Bullet pullers

Boogsawaste

Boogsawaste

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I'm looking to upgrade my inertia puller to a press mounted. My question is do these types work well on pistol calibers? There doesn't seem like much for them to grab onto and before I drop some cash just wanted to see if they'll work for me. Looks like there are 3 major brands out there. Hornady, RCBS, and herters. Any experience with any of them appreciated! Btw, this is going to be for 38/357 and 45 colt.
 
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Hornady cam-lock. There is nothing else close. All the other collet pullers require you to spin a bar to tighten / loosen the collet. The hornady one lets you just pull the handle on the die and drop the ram on the press. Return the die handle to the middle and bullet drops out.

I can pull as fast as I load. However, beware that any collet puller will mark up lead if it pulls it at all. That said, I just pulled 30 plated 38s and they were good enough to reuse.
 
Yes, they work for jacket bullets. They will destroy lead bullets.

I bought about 1000 rounds of loaded ammo. I bought the RCBS with collets for 4 calibers and pulled them all. (Still no fun! but never could have done it with the hammer)

RCBS as most of their stuff is a soild well built unit. The Hornady with it;s flip lever I read has problems and breaks.

You need a strong single stage press for the collet type to work.

Just read the above post and disagree. You turn the lever(rod) on the RCBS it tightens, pull bullet, lossen lever bullet falls repeat over and over. The cam lock on Hornady is weak in comparison but it's your choice. The bullets I pulled were all Hornady XTPs in 357, 40, 45 and 44 Mag who ever loaded them crimped the daylights out of them, they were way over crimped. Some were in there so hard they were deformed!
 
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How much do you have to tighten / turn the lever on the RCBS puller? I found a couple turns. A lot slower than a pull on the lever in the hornady. The lever on the hornady doesn't look very sturdy, but you don't have to pull it very hard either.

Also, I have used both on my progressive (hornady LNL). Place loaded round in where you normally put an empty shell and collet puller in last station. Empty brass and powder go into collection bin for later separation. Quick and easy.
 
Thanks for info on both of those. As far as the lever on the RCBS, from the what I read online it seems 1/4 turn. But of course, no personal experience.
 
I have the Hornady system and found it works great on plated but as said above for lead or coated they don't grab well enough. Most of the time with lead I just admit defeat and grab it with pliers and lower the ram. They pop right out and I ditch the mashed bullet into a can to be melted back down again.
 
I have the RCBS & it's about 1/4 to 1/2 turn. I generally don't use it much unless I have a bunch to pull; like when you find 500ea, .357 reloads at a yard sale priced less than the brass is worth, (I wish I found those deals more often). For small numbers it's easier to just use the hammer type. +1 to everyone's experience with lead bullets, in handgun calibers it's generally easier, (& less frustrating) to just run the cartridge up an empty press & grab with a pair of dikes, they will grab lead rifle bullets fairly well though.

-Klaus
 
Been thinking on this for a bit now and how the devil is anyone breaking these things??? If it's from pulling milsurp bullets then I would hope everyone knows to first run them through the seater die to break the sealer and crimp free before first trying to yank the bullet free. If it's just not knowing how the thing works then there isn't much that can be done about that.
 
There are several videos online U tube which show both, They work the same way. The Hornady you raise and lower the handle to tighten , the RCBS you turn the handle, The overall throw is probably the same, They show pulling rifle bullets which are a piece of cake as they are not crimped. Crimped pistol bullets are hard to pull and also less for the collet to grab onto. The Rcbs you can continue to tighten if you get a stubborn one (which I had many of) I honestly can not say which is better as I have not used the Hornady.

All I can say is it sure beats a hammer (see how I put that in there?) Other than trimming brass its the worst part of reloading!!

From Midway the review are pretty close. RCBS a tad more reviews

Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller

RCBS Collet Bullet Puller
 
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I have the RCBS and it works fine, even with most lead bullets. I don't turn the handle that much, all depends on how much you loosen it after you get the bullet out (in other words, it's relative).

I despise the inertia pullers, never could get them to work.
 
Pair of pliers on top of the press, held firmly. Yes, bullets are destroyed. I prefer an inertia bullet puller, even if it takes a while. Everything is reusable.
 
I use the RCBS and find it works well once you learn how to use it.
The bullets are reusable.
Subjecting a live round to many G's force has always creeped me out.
And I have broken a hammer puller. That's when I got the collet.

===
Nemo
 
I will use an inertia hammer if I need to pull one or two loads, but for any significant number I use a set of end nippers. I have found over the years that if the bullet has a cannelure and I use that to grip into, typically the projectile is not damaged enough to throw it away. If there is not a cannelure the plot thickens, but I have shot pulled bullets before and not seen enough of an issue to make me throw them away. Typically the imperfections get ironed out during the trip down the barrel...
 
I have an inertia puller and I can see how it would be more useful for pulling a couple at a time. Also I noticed that when I tried to re load a pulled lead bullet it didn't fit the case as snug as before. This is after resizing the brass again. I didn't have anything more than a a medium roll crimp. Maybe the bullet was just too soft? Oh we'll, into the lead pile for future melt down if I ever decide to cast my own.

Thanks for your opinions everyone! I ordered a RCBS and appropriate collets. Also ordered an extra turret to put it in along with my easy prime 2 (the one that sits the brass on top of the turret).
 
I have the RCBS and it's worked good pulling both jacketed and lead. Tighten just enough and the bullets are fine. I also have a Midway inertia puller that's at least 30 years old and it works good too if I just have to pull a few.
 
I have the RCBS Collet puller and have pulled many (100's) rifle and pistol bullets with it on an RCBS Rockchucker Press. It sometimes mars the bullet, but not routinely. I don't think any where damaged beyond being able to use them though. It does only take about 1/4 turn to grab a bullet and then give a firm bump to the handle to pull them.

I also have used and broken Inertia Hammer type pullers from RCBS and one other maker, but don't remember which one.
 
Bullet Pullers

I use the RCBS system. Priced OK. They work well. Press mounted bullet pullers are the only way to go.

Metalman60:)
 
You might try a R W Hart Plier Type Bullet Puller 22, 24, 30 Caliber available from Midway. There are several places that offer something similar
 
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