Okay, sorry if that is an empty teaser - I have not found primed brass for sale. In fact, I have been searching every site I can find for Hornady 450B brass of any sort and everyone who lists it shows it out of stock and no back order (which I think means they have no idea when they may receive some). I have been looking since I ordered my upper in May and still none to be found. So, I resigned myself to buying the Hornady 250 grn FTX factory loads. I have only run about 6 rounds through my 16" 450b, but they seem to do pretty well. My problem is, I can't hunt with these bullets - I'm in a non-lead state.
I currently have 4 boxes of the Hornady stuff (less the 6 rounds I fired). Somehow, going out and firing off the remaining 74 rounds just to retrieve the brass for reloading with copper seems wasteful, to my nature. Don't get me wrong, I like shooting, but generally want to have a purpose to it.
SO, here are my questions:
1) Is there any reason I couldn't pull the bullets from the Factory rounds and reload the primed brass? I am thinking this one should be a no-brainer, but welcome your thoughts.
2.0) (I'm thinking this one may be a bit dicey) Any reason I couldn't use the same powder that came in the Factory round? Say I replaced the 250 grn Hornady FTX with a Barnes 250 grn XPB, or Copper Only Projectiles' 250 grn 454 Casull bullet. I know all-copper rounds are longer than lead core bullets of the same weight, so barrel friction is different - do you think that difference would be enough to put me out of the safe zone for pressures?
2.1) Could I weigh the powder charge of the factory powder, back down a few grains and then work up from there (using the factory powder)?
2.2) If the immediate above approach seems reasonable, and I really would rather load for 200 grn Barnes XPBs designed for the .460 S&W, could I back off the factory powder weight and work up a load for the 200s using the Factory powder? I realize we have no idea what the Factory powder is, so no way to predict it.
Are these crazy ideas and I'm going to blow my bleepin head off if I try it, or is there some merit to it?
So you know, I have been reloading for 30 years: I currently load 6 handgun cartridges from 9mm to 44 mag., and 9 rifle cartridges from .223 to 300 Win Mag. - the 450 B will be my 10th rifle cartridge/caliber. I also reload shotgun, for whatever that's worth. I am familiar with pressure signs, and will be extra diligent with the 450b. I have read all of the 450-b thread on CalGuns.net and much of what is here regarding reloading this cartridge. I have worked up loads for at least a dozen rifles, including the 6.5 x 284 - fortunately, I found an accurate loading for that one comfortably below the max. powder charges.
So,, please tell me what you think, and thanks for reading this.