Pulling plated bullets

[Strykervet]

I was recently faced with pulling several hundred older loaded 9mm and .357 rounds, with 124 and 125 grain Rainier plated bullets. I've always heard that using a collet puller will destroy the plated bullets. But using "the hammer" was out of the question with this many. I wanted to save the bullets and primed brass, but ditch the powder. I was prepared to lose the bullets though if need be.

So I pulled out the puller for .35 rifle bullets. I have an RCBS collet puller and a single stage press. I found if I install the puller really low, and ease the ram up to it, I could lock the collet and pull the bullet without damaging it. So I just wanted to pass on that pulling the plated bullets and reusing them is very doable. There is a mark left, but barely, as long as you are careful. I did damage a few that were stuck though.

With the .357, I was probably lucky in that the rounds were not crimped. A tight roll crimp would probably have resulted in a different outcome.

 

[armoredman]

Nifty, thanks!

 

[beatledog7]

Strykervet,

I've found the same thing, but with .40 S&W and the RCBS collet bullet puller. I pulled 50 plated bullets that were too deeply seated; there was barely enough for the collet to grab. Slowly raising the ram so the mouth of the case just contacted the mouth of the collet, making a half turn or so on the puller handle, just enough to grip the bullet and keep the ram falling, then cranking it down hard enough to overcome the taper crimp and then lowering the ram worked great. A little slow going, but faster and safer than using a hammer. I've pretty much decided that any I need to pull a bunch of any caliber I;m gonna pop for the RCBS collet and save myself some agony.

 

[REL1203]

I have used both, the RCBS Collet puller and the hammer with Berry Plated bullets, just have to take it easy and they worked fine. I had to pull 100 40S&W the first month i was reloading, it was a PITA, but the Collet puller worked fine as long as you dont clamp on overly tight.

 

[Strykervet]

Cool, yeah, I just wanted to bust the myth that they wouldn't work. You have to be real careful, but they do work.

I pulled an XTP and a Gold Dot that got mixed in too. I'd venture to say the damage on the XTP and Gold Dot were nearly the same --virtually none save a light ring mark where the bullet and brass mouth meet.