Help with some bullet pulling

[rvenneman]

I made 200 38 Special cartridges with bullets from “Blue Bullets” I also made some with SWC bullets I casted.
I realized after reloading I over loaded them. So much they were over and maximum safe load.
I have a RCBS bullet puller and a Franklin inertia puller.
The cast SWC I made came out easy. But the Blue Bullets are almost impossible to get out. I assume that the coating on the bullet is seating it very tightly.
Does anyone have an idea on how to loosen the bullet. The inertia puller will not budge the bullet even after 30 hits.
Would putting then in sub boiling water for a few minutes help? I really do not want to lose the bullet, case and primer.
Does anyone have an idea? What do you think of the hot water idea?

 

[ray15]

I was able to pull a batch of ACME hi-tek coated and even Precision moly-coated bullets with the RCBS collet bullet puller. I just had to make sure it was bottomed out on the case mouth and tighten it progressively tighter until it grabbed rather than slid on the bullet surface. But those would have pulled with the inertia puller in less than 30 hits. It sounds like yours are really in there - I'm not sure there's anything you can do if increasingly aggressive use of the RCBS bears no fruit.

 

[rjbmjb]

If the rounds are crimped, you might try setting one just a bit deeper, which may stretch the crimp enough for the inertia puller to work.

 

[rfwobbly]

In case you were wondering what you'll look like after using a kinetic hammer 200 times....

 

[Shimitup]

Only advice I can offer is don't be shy about smacking it, like driving a 40 penny nail into hard wood with a claw hammer. and don't hit it on wood either, concrete or steel plate both are much more effective. Wear eye protection in case something breaks, should be doing that anyway. I've smacked my Frankford puller really hard on those surfaces and it's still staying in one piece.

 

[someguy2800]

Hit it like your trying to break it!

What is the load and how far over max are they? Did you check if the load is within 38+p data? Depending on the load they could be safe to shoot if the gun is a 357 mag.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Depending on the load they could be safe to shoot if the gun is a 357 mag.

That's what I'd suggest. +P or not, any load crafted for a 38 spcl should be good to go in a 357 chassis

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've never had a bullet survive more than 5-6 hits in an inertia bullet puller
1. What are you striking the hammer on...I suggest concrete or steel (anvil)
2. Are you holding it too tightly...let the leverage work for you, it isn't a powder stroke
3. How are the collets set up...using a shell holder usually works better

Seating the bullet deeper would help if you have over crimped them.

I use a Hornady Cam-Loc bullet puller. Just set the collet fingers right at the edge of the case mouth

 

[joneb]

I whack on the end grain of a 8x8 18" long chunk of doug fir resting on a concrete slab, this has never failed. A tough to unseat bullet may last five wacks with a RCBS inertia puller. I have done a lot of construction and I'm used to swinging a hammer.

 

[Johnnyd]

Get a cam-lock or collet bullet puller.

 

[drband]

Whack it on concrete. Really.

 

[dgod]

I have used a Inertia Puller for years, Never had a bullet I couldn't get out. Recently acquired a Hornady Puller, LOVE IT. But to your problem. I would suggest 1) a solid striking surface, 2) Eye Protection, 3) be prepared to strike it like you mean it. It appears to be stuck, you must get them loose, or Shoot them out as mentioned above.

Don't be afraid to strike it hard.

Good Luck
Dan

 

[Axis II]

I had some 44mag 240gr xtp bullets the rcbs collet puller wouldn't grab no matter what. I purchased the Frankfort hammer and still had issues so I seated that deeper and some pulled and some didn't. I now have a piece of treated 4x4 in the garage and I cock back and smack the living snot out of it and usually pulls them.

 

[rocirish]

buy the hornady cam lock. It will make you wonder what you were thinking when you bought that hammer. I've used both but the inertia hasn't been used much since I got the cam lock.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The Cam-Loc really is the last word, but the inertia still has it's place...especially when there isn't enough bullet to grab with the collets

 

[mdi]

I've had some bullets that were really tough to pull with my hammer puller, but I just kept hammerin'. I now use a hard lead ingot/puck as an anvil. It doesn't soften the blow enough to hinder the bullets' inertia and it's much quieter...

 

[Sunray]

Blue Bullets(who can't spell) uses a polymer based coating. The crimp is probably stuck in the coating. Anyway, the ease of using an inertial puller depends on what you whack it on. A carpet, wood and even concrete is too soft. Find yourself a nice igneous rock about the size of a small cantaloupe with one flat side. Rocks are free too.

 

[rvenneman]

Blue Bullets(who can't spell) uses a polymer based coating. The crimp is probably stuck in the coating. Anyway, the ease of using an inertial puller depends on what you whack it on. A carpet, wood and even concrete is too soft. Find yourself a nice igneous rock about the size of a small cantaloupe with one flat side. Rocks are free too.

That’s a good idea. Now I need to find a rock here in the Yuma desert.

 

[Allen One1]

Be a good excuse to buy a .357
If these are not coming out with 2-3 pops with the hammer, 200 is going to have you begging for relief. I had some 223 that absolutely would not come out with the inertia puller no matter how hard I hit it. Bought the Hornady cam lock, never looked back.

 

[rvenneman]

I just tapped the side of the edge of the case lightly and then used the inertia puller and got 90% of them. Thanks for all your help.

 

[rskent]

The Cam-Loc really is the last word, but the inertia still has it's place...especially when there isn't enough bullet to grab with the collets

I have tried two different collet type pullers. Never did figure out how to not leave marks on the bullets.

I am back to using the Whack a Mole puller. Just smack it on a big old vice.

 

[roval]

If the rounds are crimped, you might try setting one just a bit deeper, which may stretch the crimp enough for the inertia puller to work.

i agree with the above. new 38 spcl starline brass and 148 dewc was super hard to remove till somebody suggested seating it slightly deeper at which point it came out much easier with the hammer.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have tried two different collet type pullers. Never did figure out how to not leave marks on the bullets.

There are two methods of using the Cam-Loc depending on your personality....black-n-white or shades of grey
1. Adjust the depth of the jaws so that they apply the correct tension as the lever is fully lowered
2. Slowly lower the lever until you feel pressure, add additional pressure until you have enough traction to pull the bullet from the case