[Stachie]

I have a RCBS Bullet Puller. I have tried repeatedly to seperate factory Remington UMC and Winchester White Box rounds, but have failed miserably. What am I doing wrong? I have stopped just short of breaking the handle; seriously, I have smacked the **** out of these rounds and they refuse to budge. I have even varied my smacking surface (e.g. hard wood, carpet, concrete, etc.) What am I doing wrong?

Can anyone give me advice, pointers, or tips?

[coxhw]

I haven't had any trouble with mine. Just make sure the cap is on tight and knock the he:fire: :fire: out of it two or three times.

[JDGray]

I've had some 357 rds, that seperated the jacket and lead, trying to hammer apart:mad: Auto rds should fly apart with 2 or 3 whacks.

[db_tanker]

I know this is going to sound counter-productive, but take a wooden or rubber mallet and lightly whack each bullet for each round before you try to seperate them. There might be some sealant acting more like glue on the bullets.

Secondly...are you sure you have the right collet for the die? I use the RCBS as well due to it not damaging bullets...I crank down on it pretty good when I am against a crimped bullet...also use it for military ammo, as well...see above for the same trick. :)


Hope this helps
D

[highlander 5]

Mfgs use a cement to help hold the bullet in place a light tap with a mallet will or should break the seal and allow the bullets to be pulled. another trick is use your seating die to break the seal by screwing down the seter plug down a bit and run the ammo thru the die

[Chawbaccer]

You also need to hit against something solid like the END of a 4x4. A table or carpeted surface won't work.

[Walkalong]

but take a wooden or rubber mallet and lightly whack each bullet for each round

Please don't. It scares me. Put them in your press and seat all the bullets a bit deeper. This will break any seal and try again.

another trick is use your seating die to break the seal by screwing down the seter plug down a bit and run the ammo thru the die

Whoops. Just saw this. You have it right highlander 5.

[old4x4]

You also need to hit against something solid like the END of a 4x4. A table or carpeted surface won't work.

Yup, my sentiments exactly. I have an old piece of 4x6x3 feet that I found in the top of my garage (left there by prev owners) that I use for bullet extraction with my bullet puller. Still, it's difficult sometimes, but eventually, I always win :)

[Car Knocker]

Secondly...are you sure you have the right collet for the die? He's using an inertia puller not a collet puller - thus the whacking.

[ball3006]

It did not work too well pounding it on my bench, wood, but it worked just fine when I pounded it on the cement floor of my garage.......chris3

[SSN Vet]

Ya gots to WHACK dat tang!

WHACK IT GOOOD!

:D :D :D :D

[snuffy]

Ya gots to WHACK dat tang!

WHACK IT GOOOD!



Yup, can't be a whimp on those enertial pullers. Yeah, I know, they are plastic, but it is real difficult to break one, I've been trying to break my RCBS puller for a lot of years.;)

I keep an ordinary brick under my bench to hit the puller against when I have to take a round apart.

Another tip, put a foam earplug in the bottom to cushion the bullet when it flys out of the shell. It even saves the soft lead tip on pointed soft points!:D Another thing, if the aluminum collet that holds the shell rim gets so damaged it won't work, just use the shell holder for that caliber.

[The Bushmaster]

And if you break it by WHACKIN' it HARD...What are you out...$16?? Whack it man, WHACK IT!!!:D You'll find the the butt end of a 4 X 4 works real good and you can keep it in your loading room and it doesn't take up too much space either...Make it about 12" long...:D

[1911user]

What caliber is the ammo? Hopefully not 223.

[snuffy]

What caliber is the ammo? Hopefully not 223.

1911 user, good point! I assumed, like others here, he was talking about some .45's or even 9mm pistol rounds. If he WAS talking about .223, then that's a whole 'nuther ball game! Light bullets in .223 are very difficult to pull using a kenetic puller. I'm talking about reloaded- non crimped 55 or 60 grain bullets. if he's pulling factory white/yellow box .223, I really doubt it's possible. They are crimped AND have max neck tension!

An enertial/kenetic puller depends on the weight of the bullet stopping suddenly to move it out of the shell. The lighter the bullet is, the harder you have to hit it.

What was NOT explained was WHY the factory bullets were being pulled? Inquiring minds want to know!:scrutiny:

[Steve in PA]

I have the RCBS bullet puller and it works fine.

For it to work DO NOT hold it and use it like a hammer. Hold it loosely in your hand and whack a good solid base with a good snap of the wrist. If you try and hold and use it like your trying to drive a nail you'll be whacking all night.

[highlander 5]

BTW which ever inertia puller you use if it breaks the mfg will replace it free. I use a 4 foot long piece of 4x4 post to pound on and I have yet to find a bullet that won't jar loose

[Mtdew]

get a collet puller.. you will be much happier.

I just pulled apart 100 indian 7.62x51 rds (hardened tar like sealant) w/ my hornady collet puller. It would not have been possible w/ a inerta puller, as it took a lot of force on the press handle to get them apart..

[Car Knocker]

get a collet puller.. you will be much happier.
I agree. Collet pullers are just so much more...evolved. More civilized. However, inertia pullers have their place too - pulling wadcutters or semi-wadcutters.

[agd1953]

When I reload early on a Saturday morning, If I need to pull a mistake, I have to go to the driveway in my robe and beat the puller on the concrete drive. My neighbors love me. :evil:

[Sunray]

"...Mfgs use a cement to help hold the bullet in place..." No they don't. Milsurp might have a sealer, but 'cement' to hold the bullet in it ain't.
Get a brain sized rock to whack the puller on. Wood and carpets are too soft.

[jr81452]

i cut the rod on my puller and tig welded a 2' section of 1/4" aluminum rod in. with all the extra leverage it never takes me more than two whacks to get anything apart. have'nt boken it yet in 4 years :evil:

[KHawk]

I use a vise with some leather face plates and a pair of pliers. Works pretty well if you don't mind a couple lines on the bullet.

[Crimp]

When I reload early on a Saturday morning, If I need to pull a mistake, I have to go to the driveway in my robe and beat the puller on the concrete drive. My neighbors love me. --agd1953

I have a 3" section of railroad track that's been around forever, used for a door stop. That's what I use to whack the puller on. It's a lot better than making dents in the table top ;)