How in the hell does one uses a Forster Collet Bullet Puller?!?!?

[Gunner4h1r3]

Ordered one to fix a .38 Special powder mix-up and the damn thing won't do it's job. Followed instructions again and again but to no avail. Tried the online videos but no help there either. I was able to get 7 out of 21 done and mashed 2 or 3 rounds in the process before throwing the remaining of the 21 in the garbage out of anger and frustration.

Can someone out there please describe in pictures/words exactly how to use this thing?

 

[rondog]

No, I can't. But I can feel your pain!!! I have one with .30 and .45 collets, and it's the most irritating p.o.s. in my whole collection of shooting and reloading stuff. Getting it adjusted takes a micrometer touch, there's a very tiny window of adjustment where it'll work. Then you have to tighten the hell out of it to get it to bite, and if it DOES pull the bullet out, then the bullet is stuck up inside the collet.

Yeah, I hate it.

 

[Gunner4h1r3]

thanks rondog, at least i'm not the only one who is irritated. Guess next time I will not be complacent with powder. Is there any bullet puller out there that actually works?

 

[rjrivero]

I've always used intertia pullers. They seem to do the job really well with pistol calibers. Rifle Calibers sometimes take a little more patience (esp. light .223 Remington Rounds).

 

[Sin City Shootist]

I've got a forster for .308 and it works great. Must be a pistol thing.

 

[Russt]

I'm not familiar with the Forster but I have a RCBS collet type puller and it works good with jacketed bullets. I haven't tried it with lead bullets, instead I use an intertia puller. I thought what the heck???? A plastic hammer? How's that gonna pull a bullet, but it works. It does require a learning curve to operate but it works. I've had mine for over 10 years and unloaded a lot of goof ups with it.

 

[ranger335v]

No collet puller can do much if there isn't enough of the bullet exposed to get a grip on. Inertia pullers are generally best for handgun ammo.

 

[jcwit]

Collet bullet pulers don't cut it for pistol bullets. Not enough of the bearing surface exposed for the collet to grip. Suggest you get a wham/bang puller for handgun rounds.

However, collet pullers work great for rifle cartridges.