Pulling projectiles 44 magnum

[length_of_pull_1]

So I am suddenly the proud owner of around 400 rounds of 44mag, some 180gr rnfp and 240gr swc all bare lead. I've tried to pull some but they are crimped super tight. So I bought a 44/11mm collet for my rcbs puller and it won't grab the bullet tight enough to yank it out of the case, just kind of smears the lead. I also have an inertial hammer type puller where I can beat the living daylights out of a poor 2x4 but can't make the thing move. I mean Bob Ross would be proud of the way I've whacked the dog s$!t out of it. What ever shall I try next?

 

[adcoch1]

So I am suddenly the proud owner of around 400 rounds of 44mag, some 180gr rnfp and 240gr swc all bare lead. I've tried to pull some but they are crimped super tight. So I bought a 44/11mm collet for my rcbs puller and it won't grab the bullet tight enough to yank it out of the case, just kind of smears the lead. I also have an inertial hammer type puller where I can beat the living daylights out of a poor 2x4 but can't make the thing move. I mean Bob Ross would be proud of the way I've whacked the dog s$!t out of it. What ever shall I try next?

Maybe shooting them? Or use the kinetic puller on a concrete block. Seems to work better than on wood in my experience.

 

[LV Gun]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.
Like above , concrete block or directly on concrete . Surface being struck has to have no give.

 

[BBarn]

Why are you wanting to pull them?

 

[AJC1]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.
Like above , concrete block or directly on concrete . Surface being struck has to have no give.

Any surface that causes compression of the hammer face and rebound will give you the most extraction. Half inch plate on my workbench works well.

 

[243winxb]

the proud owner of around 400 rounds of 44mag,

More like a curse. I vote burn barrel. Life is to short for this.

I have measured over 100 pounds to move a bullet.

 

[dredd]

This is going to sound like a BS reply, but I am serious.

I had a similar problem awhile back.
Several hundred rounds of mystery 44 mag reloads.

I started with the inertia puller and gave up.

I picked up a CVA 44 mag single shot for $225, cut the barrel to 17" and threaded it for a suppressor.

Every time I go to the range, I burn about 20 or so rounds thru it.
It goes bang, I smile and I have de-milled the mystery ammo.
The CVA single shot is built like a cannon.

I also wrangled myself into a new toy.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

I picked up a CVA 44 mag single shot for $225, cut the barrel to 17" and threaded it for a suppressor.

Every time I go to the range, I burn about 20 or so rounds thru it.
It goes bang, I smile and I have de-milled the mystery ammo.
The CVA single shot is built like a cannon.

I like this idea.

Banging out 400 rounds with the hammer will suck big time!

 

[Dan Wesson]

Just a thought… if you are mainly after the brass, take the die out of your press, mount a round on the ram in a shell holder, raise the ram so the bullet is just above the die hole and grab it with a sturdy wire cutter. Lower the ram, toss the bullet and powder. Keep the primed case.

 

[243winxb]

all bare lead

A form of roll sizing may work. 2 steel plates can be used to size bullets smaller, while in the case.

Brass springs back more then lead. Bullets will be loose inside the brass.
Takes about .005" sizing.

Or run 44 into a STEEL die to size just the bullet area smaller. LIKE-

Scrap lead bullets.

 

[dartor]

Just a thought… if you are mainly after the brass, take the die out of your press, mount a round on the ram in a shell holder, raise the ram so the bullet is just above the die hole and grab it with a sturdy wire cutter. Lower the ram, toss the bullet and powder. Keep the primed case.

View attachment 1257178

Same thing I do with unknown rounds. I dump the powder, save the bullet for casting and reload the case using the primer. If you have a favorite 44 mag load you may want to reduce the charge a bit in case the primers are magnum primers.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

You could set up the seating die not to crimp. And push the bullet in some. To break the seal sorta to speak, Then pull them with the kinetic puller. I use a 4x4 block of wood. I stand it up on edge on the floor.

 

[toxophilus]

You could try placing a 35 caliber collet onto your RCBS bullet puller, it might have enough grab onto the truncated part of the SWC loads you have. I've done it on a gaggle of .45 caliber rounds that I had to pull in the past.

 

[reverseturn]

So I am suddenly the proud owner of around 400 rounds of 44mag, some 180gr rnfp and 240gr swc all bare lead. I've tried to pull some but they are crimped super tight. So I bought a 44/11mm collet for my rcbs puller and it won't grab the bullet tight enough to yank it out of the case, just kind of smears the lead. I also have an inertial hammer type puller where I can beat the living daylights out of a poor 2x4 but can't make the thing move. I mean Bob Ross would be proud of the way I've whacked the dog s$!t out of it. What ever shall I try

Maybe shooting them? Or use the kinetic puller on a concrete block. Seems to work better than on wood in my experience.

+1 on the idea of smacking the hammer against something immovable. I've whacked against a concrete laundry tub with no luck. The give must be minimal but no luck. Whacked against concrete basement floor and eventual success. Your hammer will be pretty beat up but you will have a better chance of success.

 

[The Old Redneck]

I use wire strippers instead of wire cutters. Easier to get a good grip on bullet. With die out of press run round up through press. Grip bullet just above case mouth. As round goes down let wire strippers rest on top of press. Pulls bullet as ram goes down. With a good press doesn't take much effort. Lots faster than anything else I have tried. Wire strippers are cheap at auto parts stores, Harbor Freight etc. Pulled military ammo etc. We pulled FMJ bullets and loaded hunting bullets over existing charge if FMJ rounds shot good. Bless You Sir

 

[1lnbrdg]

Another tip, your shell holder for the press ram will fit in most kinetic pullers instead of using the collets. Doesn't really do a lot for you but for the occasional round it works great.

 

[.38 Special]

When all else has failed - I have broken several inertial pullers - I find that end nippers solve the problem. They are used, as others have noted, by running the round up through the empty hole in the press, deeply engaging the bullet with the nipper, and then firmly smacking the press handle.

I will admit, though, that I have reached a level of wisdom and experience where, when confronted with 400 unusable rounds, I throw them away and go sit out on the porch with a good bourbon.

 

[Muddydogs]

Just a thought… if you are mainly after the brass, take the die out of your press, mount a round on the ram in a shell holder, raise the ram so the bullet is just above the die hole and grab it with a sturdy wire cutter. Lower the ram, toss the bullet and powder. Keep the primed case.

This is the way except these work better to grab and hold the lead bullet with less hand fatigue and tear out. Ya I had 250 rounds to experiment with a few weeks ago. Use the stripper part of the wire stripper, the stripped teeth bite easy and grip well. All I did with wire cutters was tear off lead.

Amazon.com

 

[blackhawk44]

If you ever have to use the inertial puller (not for this project) find a good heavy piece of steel I-beam from the scrap yard to bang on. It only needs to be 8 to 10 inches long, but far superior to the concrete floor.

 

[adcoch1]

If you ever have to use the inertial puller (not for this project) find a good heavy piece of steel I-beam from the scrap yard to bang on. It only needs to be 8 to 10 inches long, but far superior to the concrete floor.

This is a good idea. That won't give...

 

[Targa]

Why are you wanting to pull them?

I am wondering the same thing.

 

[papajim2jordan]

The gift that keeps on regifting.

 

[DanK3Pos]

Maybe shooting them? Or use the kinetic puller on a concrete block. Seems to work better than on wood in my experience.

I've got a 6"steel plate I whack. Works great. Wood doesn't work well.

 

[papajim2jordan]

Another tip, your shell holder for the press ram will fit in most kinetic pullers instead of using the collets. Doesn't really do a lot for you but for the occasional round it works great.

It also helps to orient the case holder opening toward the one who was hired for the wack-job. Partial re-sizing is another good idea. I've done it with lead .44's and then ran them thru a lube sizer in .41 for plinkers.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This is going to sound like a BS reply, but I am serious.

I had a similar problem awhile back.
Several hundred rounds of mystery 44 mag reloads.

I started with the inertia puller and gave up.

I picked up a CVA 44 mag single shot for $225, cut the barrel to 17" and threaded it for a suppressor.

Every time I go to the range, I burn about 20 or so rounds thru it.
It goes bang, I smile and I have de-milled the mystery ammo.
The CVA single shot is built like a cannon.

I also wrangled myself into a new toy.

Yup. I did something similar. Bought a .45WinMag barrel for my Contender frame to get all the .45Auto I inherited turned into reloading brass. No squibs yet but a few felt/sounded like they would have disassembled a 1911 - the hard way.

Contender didn’t even hiccup.