bullet puller

[Jim Sharp]

I need to hear the voice(s) of experience. Do kinetic - also called inertia - bullet pullers work? I have about 50 rounds of .44 special rounds that I need to disassemble and the only thing I can think of is a hammer type bullet puller. I know I won't be able to re-use the powder, but I'm hoping to re-use the cast lead bullets. Please let me know what you think. Thanks,

 

[Greyman50]

Have used one( RCBS) since 1975 until last year when it Broke. RCBS replaced it with new one. Keep the " cushion" piece of foam rubber in the end and the bullets will be ok to reload. Powder makes good grass fertilizer,.

 

[jimmyj]

Lee (?) offers one that is like a reloading die that pulls the bullet without spilling the powder.

 

[Rpg]

Kinetic bullet pullers work just fine. It can be tedious to attempt a very large number of cartridges at one sitting.

 

[AlHunt]

I need to hear the voice(s) of experience. Do kinetic - also called inertia - bullet pullers work? I have about 50 rounds of .44 special rounds that I need to disassemble and the only thing I can think of is a hammer type bullet puller. I know I won't be able to re-use the powder, but I'm hoping to re-use the cast lead bullets. Please let me know what you think. Thanks,

Kinetic work fine. Be sure to whack them on the end grain of a piece of hardwood and use a lot of wrist action.

Pro tip: Set the fiddly little 3 piece shell holder with the rubber band aside (since you're going to lose them anyway) and use the regular shell holder from your reloading dies. 500% easier and better.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Inertial!

I inherited my dads reloading gear and have a die type that I've never used and the inertial that I've pulled many bullets with. Never an issue.

 

[Bib]

Unless they're a mixed batch of reloads you certainly can reuse the powder

 

[Alk8944]

If you will be pulling cast bullets you must use a kinetic bullet puller Except with extremely hard (many times with these too) cast bullets a collet puller will compress the bullet and the bullet will simply pull out of the collar. 60+ years shooting cast bullets, BTDT!! Don't strike the puller on concrete, that is what breaks them.

 

[chief38]

I've used the Standard type hammer bullet puller for 40+ years and just recently broke the original one I bought from Midway in the 1980's. I bought the same one again and hopefully that will last another 40 years.

I know some who use the collet type pullers and they say it works great on certain bullets but terrible on others. For the small amount of bullets I have to pull, the hammer is reliable and just works.

 

[Jim Sharp]

Sincere thanks to all who responded. I have good information now and I'll report back on how it goes. This is a great bunch of folks . . .

 

[Drm50]

There is some skill in using hammer puller. Hold it loosely and strike it against a end grain. I have short piece of 4x4 with a pice of sheeting for base. I put cotton ball in chamber to protect pulled bullet if I want to keep them.
If salvaging bullet isn't the plan the fastest way to pull them is with a pair of 8" Lineman pliers. Take die out of press, raise ram until bullet is proud of
press frame. Pinch bullet with pliers and same time bridging die hole. Lower ram and it will pull bullet out easy & fast. That's how I do cast. To much time and effort to save them.

 

[gwpercle]

I need to hear the voice(s) of experience. Do kinetic - also called inertia - bullet pullers work? I have about 50 rounds of .44 special rounds that I need to disassemble and the only thing I can think of is a hammer type bullet puller. I know I won't be able to re-use the powder, but I'm hoping to re-use the cast lead bullets. Please let me know what you think. Thanks,

Yes ... They work !
And on all all bullets reguardless of profile or construction ...
even cast lead wadcutters and the bullets will be undamaged and can be re-loaded.

Important Tip: Break the crimp by seating the bullet deeper into the case ... just enough to release the cases grip on the bullet ... just 1/16th" or 1/32nd" inch will do the trick ... This makes pulling much - much easier ...3 or 4 medium hits will do the job ... use medium hits and watch the position of the bullet , when it's close to pulling out ...gentle hits so powder doesn't go flying every where ... I've done this a few thousand times ...trust me.
Gary

 

[H Richard]

Been using an RCBS until it broke after 20 some years, then replaced with one from Midway and still going strong after another 20 years. When you smack it down do it on a "solid" item, such as a concrete floor, I use the anvil part of my bench vise.

 

[505Gibbs]

Kinetic bullet pullers work just fine. It can be tedious to attempt a very large number of cartridges at one sitting.

Absolutely true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jim Sharp]

Follow up: pulled 75 swc's and reused every one (saved and reused the powder too) by using a shell holder instead of the supplied collets. Tried a couple with the collet after I finished but couldn't get it to work that way. Thanks for all the excellent advice and information

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Kinetic work fine. Be sure to whack them on the end grain of a piece of hardwood and use a lot of wrist action.

Pro tip: Set the fiddly little 3 piece shell holder with the rubber band aside (since you're going to lose them anyway) and use the regular shell holder from your reloading dies. 500% easier and better.

The shell holder WILL NOT keep the case centered in the hammer. There have been cases when doing this caused a blow up.......I WILL NEVER use a shell holder in a hemmer bullet puller.

 

[vinn]

i use the RCBS on all jacketed pistols and rifle "clad" on all but lead

 

[sbrmike]

I have used the provided collet with my RCBS and it always worked just fine. The powder didn't go everywhere either. I wouldn't jerry rig a shell holder as the hammer set works just fine as made.

 

[Mbrgr1]

They work fine......

It is tedious if you have a ton to do, but I use a hard steel block about the size of a deck of cards and twice as thick held in my left hand to strike against, much quicker than a wood bench.


The collets work fine, just keep the screw top very tight.


Good luck.!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I keep a 25 lb. lead brick on my bench for such chores.