Steve H
Member
Since dirt was made I have always used a "hammer" type bullet puller. I'm thinking about getting a cam lock type that goes in the press. Any recommendations? RCBS - Hornady ? On jacketed bullets is there much bullet damage?
bullet puller advice
- Thread starter Steve H
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I have an old RCBS collet puller in .30 Cal I used to use when GI ball ammo was free!
It works perfectly, and there is no bullet damage at all.
Keep in mind they won't work at all on most handgun ammo, because there usually isn't enough full diameter bullet sticking out of the case to get a hold of.
This looks interesting, but I have never used them.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/...son-plier-style-bullet-pullers-prod34463.aspx
https://www.rwhart.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=RWH-F-H93
rc
It works perfectly, and there is no bullet damage at all.
Keep in mind they won't work at all on most handgun ammo, because there usually isn't enough full diameter bullet sticking out of the case to get a hold of.
This looks interesting, but I have never used them.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/...son-plier-style-bullet-pullers-prod34463.aspx
https://www.rwhart.com/store/proddetail.asp?prod=RWH-F-H93
rc
jwrowland77
Member
I've had the Hornady and the RCBS......I sold the RCBS, still have the Hornady.
I've never noticed any damage on my bullets from using it.
I've never noticed any damage on my bullets from using it.
Artofgolf
Member
Only one I've had was the Hornady - works great on jacketed bullets.
Bullit puller
Haven't mentioned this for a while. For rifle cartridges take the die out of the press, run the cartidge up through the hole, grab the bullet with a pair of sidecut pliers, lower ram. Comes right out and leaves a couple of small tick marks on jacketed bullets.
On pistol cartridges, slide a short pipe ( PVC or metal ) over press ram, raise ram , insert cartridge, grab bullet with sidecut pliers, lower ram, bullet comes right out.
OYE
Haven't mentioned this for a while. For rifle cartridges take the die out of the press, run the cartidge up through the hole, grab the bullet with a pair of sidecut pliers, lower ram. Comes right out and leaves a couple of small tick marks on jacketed bullets.
On pistol cartridges, slide a short pipe ( PVC or metal ) over press ram, raise ram , insert cartridge, grab bullet with sidecut pliers, lower ram, bullet comes right out.
OYE
jwrowland77
Member
You can also take pliers, wrap the teeth with electrical tape and do the same without leaving a mark
FLIGHT762
Member
O/P, if you want to buy a dedicated, collet puller, buy the Hornady. Much easier to use than other collet pullers because of the top lever Hornady uses. Once you get it set right, it's fast and easy.
quartermaster
Member
I have the RCBS and it works fine for me. If I had to do it all over again, I think I would go the Hornady route.
The kinetic works OK for one a couple of bullets, but for larger mistakes, the collet type saves the heads for future use. QM
The kinetic works OK for one a couple of bullets, but for larger mistakes, the collet type saves the heads for future use. QM
javelinablanco
Member
When I first started acquiring reloading equipment, roughly a year ago I had to choose a puller route to go with. After reviewing the options I went with the Hornady collet bullet puller. The kinetic option is fine for the occasional pull. I was given a large batch of 22-250 ammo from a friend the ammo was of unknown origin, however all the components were still usable minus the powder load. With this in mind doing that whole batch with a kinetic puller would have taken three times as long.
I think if you are reloading for a few calibers (2-3) then the hornady option is good, you will have an investment in different size collets depending on what caliber you are loading. You can save money if you are reloading a large amount of different calibers where buying all of the collets would set you back a bit. Also if you only plan on pulling the occasional mistake, then kinetic may be a cheaper alternative. However, the Hornady is fast and easy once you get it set up and get a feel for it.
I think if you are reloading for a few calibers (2-3) then the hornady option is good, you will have an investment in different size collets depending on what caliber you are loading. You can save money if you are reloading a large amount of different calibers where buying all of the collets would set you back a bit. Also if you only plan on pulling the occasional mistake, then kinetic may be a cheaper alternative. However, the Hornady is fast and easy once you get it set up and get a feel for it.
bullet puller
I use the hammer type inertia puller,and it's fine for the few times I've needed it.When pulling soft point spitzer bullets,I put a wad of kleenex on the botton as to not bugger up the tips as they come out .10 bucks years ago and it works for me . hdbiker
I use the hammer type inertia puller,and it's fine for the few times I've needed it.When pulling soft point spitzer bullets,I put a wad of kleenex on the botton as to not bugger up the tips as they come out .10 bucks years ago and it works for me . hdbiker
Toprudder
Member
I have the RCBS and like it. I have not tried the Hornady, though.
As some have already said, there are some pistol calibers/bullets that simply can't be pulled with a collet style puller. 40 S&W is one that you can rarely pull since most bullets are truncated cones with no bearing surface exposed. The traditional 9mm RN bullets can usually be pulled easily. SWC bullets will need a kinetic puller.
Lead bullets will usually deform when using a collet puller. Plated bullets may deform slightly, depending on the bullet. Jacketed are no problem.
As some have already said, there are some pistol calibers/bullets that simply can't be pulled with a collet style puller. 40 S&W is one that you can rarely pull since most bullets are truncated cones with no bearing surface exposed. The traditional 9mm RN bullets can usually be pulled easily. SWC bullets will need a kinetic puller.
Lead bullets will usually deform when using a collet puller. Plated bullets may deform slightly, depending on the bullet. Jacketed are no problem.
Paddy
member
I bought a Forster used on eBay and it works pretty well. Sometimes hard to get just the right die height, but I usually just get close and feel for it. They seem quite common to find on eBay for some reason.
justin 561
Member
I will give another +1 for the Hornady collet puller. I went the cheap with the Frankford hammer type puller and it gave tons of trouble trying to consistently pull .223 bullets. I also was not fond of pounding a hammer on a wood block or resetting the round when it slipped through the collet.
The Hornady collet puller has saved me the most valuable asset one can have, time. With a literally 2 minute setup I increased the pulling on some mystery load 75 gr amaxs (340 rnds) by hours. There is no more trying to catch the bullet with the powder mixed in and will stay in the collet till I pull the handle back up. it has also never left any marks on the bullets as long as you domt crank th handle down all the way.
It was well worth the investment for the die, and 2 collets.
The Hornady collet puller has saved me the most valuable asset one can have, time. With a literally 2 minute setup I increased the pulling on some mystery load 75 gr amaxs (340 rnds) by hours. There is no more trying to catch the bullet with the powder mixed in and will stay in the collet till I pull the handle back up. it has also never left any marks on the bullets as long as you domt crank th handle down all the way.
It was well worth the investment for the die, and 2 collets.
FROGO207
Member
I have the hammer type for those that can't be pulled any other way and the Hornaday Lever Lock puller for anything I can grip without deforming. As mentioned you have to get the collet for each caliber you plan to work with. It seemed handier than the RCBS when I compared before purchasing. Once it is set up I can pull piles of ammo fast to recover components and not spill any propellant. I have seen the Forster brand in use and it looks slick but never checked to see if it deformed bullets any. YMMV
konertjm
Member
I asked this same question over on Brian Enos forum
Which Bullet Puller?
I went with the cheapy Lee press suggested in post #6, an RCBS bullet puller, and correct shell holder for 9MM.
Did a simple setup on a 1X6 last night. Works like a charm. Saving bullet and powder.
Which Bullet Puller?
I went with the cheapy Lee press suggested in post #6, an RCBS bullet puller, and correct shell holder for 9MM.
Did a simple setup on a 1X6 last night. Works like a charm. Saving bullet and powder.
DM~
Member
I have two or three different collet pullers.....I rarely us them. WHY ?, because i mostly use "hunting" bullets and I learned long ago (back when I was bullet testing) that a jacketed bullet that is squeezed that hard, almost always has a tiny bit of jacket "spring back" from the core.
Even that "tiny" bit is enough to make jacket/core separation more likely, and to ME, that's called "probable" bullet failure, as jacket/core separation is the last thing want in a hunting bullet.
DM
Even that "tiny" bit is enough to make jacket/core separation more likely, and to ME, that's called "probable" bullet failure, as jacket/core separation is the last thing want in a hunting bullet.
DM
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lightman
Member
I've had the RCBS collet type for a long time. It works fine, if you have enough bullet sticking out of the case for the collet to grip. I don't see that any collet type puller has any advantage over any other collet type puller. Just choose your favorite brand and go with it. I'm not getting any bullet damage that I can see. My RCBS puller came in a plastic box the same size as a die box, making it easy to store.
TBJK
Member
Another one for Hornady. I bought mine cause they were out of the RCBS when I needed it. I pulled 51 bullets the other night in .40. Did not take hardly any time or effort. Downfall was I had to order my .40 collet. I also used it on a few 308 rounds with great success
gamestalker
member
I have an RCBS collet puller, and also an RCBS kinetic puller. Both do very well, but the collet puller is much quicker than the kinetic one.
Neither one has issues with deforming or other wise damaging the bullets. And although I've read that some have had problems with powder spilling every where with the kinetic puller, I've not had that issue. My kinetic puller came with a soft insert to prevent bullet deformation, and even though, I still get every little bit of powder back out of it, with nothing more than a light finger tap, as verified on a scale.
GS
Neither one has issues with deforming or other wise damaging the bullets. And although I've read that some have had problems with powder spilling every where with the kinetic puller, I've not had that issue. My kinetic puller came with a soft insert to prevent bullet deformation, and even though, I still get every little bit of powder back out of it, with nothing more than a light finger tap, as verified on a scale.
GS
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