rcbs collet pulled slipping!

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Axis II

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my rcbs collet die keeps slipping off the bullet when I tighten it down and try to pull 44mag xtp bullets. I use a pretty heavy crimp due to the imr 4227 not burning all the way but never had an issue pulling them before. rounds are about a year old if that matters.

any thoughts?
 
Are you setting the collet to the correct depth (Not too deep or too shallow)? I don't use 44Mag anymore, but I have learned that the depth of the collet is critical to correct bullet removal.
 
Are you setting the collet to the correct depth (Not too deep or too shallow)? I don't use 44Mag anymore, but I have learned that the depth of the collet is critical to correct bullet removal.
how do you do that? I put the die in and screw in and put the collet in until it stops and then loosen until the bullet goes in and then tighten down. its grabbing right around the cannelure and slipping right off the ogive.
 
The Die (With Correct Collet Inserted), should be tightened until the collet is barely above the top of the brass neck, when the shell holder is raised all the way up. Then tighten the collet (About a Half Turn), then lower the shell holder and they should pull apart.
 
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It's a simple device. If you have it bottomed out on the case mouth before tightening it down all you can do is tighten it more. There's only one control available. Just make sure the case mouth itself isn't in the collet.

Some bullets don't give you much to grab onto. Nonetheless, I was able to pull some really slick moly-coated 9mm 125gr. RN with mine that according to RCBS it won't pull. If you can't get it with the RCBS you'll have to use an inertia puller (good luck with that).
 
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Bravo to the posts above. I don't think there is a dedicated secret manual of arms for a collet puller, you need to be open-minded and work with it until you succeed. Higher, lower, tighter, looser, keep working until you succeed.

(Just noticed that Spell Check doesn't know the word "collet". Huh. Dictionary must have been compiled by silly girly-man with no recognition of real tasks in the real world.)

For your particular roll crimp it may not help, but (sometimes) load the cartridge into your Seater Die (yes) and seat the bullet a half a tenth deeper to 'break the seal'. Then pull it with the collet. It helps.


SOMETIMES if 4227 doesn't burn completely, we may be using a light load. Drop down to Blue Dot or N-110 or similar slightly faster powder to get good velocity with a more complete burn, without having to crimp so hard. Or what the heck, keep your 4227 load with a heavy roll crimp if that's the best, you very seldom have to pull a bunch of XTP, it doesn't happen often. Your choice, you know what's best for you.
 
I have several of the collets, one of them (I believe it was the 44 cal) did not work I called RCBS or e mail.Anyway they sent a new one.

Also if the bullets are really crimped, seat them just a tad more to help break it free,
 
Thanks guys! I will seat them a little deeper and try pulling them. I have pulled several last year and never an issue. I did watch it as it grabbed right around the cannelure and when i pulled the ram down it slipped right off and after a few tries bare lead was exposed. I more want to pull them to safely dispose of them than anything.
 
How many do you have to break down?

Sometimes the good old kinetic "hammer" is worth the time if not too many.
 
How many do you have to break down?

Sometimes the good old kinetic "hammer" is worth the time if not too many.
about 10. I loaded some up for someone who barrowed the rifle during deer gun season and found them in a jar in the garage so i figured it was corrosion. if all else fails ill buy a hammer.
 
You might want to try a dusting of rosin on the bullets as it gives it more grip for the collet. You can buy a small pitcher's bag of it for cheap (under $5) at any sporting goods store where they sell baseball equipment or try Amazon. Works on to improve grip on other things as well when working on slick metal.
 
The Ram/Shell Holder (With Bullet in Shell Holder), should be all the way up (Handle Down), the Collet/Die should be tightened until the Collet barely misses the Brass of the bullet. Next the Collet should be tightened enough that a 1/4 to 1/2 turn of the adjuster for the collet. Then turn the collet tightener the 1/4 to 1/2 turn and then move the press handle down, which should leverage the bullet out, leaving a Piece of Brass (With Powder and Primer), in the collet should be the removed bullet. Remove the Brass, dispose of the powder using whatever method you choose. Then when the Collet is Loose the removed bullet will fall out of the collet. Repeat as necessary. These are the instructions for the Hornady Bullet Puller, but should be similar to the RCBS Bullet Puller. If you are still unsuccessful, I would suggest you contact RCBS as I have had great luck with them when I couldn't sort something out.

Good Luck,

Dan
 
about 10. I loaded some up for someone who barrowed the rifle during deer gun season and found them in a jar in the garage so i figured it was corrosion. if all else fails ill buy a hammer.

For only 10 I would have been done a long time ago with a hammer.:)

I only bought the collet puller in several calibers as I got a whole box lot of hundreds of loaded ammo with good xtp bullets in 357, 44 mag, 45 acp but there was no daya on how they where loaded, Even with the press mounted puller it was a PITA. Who ever crimped them over did it!!
 
For only 10 I would have been done a long time ago with a hammer.:)

I only bought the collet puller in several calibers as I got a whole box lot of hundreds of loaded ammo with good xtp bullets in 357, 44 mag, 45 acp but there was no daya on how they where loaded, Even with the press mounted puller it was a PITA. Who ever crimped them over did it!!
I specialize in screwing up to a large degree. I started with the hammer but after having about 30 rounds to break down decided I needed something better. I think the RCBS collet puller is as good as it gets, but yes, when you have hundreds to do it's still a chore, just a less obnoxious one.
 
I force the bullet up into a fully opened collet. I mean use some force with your press, 70 lbs or so. Then tighten the collet until you think it's not going anymore. Slam the press handle down with some force. That will sometimes crush a bullet but it's still usable. Never had even a heavy crimp stop that procedure. Yeah, it's brute force but it pulls the bullet.
 
well an email to rcbs showed you cant use their collet for the xtp bullets. I explained to them that it was an xtp bullet and ive pulled 1-2 with the collet but now it slips right off. Their response was bullets such as the xtp are shaped where there is nothing for the collet to grab therefore it will slip off the bullet. we suggest using a hammer puller for bullets such as the xtp.

I went tonight and got a Frankfort arsenal hammer puller and man does this suck! I pulled 5 xtp bullets in about 20min and my hands got a freaking caulis! I had a choice of cabelas, Frankfort or lyman and I chose the Frankfort cause it was way cheaper, good reviews and a steel shaft. I cam a hair of taking it back because the collets must be put together and then hold it on and try and thread the cap on it which I thought was a giant pain in the behind but I got it done. another thing I disliked is the cap comes undone every 3 hits and needs to be tightened again.
 
Some bullets don't give you much to grab onto. Nonetheless, I was able to pull some really slick moly-coated 9mm 125gr. RN with mine that according to RCBS it won't pull. If you can't get it with the RCBS you'll have to use an inertia puller (good luck with that).
As the old saying goes, it doesn't matter whether you decide you can or cannot - you end up being right.
 
After rereading this whole thread, I keep chuckling about ray15's post.
So right!!! Sometimes you bite the green weenie, sometimes it bits you.
Ray is right. You chart your own course, then your row it.
If it is a small quantity, break them down if you want, it's up to you.
 
After rereading this whole thread, I keep chuckling about ray15's post.
So right!!! Sometimes you bite the green weenie, sometimes it bits you.
Ray is right. You chart your own course, then your row it.
If it is a small quantity, break them down if you want, it's up to you.
already broken down. breaking them down or not wasn't an option as i didn't know what was in them and didn't want them mixed in with anything else. when i pulled them i took them downstairs and weighed the charge and my hunting load is max charge of imr 4227 and these weighed out at middle data. still would have been safe but better to check first.
 
Oooh. For those interested in weird but EFFECTIVE ideas, a hockey puck is about 5 bucks at the cheap sporting goods stores.

Its density is PERFECT for the inertia puller. It dislodges the bullet but doesn't damage the hammer.

The perfect inertia energy transfer medium. Well, I guess that's not a surprise, given its intended use.

Hockey puck. Simple. Cheap. Lasts a lifetime. It works.
 
Hey, I like that idea. I've got a round piece of MDF (scraps from routering mounting holes in speaker boxes) screwed to my reloading bench as a sacrificial lamb for the hammer, but I like the puck idea a lot better. I'll screw one of those the bench and not have to replace it (and pick up the pieces). Thanks for the great idea.
 
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