Bullet Removal
I have a S&W Model 3 in 44-40. The presentation case has six holes for display rounds. I don't want live rounds. Since my ammo is smokeless, I don't want to fire the rounds in the gun to get the brass. Can I safely pull the bullet, empty the powder and reinstall the bullet? Or is this so unsafe a procedure as to make it stupid to try? If that's the case, can someone out there send me six rounds of dummy 44-40 (payment, of course).
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Pulling bullets from loaded cartridges is a fairly safe operation, providing of course that you have either an inertial bullet puller (looks like a plastic-headed hammer) or collet type bullet puller. Either will cost you around $20 from most any reloader supply company. Primers are lead salt compounds which can be deactivated by soaking in water or WD40, if you want to keep the primer case itself seated in the brass.
Getting the pulled bullets back INTO the cartridges though (collet pullers can leave ugly marks; inertial pullers are more kind & you can see how things are progressing thru the plastic housing) may be the biggest problem if you don't have a reloading press & suitable dies, especially if those 44-40's have been roll-crimped. The emptied cases would need to have the mouths opened up with an expander before you could get the bullets started.
You might want to post another question about "Make me some empty 44-40's?" I'd do it for you but this is one caliber I don't have the dies for.0 -
If your carefull, and don't let the brass get at all warm, you can drill a 1/8 hole in the side of the case. Use the hole to A) dump out all the powder and 
inert the primer with some penatrating oil.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
or you can send them to me and I'll pull them out and reinstall them for you,no charge,except shipping of course,email is rrobert_l_@hotmail.com 0
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