Pulling bullets

[.cheese.]

I bought a kinetic bullet puiller. The Quinetics brand one:

I'm just using it right now to take apart 20 year old ammo that hadn't been stored properly and may be unsafe to shoot. I'll use the brass and bullets to make more keychains (my side hobby - I sell them at ham radio conventions and whatnot).

Anyways, it says in the instructions that one whack should be enough. I find myself having to hit and retighten at least 10 times before it unseats.

Am I doing this wrong? Is there a sweet spot I don't know about? It says that you should push your pull, as the bounce is what matters, and that the impact should be made with the puller handle parallel to the surface.

I've tried hitting on wood, and hitting on vinyl flooring. It says not to hit on concrete, stone, metal, etc.

I have to be doing something wrong, or maybe it's this old ammo just being stuck.

The powder is clumped together when it comes out, so I get the impression moisture got in. Maybe that has something to do with it?

 

[Cowboybootnut]

Years ago, when I was pulling old .303 British ammo, I rapped the puller on my RCBS Rockchucker. It's metal. Didn't give me any issues on a few hundred bullets. Just took a few wacks, and I put a quick snap to it with my wrists.

But if it says "no metal" - I wouldn't try it again.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I dunno. My understanding is that the collett-style pullers that you use with the press are much faster/better/easier than the inertia hammers like that, if you're doing any quantity at all. I'm about to order the colletts in 7mm and .30 to pull a bunch of estate sale reloads I have here.

 

[WayneConrad]

Look at the edge of the case, where it meets the bullet. Is it turned into a groove on the bullet? If so, your cartridges are "crimped," and that's why they are so hard to pull.

If so, the solutions I know of are:

• Keep whacking away, or
• Use a reloading press with a seating die to break the crimp before using your inertial puller, or
• Use a collet puller in a reloading press.

You can also safely disassemble the cartridges using pliars, if you don't mind mangling the components. A pair of plairs on the cartridge and another on the bullet. Wiggle until they come apart. Wear gloves, long sleeves, eye protection, and keep children and lawyers away (although I can't see how it would be possible to set one off this way, some inventive fool will find a way and then come looking for me, I'm sure).

If hitting on wood, hit on the end grain of a good, hard piece of hardwood.

 

[1911Tuner]

It depends a lot on the bullet's mass.

Since it's an inertia device, the heavier the bullet, the more it will move with a given whack. A .30-06 case will relinquish its grip on a 200-grain bullet more readily than a .223 case will let go of a 55-grain bullet.

Case neck tension is a player, as is whether or not there was a sealer involved. Military ammo can be pretty stubborn, and the standard practice is to first use a seater die adjusted to push the bullet deeper into the neck in order to break the seal before using an inertia-type puller.

 

[USSR]

...it says in the instructions that one whack should be enough. I find myself having to hit and retighten at least 10 times before it unseats.

Am I doing this wrong? Is there a sweet spot I don't know about?

They lie. Don't sweat it; whack away.

Don

 

[The Bushmaster]

Yup...They lie...Get a 4 X 4 about 12" long, up end it and whack away...It's all in the wrist...

 

[.cheese.]

gotcha. Thanks.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

hey there cheese ! I just realized we are neighbors !! And I have a similar type puller , it might work with one whack if the bullets arent crimped ! But all the ones I have taken apart required multiple taps !

 

[Acera]

Remember the old powder makes great plant fertilizer, it's loaded with nitrogen and potted plants around the back yard love the stuff when I make a mistake.

 

[1911Tuner]

Remember the old powder makes great plant fertilizer,

It's also an excellent fire starter.

I used to lay my logs and kindling in the fireplace, and have everything ready, including wadded newspaper under the kindling. Lay a line of old rifle powder at the front, with a little extra added here and there. Light the paper...Step back...Presto! Instant fire.

 

[.cheese.]

Remember the old powder makes great plant fertilizer, it's loaded with nitrogen and potted plants around the back yard love the stuff when I make a mistake.

really? Due to the water restrictions, the plants around my yard are in bad shape. Thankfully they've eased the restrictions somewhat. Maybe I'll use the powder for trying to save the yard.

hey there cheese ! I just realized we are neighbors !! And I have a similar type puller , it might work with one whack if the bullets arent crimped ! But all the ones I have taken apart required multiple taps !

There seems to be a lot of us here on THR in the tri-county area.

 

[Odd Job]

Cheese I have the exact same puller and I also had problems with older ammo that had clumped powder. Some of those took about 15 hits!!
I was using a wood block.

 

[moooose102]

i have to hit my bullet puller many times also. use the END gain of a wood block, otherwise, you can break the puller. bullets that are crimped in come out way harder than those just pressed in. it just take time, and patience.

 

[.cheese.]

I've been using particle board as it's soft.

I'll get a 4x4 though and use it.

 

[janobles14]

i whack mine on a cheap slidge hammer head that i bought from the hardware store for 5 bucks. i have the same puller posted in the picture and have used it for TONS of rounds and have had no problems.

 

[ForneyRider]

Franford Arsenal looks like the same as the Quinetics.

I had mine for a whole weekend before I got a good feel for it. We kept doing the collet wrong. I let the collet go down on the rim.

I put a 2x4 on end on the floor. I pull crimped 41 mag, 45 ACP, bottleneck rifle bullets with 2-3 hits. I hit pretty hard, but not enough to miss. Once I get a rhythm, I can do it in 1 hit.

Powder tends to go everywhere. I save what I can and sweep the rest up and dump in the bushes.

 

[rcmodel]

We kept doing the collet wrong. I let the collet go down on the rim.

Say what?
The collet is supposed to go down on the rim.

That leaves the case & bullet inside the bullet puller head.

There should be no powder escaping anywhere when used this way.

All of it is caught in the hammer, then dumped out after you remove the collet & empty case.

rcmodel

 

[RustyFN]

Like Bushmaster said, I stand a 4X4 on end and hit it. I own a RCBS puller and don't know if this will work with yours but I use a shell holder to hold the case instead of the collet that came with it. It is much easier that way.
Rusty

 

[eliphalet]

Been whacking my Quinetics puller on a piece of RR rail about 20 yeas now with no problems but I don't smack it real hard, several hits are no problem to me. Some military is crimped quite tight.
If you have a somewhat delicate pointed bullet and want to reuse it, place a foam ear plug in the puller first to protect the bullet point.