what bullet pullers do you use?

[doubleh]

I use a Lyman. I had an RCBS puller for several years, it was a great tool but it broke the plastic shaft near the head junction. The Lyman has a metal shaft. It operates exactly the same as the RCBS, so far no issues.

Stay safe.

After breaking my second RCBS I just went to a Lyman. Of course it has taken me a little over 50 years to break those first two. I chose the Lyman because the handle looked a little more comfortable to use. No experience with it yet but it does feel good in the hand.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have a Quinetics and a RCBS kinetic hammer type pullers now, I don't like to use them.
I think I will order the Hornady puller and collets.
I haven't heard anyone say anything bad about it yet.
Thanks again.

 

[nettlle]

Collets. Of all, are the worst of all.

 

[bullseye308]

I matter what you decide to go with, seat the bullet a couple thou diaper first to break the “bond” then try to pull it. I prefer the hammer type, but I never have to do more than a couple at a time.

 

[AzShooter1]

I've used the Kinetic Bullet Puller for years but hated having to separate the powder and bullet from the hammer, especially if you are doing a lot of rounds.

I switched to the collet on an old Lee press. I made a mistake and loaded 200 rounds of 9 mm with too much powder so instead of throwing them away I decided to pull them. It took no time at all to get them all done.

I've also pulled .45 hardball without a problem. You just need to take your time when setting it up.

 

[FROGO207]

I have the Hornaday Cam Lok. Use the correct collet and set it up to grip just above the brass. Lock the lever down and raise the bullet till it touches, open the collet by lifting the lever slightly and let the bullet ride up into the collet. You will feel it hit the neck. Drop the bullet a smidge and lower the lever to grip the bullet. Lower the brass to seperate and then lift lever to drop bullet afterwards. The bullet has never stuck for me and always drops out of the collet.

 

[rocirish]

I do it just like frogo207.
I'm not a big fan of the hammer types.

 

[Riomouse911]

After breaking my second RCBS I just went to a Lyman. Of course it has taken me a little over 50 years to break those first two. I chose the Lyman because the handle looked a little more comfortable to use. No experience with it yet but it does feel good in the hand.

Ya, it took me 10 or so to break my RCBS. Hopefully it’ll be 20 or more before the Lyman gives up the ghost.

Stay safe.

 

[Herman B]

Hornady Camlock. It's critical to slowly tension the collet either by 'feel' (when it contacts/halted by the case mouth) or visually, requiring a flashlight aimed upward to verify the grab is bullet, not brass. Steady while operating the ram. I tried the RCBS - unimpressed. All pullers have their limitations, largely dependent on bullet shape.

 

[Wyo82]

I second AKHunter and Walkalong - a pair of pliers or coax crimpers, with a small section of insulation off some 6 or 8 awg wire…..put the cartridge in your shell holder, raise ram up til bullet protrudes past top of press (with no die inserted), grab ahold with pliers and gently lower ram. No dings, scratches or damage to the bullet.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I tried to do just a simple job this morning of pulling so all copper .357 caliber bullets out of some nice new starline brass with my Forster collet bullet puller and this is what was happening.
View attachment 1042950
I couldn't feel the edge of the case and once the collet started down over the case it was all over.
Rough lock.
Only way of getting it back out was to force it out and rip the case in half.
This is what I'm using now.
View attachment 1042953

I need to get a new one that works correctly without all the problems of this one.
What kind of pullers are you using?
I would like to know if the Hornady cam lock puller works good.
Are there any other alternatives other than the kinetic hammer. I have two of them and they hurt my wrists to use them.
I beat these apart with it but it took 10-12 hard swats each to get these 50 COP bullets out of the cases.
I'll be checking in from time to time to see what you guys suggest.
Thanks

Frankford Arsenal impact/inertial puller for one-off’s and pistol cartridges. I use an RCBS collet puller for most rifle rounds and when I have more than two or ten to pull. Both work fine but the inertial puller does not put a ring on the bullet, which is nice.

 

[JDeere]

Broke 2 inertia pullers and I very seldom use a puller. Bought the rcbs and the collets I needed. I have never had an issue with any rifle rounds and that's all I use it for. Makes life really simple when I need one...

 

[Catpop]

Hammer type here. Broke the first one (it had a metal rod between head and handle, not sure of make). Replaced with an all plastic green color one- RCBS I think. Still working great after about 15 years.
I pull about 2-300 bullets/boolits a year, mostly other’s reloads I bought to get cases, primed cases, and primers. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I have seen when those rounds are pulled down.
Never used a collet type as I’m well satisfied using the hammer.
Good luck finding the one that suits you!

 

[lightman]

I've used the RCBS Collet puller for years and it works ok. Longer bullets or bullets with more exposed material pull better than shorter bullets with only the nose exposed. Some bullets just don't have enough exposed to be bulled with a collet. Someone above posted about the trick of seating the bullet a little deeper to break the bond. I've done this when breaking down military ammo where the bullet is sealed.

I reserve the inertia puller for smaller jobs.

 

[G-man44]

I second AKHunter and Walkalong - a pair of pliers or coax crimpers, with a small section of insulation off some 6 or 8 awg wire…..put the cartridge in your shell holder, raise ram up til bullet protrudes past top of press (with no die inserted), grab ahold with pliers and gently lower ram. No dings, scratches or damage to the bullet.

New member here with a question… If I were buying one of the “pliers” type pullers which brand would you guys recommend?

 

[Wyo82]

New member here with a question… If I were buying one of the “pliers” type pullers which brand would you guys recommend?

Any brand would work, I use either my Knipex cobra pliers (channel locks) or a pair of linemans. A couple wraps of electrical tape in lieu of wire insulation will work in a pinch too - wrapped around the jaws of the pliers - totally dependent on bullet shape and size of course.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Most of what we were talking about are just wire strippers.
I said I was going to try the Archer brand from Radio Shack, they are extinct, but I have a pair from the 1970s that are super duty.
They are thin, flat, and sharp.
Any plier that will grab the bullet from on top of the press and hang on to it, without crushing it, while you pull the ram back down will work.

 

[G-man44]

I never thought of trying wire strippers. Outstanding idea, guys! Many thanks.

 

[BW460]

I have the same puller. First close the puller colletts until the mouth is smaller than the brass case. Put an empty brass case in the case holder and raise the ram all the way. Screw the die down until it touches the brass. Back the die off one quarter turn and lock it down. Loosen the colletts all the way on the die and put a round in the case holder. Raise the ram all the way. Tighten the colletts and lower the ram. Rinse and repeat.

 

[HowieG]

I have a whack a mole puller and a Hornady collet puller. It is possible to adjust the Hornady so it will slip over the bullet, but stop at the case. The downside is that it won't grab bullets that don't have some of the shank showing. If just the ogive is above the neck, there isn't a flat surface to grab on to. This typically occurs with the light, short, 22 bullets. I have also discovered that the new ultra sophisticated match bullets are soft and have a thin jacket, so the Hornady collet will deform them on removal so the bullets become trash. Regular hunting bullets can normally be reused.

The whack a mole puller doesn't work well on crimped bullets or light bullets.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have the same puller. First close the puller colletts until the mouth is smaller than the brass case. Put an empty brass case in the case holder and raise the ram all the way. Screw the die down until it touches the brass. Back the die off one quarter turn and lock it down. Loosen the colletts all the way on the die and put a round in the case holder. Raise the ram all the way. Tighten the colletts and lower the ram. Rinse and repeat.

I appreciate the directions, but I have been reloading for 50 years now. I've had this collet puller for over ten years. In that 10 years it has consistently refused to let go of something that it was clamped down on. I should have sent it back but it is one of those things I use so infrequently that it constantly gets shoved to the back of the reloading bench until later.
These 50 rounds I found with all copper bullets and a really heavy crimp prompted me to dig it back out and try it again.
Same old, same old. It will slide down over a bullet or a case easily while setting it up and it don't come back off. I always figured the bore was cut on a taper that tapered out to the end of the collet to leave an angled edge inside that digs in when slid over something.
That's why I have to pound the bullets out of the collets when I pull one.
Anyways, when I find the Hornady bullet puller in stock for a decent price I will get one. I can use my kinetic hammers until then.
Thanks guys.
TT

 

[BJung]

I use either a kinetic puller or for rifle bullets I use a Royal arms bullet puller.

 

[BobABQ]

For what it is worth I use collets in my RCBS press. I tried the kinetic pullers and it didn't really work for me.

 

[mjsdwash]

as others say, either your doing it wrong, or you tool is VERY, VERY defective. I use an RCBS collet puller, a wire stripper (my favorite) and a hammer. Collet puller works good enough. Hammer barely works if you use a heavy crimp. Doesn't work at all with a very heavy crimp. Wire stripper only works on rifles.

 

[mjsdwash]

I use the cheapest thing I could find, I think these were on the $3 table.

View attachment 1043002

If you do it right it only makes four little dents & can be reloaded easily.

View attachment 1043003

Lee press and wire stripper... yup, works well. My setup too for rifle. Still use the RCBS collet tool for pistol, but would use the stripper if it would work.