Hello!

I used an inertia bullet puller recently to salvage bullets and powder from some centerfire rifle cartridges. The bullets are jacketed and required much harder pounding than lead bullets I normally salvage this way. My questions is: Will the amount of pounding needed to remove jacketed bullets from a modern, bottlenecked rifle cartridge damage the primers by flaking off primer compound?

Anyone have any actual experience?

In today's primer shortage, I am unwilling to waste primers. However, the thought of getting a misfire resulting in jacketed bullet stuck in barrel (thanks to a damaged primer) is not at all appealing, just to save 20-30 primers.

Thanks,
Niklas

There is no danger of damaging the primers. I've been doing it for about 46 years, and have yet to have a misfire from a primer that has gone through the inertia bullet puller.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Agree with the above comment.


Ken

What surface are you pounding them on? Seems like it should not be that hard to get them out. I used to pound on my wood workbench and it never worked well. Then I tried a piece of plywood on the concrete floor. Still to much rebound. Now I use a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet on the concrete floor and Bada Bing, out they come in 2-3 rapid hits.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Thanks for the swift responses!

I was pounding on bare concrete, the only surface I have found to work for tight bullets. In this case, the bullets were long 175 grain 7mm bullets, with lots of bullet (more bullet below than above) below mouth of case. They required 4-5 solid hits. Have not tried peice of carpet over concrete.

I too have never had a problem with primers firing normally, BUT, this time I had to use more force, so, became concerned.

Niklas

I have had a primer go off when pulling bullets, scared the **** out of me.

I have found it easier to use a piece of 4x4 about 36 or so inches and set it on the floor and use the other end to hit with the puller. The vertical grain somehow works better than anything mentioned or tried.......

Now you tell us Yep could be a bit tough, Supprised you have not broken the puller. I only do handguns so not that bad. Don't they have a press operated puller if you have lot to do? I did do about 100, 30 carbine once and that was pain.

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Still Running Against the Wind

re: "I have had a primer go off when pulling bullets, scared the **** out of me."

geez, I would have fits too.....how is it the powder didn't ignite too, resulting in some kind of AD???

I have used inertial puller for about 30 years with no incidents.

Having tried a LOT of other striking surfaces, my best to date, is a 6" section of old railroad rail....no rebound, excellent transferal of inertia....

...and there is a little "singing in the rail" on a lot of the strikes....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

A friend of mine who has testified in many court cases as an expert in fire arms warned me years ago about the dangers on inertia pullers and primer feed tubes.

I pull all of my bullets using the reloading press and a bullet puller or pliers.

Len

Forgot to put powder in the cases, reason for pulling bullets. Also this was with 223 brass.

This is also a lot faster method.

Have not yet broken inertial bullet puller, not even damaged it --- mine sold by RCBS. It is made of some sort of tough, clear plastic. Normally, I use it to pull small number of botched reloads of revolver cartridges, loaded with lead bullets. No big deal and not needed very often. Never had a problem -- and hopefully do not now.

Given lots of bottlenecked rifle cartridges to unload, I too would prefer a bullet puller mounted on press. Normally, I just shoot left-overs as practice ammo. Limited availability of components currently was reason for doing this.

Niklas

Sometimes jacketed bullets adhere to the case neck and stick as though glued into the cartridge. Before pulling I always seat the bullets a little deeper with a seating die. That will break them loose, and pulling will be easier.

Sometimes jacketed bullets adhere to the case neck and stick as though glued into the cartridge. I always seat the bullets a little deeper with a seating die. That will break them loose, and pulling will be easier.

Freischütz,

With hindsight, I suspect that was occuring with these ammos. First whack had to be really hard to get bullet moving, subsequent whacks did not need to be so hard.

I am aware of what you describe, but, did not recall it when doing this. I have another box of 10+ year old reloads that I may salvage. If so, will try what you mention.


Thanks,
Niklas

Got out to do some test shooting and chroning and fired 6 rounds with primers I was concerned about. All 6 fired normally and chrono readings were normal. Presume remaining primers are also OK.

Thanks to all for posting.
Niklas

I just had this happen to me, First time in over 40 years of reloading.

I was pulling lead bullets out of .40 S&W cases that had the primer flipped ( up side down in the primer pocket) . It detonated on the 4th strike when the bullet came free and the bullet and powder fell into the open space of the inertial bullet puller

I was using a Quinetics inertial bullet puller.

I set and pondered what would have happen if the primer had been inserted correctly and the round had detonated.

The mental image I had was not a pleasant one

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Semper FI

In all likelyhood, the primer wouldn't have gone off if seated correctly. The bottom of the primer pocket was supporting the primer cup, and the anvil, which is lighter and not held by much friction, moved enough to crush the primer pellet.

In most cases where the primer goes off in inertia bullet pullers, it's because something either hit the primer, or was against the primer, when the puller was struck against a solid object. This most often occurs when someone uses a shell holder in place of the jaws supplied with the puller. A shell holder allows the case to move to one side of the decapping hole and the primer is then against the steel shell holder, and the result is the round going off.

For most bullet pulling operations I prefer a collet puller, but some bullets don't lend themselve well to the jaws of the collet, i.e. truncated cone bullets, so an inertia puller is the only answer, other than pliers, or some other crude grasping device.

Hope this helps.

Fred

a problem with mine......... pay attention at the bench so it can stay in your tool box