, so you do understand that the copper bullet of the same weight will be longer. So you also understand what happens when you make the combustion chamber smaller right?

From all the input, I have decided or have been convinced that this is not a good idea. I will load rounds starting from scratch.

[Sandspider500]

Are you swapping commercial loaded ammo or is it something you loaded?

[crazy]

I was thinking of doing this with commercial ammo but no more.

[Sandspider500]

Why wouldn't you just load your own with the data they provide?

[Sandspider500]

Interesting that if you look at the Barnes .308 175gr load data, most of the powder weights are the same, and sometimes exceeding the powder weights of the lead counterpart.

This is not the case for the Lehigh bullets, for what reason I don't know. The difference with the Lehigh data is as much as 5gr less powder for a 175gr.