Removing Tight Bullets

[bananaman]

I bought some .44 Magnum stuff from a shooting buddy. Among the treasures are some 240 gr. PMC reloads. Bullets are 240 gr. Speer. I have no idea what they are loaded with. For that reason, I won't shoot them. Planned on disassembly, and reusing components except powder. I managed to get 35 bullets pulled. (a different brand, but jacketed) The other 115 Speer WON'T come out as hard as I try with my bullet puller. Any ideas on how I can get them out?? Brass is in great shape. Any help would be appreciated. Bob

 

[scattershot]

I assume you’re using an inertia puller. You might try seating the bullets just a hair deeper to break any seal that may be present and trying again. Not much is needed, just a thousandth or two.

Good luck!

 

[bananaman]

I assume you’re using an inertia puller. You might try seating the bullets just a hair deeper to break any seal that may be present and trying again. Not much is needed, just a thousandth or two.

Good luck!

That makes sense! Thanks, Bob

 

[bigggbbruce]

I assume you’re using an inertia puller.

Try harder.. they have to come out.

Use it on the concrete floor or a vise.

 

[bananaman]

Try harder.. they have to come out.

Use it on the concrete floor or a vise.

Inertial puller on concrete garage floor. Bob

 

[BE Mike]

Inertial puller on concrete garage floor. Bob

Yep, I once had to pull some bullets from military 7.62 NATO rounds. They had the sealer between the case neck and bullet. It required some heavy blows on the basement concrete floor, but eventually they came out.

 

[gwpercle]

Yep, I once had to pull some bullets from military 7.62 NATO rounds. They had the sealer between the case neck and bullet. It required some heavy blows on the basement concrete floor, but eventually they came out.

See post #2
This trick really works , especially on military ammo that has a sealant and a crimp on the bullet.
Once that crimp has been broken the pulling becomes much easier.
Gary

 

[mikld]

I've pulled some bullets from my heavily crimped 44 Magnum handloads. I used a lead ingot as my anvil for my inertia puller. The lead (my bullet casting alloy of about 15 BHN) does not absorb the impact of the pullet enough to slow down the bullet's inertia and it is much quieter than pounding on cement, feels safer too (I never liked pounding on cement or using a plastic mallet on steel)...

 

[OldChief]

Along with my inertia puller, I have a puller that goes in my press that requires a collet for each caliber. I find this one works much better when bullets are tightly crimped.

 

[Nevada Ed]

+1; with seating the bullets deeper.

I broke one using cement and metal as a impact surface.
I started using a wash cloth over the metal then got the idea of cutting a wood 4x4 , 24" long, with a plywood base so it would stand up, in front of my chair, at the bench.

 

[H Richard]

The Inertia puller needs a solid surface the pound against to dislodge the bullet. I use the anvil end of my bench vice.

 

[bananaman]

OK, good advise solved my problem! scattershot had it right when he stated seat the bullet a little deeper. I heard a snap when I did this on every round. Bullets had a dried thin black film/sealer of some kind on them. The other good advise, was to use my vise as an anvil! Worked better than the garage floor. Thanks again everyone! Bob

 

[BE Mike]

I assume you’re using an inertia puller. You might try seating the bullets just a hair deeper to break any seal that may be present and trying again. Not much is needed, just a thousandth or two.

Good luck!

I love it when I learn something new. Great tip!

 

[rwsmith]

Hammer speed is the key......

I got a lot better results with a bullet puller with a short, circular, whipping motion. It took a while to get the hang of it. Usually one to three whacks gets it. Five tops.

 

[Bib]

I got a lot better results with a bullet puller with a short, circular, whipping motion. It took a while to get the hang of it. Usually one to three whacks gets it. Five tops.

Similar to the method i use. I don't even move my arm at the elbow when I pull bullets...I flick the puller with my wrist only and let it fully rebound upwards. In essence, i bounce the puller sharply. Yeah it sometimes takes several bounces but your arm won't get sore if you have to pull a large number of bullets and you won't be breaking your puller...as many have done.