I recently got some .41 Mag loaded ammo, I really like the bullets, but don't trust the loads (don't know who handloaded them). They're pretty heavily crimped, and my RCBS kinetic puller doesn't budge them. I have only pulled rifle bullets up to now, and am just starting on the handgun bullets. Is there any way to bump them loose from that crimp?

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Vaya con Dios

I recently got some .41 Mag loaded ammo, I really like the bullets, but don't trust the loads (don't know who handloaded them). They're pretty heavily crimped, and my RCBS kinetic puller doesn't budge them. I have only pulled rifle bullets up to now, and am just starting on the handgun bullets. Is there any way to bump them loose from that crimp?

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Vaya con Dios

Keep hammering them on a hard surface, they'll come out.

Don't pound them on cement though, you'll break your puller.

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John

Use several quick repeated raps on the wood workbench. Sometimes 3-5 times real quick. Just slaming it once usually does not do it.

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Still Running Against the Wind

A collet style puller may work better. I'm sure the heavy crimp on the bullets is what's making it so tough for you.....how many rounds we talking about??

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Sheldon

If they are so over-crimped that an inertia puller won't do it, the bullets are probably ruined from distortion anyway.

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Science plus Art

Maybe you can borrow yur friend's 41 Mag Ruger Blackhawk or Thompson Contender for an afternoon...I'd lend you mine, but I hate long distance relationships...

My experience with big bore revolvers (.500 Mag) is that with adequate crimping, the slugs sometimes just won't come out with an inertia puller or take many many repetitions with the cartridge usually slipping out of the jaws, a major PITA.

The collet pullers work beautifully and can handle the diameter of the .41 Mag. Don

I've never been comfortable with the hammer-style pullers before - only used mine once in a great while. After using it to pull 83 .357s late last month, though, I'm an expert. It's like anything mechanical: let the machine do the work. Screw that collett down tight and it'll work a lot better. I could get a seriously firm-crimped bullet out in as few as four whacks - w/o the collett being properly screwed down, it could take 40.

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Now go make God proud...

I bought one of the Hammer Style pullers many years ago because I was running a "QC Test" on a bunch of ammo for the Department I worked for. I did modify mine by cutting a hole in the side of it so I could empty out the bullet and powder without having to take the whole thing apart every time. The one I have had a molded in area that just "Looked" like it should have been open so I did.

I also added a bit of a cloth patch into the bottom of the tool to keep from damaging the bullets as they came out of the case.

Sometimes it's just not going to happen.....

I don't even want to say what that looks like . . .

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Now go make God proud...

If I want to salvage the brass and scrap the bullets, I place the cartridge in my Rockchucker, run the ram up until the bullet clears the top of the press and grab it with wire cutters and hang on while I lower the ram. It has never failed to pull any bullet.

SMART move friend,better safe than sorry!

Lafayne's procedure is what I use for annoying .500 Mag loads. Don

It happens... Once I was pulling heavily crimped Remington round and lead core came out of SJHP bullet. Empty jacket stayed inside the case.

Mike

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9x19, 9x29R, 9x33R, 10x22

One of the Main reasons I reload is to save on cost of ammo so I'm not likely going to be using the Lafayne method because the Bullet is likely the most expensive part of the load.

TwoPoundPull; Well all I can say is that that is one very long core!!! And, BS does come to mind!

like erich i consider myself a bit of an expert as a "hammer guy" i once hammered 300 rounds of 41 mag.open....i found a very quick rap works far better...i strike it on the end of a 2x2 which is very hard but does not damage the hammer

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Use a shell holder instead of the collett. May help a little.

I just found a great surface to hammer on. I have a rubber mat about an inch thick that I stand on by my bench. It was designed to go under a swing set where a kid drags his feet at a playground. When you hit the hammer on the rubber mat there is less noise, less jarring of your hand, less potential to break your hammer, and the round pops right out. If you can find a nice thick piece of rubber like this to set on your bench you can wail away.

Glenn

When I switched to a shell holder instead of the collets, things became much easier.

I use a piece of 4"X4" about 10" long held between my knees and hit the end with the "eraser". There's a whole lot less noise that way, but it still has enough mass for the inertia system to work.

I try not to make a habit of using it.

did you use "crasyglue" instead of factorycrimp?

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Jamie wants big boom

I have mounted a rubber hockey puck to the top of my reloading bench directly over top of one of the 4 X 4 legs. It provides a nice solid surface to strike my inertia puller on without damaging it. If I'm pulling more than a couple of bullets, I put my ear muff hearing protectors on and hammer away. I also use the shell holder trick as it makes the case much easier to remove and you don't have to tighten the collet extra tight to prevent the case from slipping.

Mental images are running wild right now!

Possible mishaps and some of the positions folks pull bullets in..........my, my!

Maybe I have a different reference point than some. Here's why:

I have a friend that is a tool maker. Being frugal and knowing how to work with metal, he decided to make his own bullet hammer. All went well until one fateful day. He slammed the wonderfully crafted thing firmly on a surface to pull a bullet and when all was said and done, he had to be rushed to the hospital to have some of the metallic shards removed from his arm! I know one thing, I'm not going to hold any 4x4 between my legs to pull bullets, not even with a plastic hammer and eye and ear protection!

No sir, not going to happen.

I slam mine on the basement floor with my head turned. Something I learned when working my trade. When I power up a panel for the first time, the door is closed and I turn my head as I do, habit. Some habits are good!

It never ceases to amaze me how some readers have a distinct reading/comprehension problem. I don't know how the mental image of holding a 4 X 4 betweeen ones legs was derived from what I posted. The 4 X 4 that I was referring to was one of my reloading bench legs. Eye and ear protection would also trump turning one's head, at least in my mind they would. Not trying to flame the above poster, just commenting on his perception of what I had posted.

Sara,
Down girl, down!

I wasn't referring to you, ma'am!

I was teasing my old friend Paul5388!
Paul said:

Now, I will address what you said in your last post though as the old saying "open mouth insert foot" seems to apply.

Sara said:
It seems to even apply to "female" readers!

Skip,

With the advancement of age, some things are less important than they were when we were younger.

One has to realize it's the sudden stop that makes inertia pullers effective. A cushion of some sort is kinda self defeating to the process.

I ain't ever getting that old!

Let's change the subject!

No matter what, you're wasting space here with your mindless banter with your buddies. Please see the posting note regarding refraining from posting unless what you have to say contributes to the topic discussed. I can hardly see where teasing your buddies fits that criteria.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Just in case I forgot something I went back and reread the rules. Nothing in there about "teasing your buddies." Get over it. You made a mistake, called me out (flamed on me), then won't own up to it, then try to shift blame to me!

Even though you are a fellow Hoosier, your are wrong friend.

As for teasing my friends, that is going to go on whether you like it or not, lady. Chill.

I found that my RCBS collet puller was a waste of time when trying to pull some 250 keith style 44s, Could not get it tightned enough on the lead to not pull off. Had to do what Lafayne suggtested. The bullets were already ruined anyhow.

Julian

THAT, my friends, is a firm crimp!

I use an 8" 4x6 post. Hammering on concrete is bad juju and my inertia puller instructions said not to do it.

My bad. It required no assembly, so I never read those!
Here is what Dillon says in their "Accessories Manual." No mention about what material to hit it against!

"IMPORTANT
For use on CENTERFIRE CARTRIDGES only. Not for use with rimfire
cartridges or explosive-projectile ammunition.
Before you begin make sure the FLAT side of the metal chuck assembly
sits on the flat surface of the puller body and the cap is threaded on. Also
note that the rubber strip is crimped to the chuck jaws, it is not a ring.
TO OPERATE: Loosen the cap until the chuck inside of the cap loosens
enough to easily insert a round. Insert and rotate the cartridge until the
chuck engages the extractor groove or contact is made on a rimmed cartridge.
Now tighten the cap.
Grip the handle mainly with your thumb and forefinger. Easy extraction
results from the handle shaft being PARALLEL to the striking surface AT THE
MOMENT OF IMPACT. This also protects the plastic head from breaking.
Rap the nose of the bullet puller against a hard, solid surface. If more than
one rap is necessary to extract the bullet, retighten the cap after each rap.
Remove the cap to retrieve the components.
NOTE: To protect the lead tips on soft-point bullets you may want
to place a foam ear plug into the nose of the bullet puller prior to
using the bullet puller."

To be honest, I think the hockey puck idea is one of the best yet. I may improvise as I have some round industrial plastic pieces that I can use instead.

I've found that letting the bullet puller bounce instead of holding it tight works better. This was after pulling 100 light 32 S&W long loads that were just a little too light.

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Brave Rifles

If you haven't already done so, use an actual shellholder to hold the case rim instead of the collect that is supposed to tighten and hold the case, that never does. That helps a lot.

When the inertia puller doesn't work try a collet puller.

If that doesn't work, use the grab the bullet with the pliers method and throw the bullets away.

If THAT doesn't work, I'd put them in the burn barrel and blow them up but then that's a matter of being frustrated and mean spirited.

RWT