RCBS bullet colet puller opinion

gamestalker · May 21, 2013, 12:10 AM

As some of you may recall, last week I was inquiring about the colet bullet puller. Well I got it in the mail today from Midway, and got it all set up and pulled my first .357 with it. Things didn't go so well on the first 4 or 5 rounds, I ripped two cases in half, and then bulged two or three more bullets before I got a handle on it. And even though I figured it out and all, I think I'll be using my kinetic puller for most jobs. I think I can smooth things out a little bit more if I break the seat a bit. Maybe running them through the seating die first, say .005" - .010" might help them to pull a bit easier.

What really bothered me though, is there is no way to lock an adjustment down to get the same consistency from bullet to bullet. If I use too little tension I damage the bullet some when the colet slips off, too much and I severely deform the bullet. And I don't like the fact that I can't tell if I'm grabbing the bullet, or the case, until it's too late.

I'm definitely not going to use this set up much for crimped bullets, might work better on high power, and pistol cartridges that don't have a roll crimp.

What other type of pullers are there that might not have such a large margin of error? Do any of them offer some type of adjustment that will reduce the risk of deforming bullets?

GS

KansasSasquatch · May 21, 2013, 12:18 AM

It may be worth it to buy the Hornady puller to keep yourself from playing wack-a-mole so often. I know I like mine. I don't know what type of bullet profile you're trying to pull but collet style pullers don't seem to work so well on truncated cone bullets, in my experience.

gamestalker · May 21, 2013, 12:22 AM

I had already ordered this set up when I saw the Hornady puller. I'm all for a better tool for the job and may just order that one, and give it a try.
I'm pulling mostly XTP's, and Gold Dots.
GS

rcmodel · May 21, 2013, 12:27 AM

Your problem will not go away when pulling pistol bullets with any collet puller.

Wish I had known what you had in mind in your other post.

Collet pullers will only work well on rifle bullets, or pistol bullets that are seated out way far enough to get a grip on the full diameter bullet shank.

Most handgun rounds have the bullet seated too deep in the case to use a collet puller.
All there is sticking out is the tapered ogive part of the bullet.
And a collet can't grip a tapered ogive.

Unless yours have enough straight full dia bullet shank out of the case to get a grip with a collet on it.

But most all don't.

rc

KansasSasquatch · May 21, 2013, 12:35 AM

I've had good luck pulling RN pistol bullets with the Hornady. You're probably not going to have much luck using it on XTPs and Gold dots though. With the exception of the hollow cavity they're essentially the same as truncated cone bullets. Like rc said, there's just not much to grab onto unless you set them long.

Tom488 · May 21, 2013, 01:57 AM

Quote:

As some of you may recall, last week I was inquiring about the colet bullet puller. Well I got it in the mail today from Midway, and got it all set up and pulled my first .357 with it.

Did it come with both 'L's?

On a serious note...

This is exactly what I posted in your other thread.... the fact that it was very difficult to get repeatability from the RCBS puller, and that I, and many others, think the Hornady cam-lock puller is/was a better choice.

I once had to pull down ~250 9mm 115gr RN bullets, and did so with the Hornady unit, without hardly a problem. A couple of the bullet slipped out, and I had to re-clamp on them once or twice, but I'd say at LEAST 95% pulled on the first try, with no significant marks on the bullet - reloaded and shot them all without incident.

gamestalker · May 21, 2013, 04:57 PM

Yep, I should have picked up the Hornady. No worries though, I'll just use it for my high power stuff and go back to the kinetic for crimped / canelured bullets. And I'm likely going to pick up the Hornady, I want to give it a try as well.
Your right RC, there just isn't enough shank to grab on to with those type bullets. It was cool though, as to how well it worked on 9mm, so I know I'll get some handgun use from it.

GS

joecil · May 21, 2013, 06:01 PM

I have the RCBS collet type bullet puller and works well with plated or jacketed bullets but useless for cast bullets regardless. I use the kinetic for the cast.

ericgst · May 21, 2013, 08:32 PM

I have the RCBS and have pulled thousands of 9mm and .40sw. Most were very heavy crimped with sealant that took alot of force. I have also pulled alot of lead bullets without issue. The real key is the bullet profile, it doesnt have to have alot of fairly straight surface, but it does need some just outside the cartridge.

KansasSasquatch · May 22, 2013, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericgst

I have the RCBS and have pulled thousands of 9mm and .40sw. Most were very heavy crimped with sealant that took alot of force. I have also pulled alot of lead bullets without issue. The real key is the bullet profile, it doesnt have to have alot of fairly straight surface, but it does need some just outside the cartridge.

If you ever have trouble with a bullet that has been sealed to the casing, it helps to send it through your seating die first. Make sure the die isn't seat to crimp but that it's set to seat deeper than the bullet currently is seated. It helps break the sealant. They pull out much easier this way without risk of damaging the bullets. I found this out after pulling 200 62gr bullets from some old laquer coated steel cased Wolf someone gave me, everyone of them were sealed. Wish I had known that trick before hand.

gamestalker · May 22, 2013, 05:58 AM

I tried some 158 gr. and 135 gr. Gold Dots with it today and they were slicker than snot. I didn't have any problems, I just slightly snugged it down, and they just slid right out of the heavy roll crimps when I lifted the handle. When I did the first one, I actually thought the collet had slid off the bullet, that's how easy they pulled.

Well, I'm not nearly as disappointed with this product as what I was when I tested it on XTP's. But even with those, after I worked with a few tonight, and all it took me is a few extra seconds to properly align the collet with the shank, and then it works OK. But those, I will likely use the kinetic puller in the future.

But I also learned that the jacket on XTP's, is much softer than the plating on Gold Dots, a lot softer. This would explain why I am on the edge of deforming XTP's with each one I pull. Just to get enough tension on them to keep the collet from sliding off, leaves rather deep visible marks, and if I use a tiny bit too much, it bulges the bullet. The Gold Dots were so hard, that the torquing handle on the collet comes to an abrupt stop when it makes contact with the bullet. It would take everything I've got to even try to deform those Gold Dots with that collet, seriously. And the collet doesn't even leave a mark on them either.

GS

May 21, 2013, 12:10 AM	#1
gamestalker Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 4,233	RCBS bullet colet puller opinion As some of you may recall, last week I was inquiring about the colet bullet puller. Well I got it in the mail today from Midway, and got it all set up and pulled my first .357 with it. Things didn't go so well on the first 4 or 5 rounds, I ripped two cases in half, and then bulged two or three more bullets before I got a handle on it. And even though I figured it out and all, I think I'll be using my kinetic puller for most jobs. I think I can smooth things out a little bit more if I break the seat a bit. Maybe running them through the seating die first, say .005" - .010" might help them to pull a bit easier. What really bothered me though, is there is no way to lock an adjustment down to get the same consistency from bullet to bullet. If I use too little tension I damage the bullet some when the colet slips off, too much and I severely deform the bullet. And I don't like the fact that I can't tell if I'm grabbing the bullet, or the case, until it's too late. I'm definitely not going to use this set up much for crimped bullets, might work better on high power, and pistol cartridges that don't have a roll crimp. What other type of pullers are there that might not have such a large margin of error? Do any of them offer some type of adjustment that will reduce the risk of deforming bullets? GS

May 21, 2013, 12:27 AM	#4
rcmodel Member Join Date: September 17, 2007 Location: Eastern KS Posts: 41,297	Your problem will not go away when pulling pistol bullets with any collet puller. Wish I had known what you had in mind in your other post. Collet pullers will only work well on rifle bullets, or pistol bullets that are seated out way far enough to get a grip on the full diameter bullet shank. Most handgun rounds have the bullet seated too deep in the case to use a collet puller. All there is sticking out is the tapered ogive part of the bullet. And a collet can't grip a tapered ogive. Unless yours have enough straight full dia bullet shank out of the case to get a grip with a collet on it. But most all don't. rc __________________ Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Or all your primers in a glass jar!

May 21, 2013, 06:01 PM	#8
joecil Member Join Date: April 12, 2012 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Posts: 689	I have the RCBS collet type bullet puller and works well with plated or jacketed bullets but useless for cast bullets regardless. I use the kinetic for the cast. __________________ Joe

May 21, 2013, 12:18 AM	#2
KansasSasquatch Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Location: LV county KS Posts: 552	It may be worth it to buy the Hornady puller to keep yourself from playing wack-a-mole so often. I know I like mine. I don't know what type of bullet profile you're trying to pull but collet style pullers don't seem to work so well on truncated cone bullets, in my experience.

May 21, 2013, 12:22 AM	#3
gamestalker Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 4,233	I had already ordered this set up when I saw the Hornady puller. I'm all for a better tool for the job and may just order that one, and give it a try. I'm pulling mostly XTP's, and Gold Dots. GS

May 21, 2013, 12:35 AM	#5
KansasSasquatch Member Join Date: July 22, 2012 Location: LV county KS Posts: 552	I've had good luck pulling RN pistol bullets with the Hornady. You're probably not going to have much luck using it on XTPs and Gold dots though. With the exception of the hollow cavity they're essentially the same as truncated cone bullets. Like rc said, there's just not much to grab onto unless you set them long.

May 21, 2013, 04:57 PM	#7
gamestalker Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 4,233	Yep, I should have picked up the Hornady. No worries though, I'll just use it for my high power stuff and go back to the kinetic for crimped / canelured bullets. And I'm likely going to pick up the Hornady, I want to give it a try as well. Your right RC, there just isn't enough shank to grab on to with those type bullets. It was cool though, as to how well it worked on 9mm, so I know I'll get some handgun use from it. GS

May 21, 2013, 08:32 PM	#9
ericgst Member Join Date: November 15, 2009 Posts: 8	I have the RCBS and have pulled thousands of 9mm and .40sw. Most were very heavy crimped with sealant that took alot of force. I have also pulled alot of lead bullets without issue. The real key is the bullet profile, it doesnt have to have alot of fairly straight surface, but it does need some just outside the cartridge.

May 22, 2013, 05:58 AM	#11
gamestalker Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: SW Arizona Posts: 4,233	I tried some 158 gr. and 135 gr. Gold Dots with it today and they were slicker than snot. I didn't have any problems, I just slightly snugged it down, and they just slid right out of the heavy roll crimps when I lifted the handle. When I did the first one, I actually thought the collet had slid off the bullet, that's how easy they pulled. Well, I'm not nearly as disappointed with this product as what I was when I tested it on XTP's. But even with those, after I worked with a few tonight, and all it took me is a few extra seconds to properly align the collet with the shank, and then it works OK. But those, I will likely use the kinetic puller in the future. But I also learned that the jacket on XTP's, is much softer than the plating on Gold Dots, a lot softer. This would explain why I am on the edge of deforming XTP's with each one I pull. Just to get enough tension on them to keep the collet from sliding off, leaves rather deep visible marks, and if I use a tiny bit too much, it bulges the bullet. The Gold Dots were so hard, that the torquing handle on the collet comes to an abrupt stop when it makes contact with the bullet. It would take everything I've got to even try to deform those Gold Dots with that collet, seriously. And the collet doesn't even leave a mark on them either. GS