RCBS bullet puller issue

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Jesse Heywood

Jesse Heywood

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I have been using the RCBS puller for 4 years. One constant problem is the bullets sticking in the collet. I have tried reducing the tension applied to the bare minimum needed to pull the bullet, but still have to use pliers to pry the bullet out. Any solutions? Tomorrow is the 4th, so fireworks aren't out of the options.
 
I've always used a connec puller, couple of
strikes it's out . I had a RCBS puller, I gave it away.
 
I don’t crank down that much to stick a bullet. Once I feel it “lock” onto the bullet I quit cranking. If it’s stuck I just wiggle it out with my fingers. Pulled 25rds of various stuff last night with it and no issues.
 
I just tap the top with a hammer when they stick. I have a small brass hammer on my bench I use
 
Jesse Heywood said:
I have tried reducing the tension applied to the bare minimum needed to pull the bullet, but still have to use pliers to pry the bullet out.
Click to expand...
Those two statements would be definition be contradictory unless you have a huge burr on thee collet fingers or your sense of minimum is a bit off ;)

I've never seen a stuck bullet that wasn't the result of too much pressure being applied by the fingers. I don't own a RCBS puller, but I learned to use one when friends were teaching me to reload. There really isn't much feedback as to how much tension you are applying to the bullet...that is why I went with the Hornady collet puller. I once had to pull several hundred 9mm bullets and only had one stuck in the whole batch.

You could try polishing the inside of the fingers first, but you'll like have better luck by backing off the pressure you are applying. I'd back off a quarter turn at a time until the bullet didn't stick
 
Never had one stick in my rcbs collet puller pulled cast and jacketed several different sizes and they all just fall out when I turn the handle.
 
What bullets are you pulling? Caliber, Jacketed or lead??

I have the RCBS and many calibers had to pull hundreds of loaded rounds I got free from a pawn shop. Had no issues most where XTPs that had the living snot crimped out of them.

The 44 Cal did not work well, I wrote RCBS and they sent me a new Collet (free)

Call them or e mail.
 
I have one and use it frequently. It won't pull a lead bullet with a heavy roll crimp. Pulls everything else to my satisfaction. Tore down 25 308 cartridges not long ago without issue. Jacketed and lead bullets with taper crimps seem to be very easy to pull.

After I pull the bullet and I back the collet wrench back about 1-2 turns the bullet generally falls out. If not I can pull it out with my fingers.
 
No lead bullets. My problems are with 125 gr. Nosler BT and 150 gr. Sierra Game King .308, in .300 AAC and 7.62X39, steel jacket. The Chinese ammo is sealed, requiring more force to dislodge.

Today I tried stoning the collet interior. Had some of the Sierra GK loaded and tried again. I could not detect a burr before stoning the collet, but there must have been a slight one. There is no longer a ring on the bullet, but it still sticks. I loosen the collet, push the round in to where the case bumps the collet. Turn the stem to where it is just starting to tighten on the bullet. From there it is about 1/16 of a turn to when the transition occurs allowing the bullet to pull without slipping. After pulling the case down, I loosen the collet and bump the stem down with the ball of my hand. That leaves about .180 of the straight wall of the bullet protruding, the remaining .125 of the bullet is tapered. With this short surface, I cannot get enough grip on the bullet to extract without using pliers.
 
The bullet remains with the collet and still needs pliers to extract. Using a ball gage the relaxed collet mikes at .3016. The bullet is .3088. Leads me to believe that the collet hole is too small. Will fire off an e-mail to RCBS.
 
After RCBS sends a new collet I will find a reamer and play with this one. Make it for the .312 bullets that I pull from 7.62X39. Big green has good customer service, but there's no excuse for .010 undersize.
 
The colets are heat treated and very hard, most break when bent. Good luck on finding a reamer that will cut them. Then your dealing with joints the reamer has to bridge. Once you get the replacement try to use a mandrel to expand the collet. You may be able to hone them, though.
 
Blue68f100 said:
The colets are heat treated and very hard, most break when bent. Good luck on finding a reamer that will cut them. Then your dealing with joints the reamer has to bridge. Once you get the replacement try to use a mandrel to expand the collet. You may be able to hone them, though.
Click to expand...
Hadn't thought they would be that hard. Might have to try a mandrel. Thanks
 
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