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Pulling bullets at the range?

Daddycaddie67

Gold $$ Contributor
What’s the best way to pull bullets at the range without bringing a press and not losing powder? I would like to play around w seating depth but I inevitably wind up seating one too long. I’m thinking about using an inertia puller and mark the bullet/brass junction w a sharpie and “bump” it till it moves enough to reseat. What do you guys think?? E
 
I'm not aware of any other way to pull bullets - other than to shoot them perhaps - but you said you want to save the powder, so there you go - inertia puller, or - put threads on your bullets and inside neck so you can screw them in/out :P
 
Daddy, I seat them long, and seat to various lengths while I am shooting, gives the barrel a chance to cool.

I have a 2x6 that a press is mounted to, then just use a large C clamp on the bench top to secure the 2x6. RCBS Partner press is excellent to use at the rifle range for this affair. You can go as far as just seating the bullets .050 in the case neck at home, then seat them at the rifle range as your testing indicates. The very shallow bullet seating makes for easy bullet pulling on the rounds you do not fire.

Many of us rig up some way to throw charges and weigh at the range, load development is quick when you do all your case prep at home.

It is well worth an investment in time and money to be able to reload at the rifle range.
 
Similar to Ackleyman's advice, you could get a Lee hand press and seat deeper at the range quite easily.


I have seen lots of folks do this successfully.

Frank
 
What’s the best way to pull bullets at the range without bringing a press and not losing powder? I would like to play around w seating depth but I inevitably wind up seating one too long. I’m thinking about using an inertia puller and mark the bullet/brass junction w a sharpie and “bump” it till it moves enough to reseat. What do you guys think?? E
I do not get this. To pull bullets completely out is one thing. I use inertia bullet pullers and after the bullet comes out you just dump the powder into a container for use later.

Then you would like to play with seating depth but seated one too long??? Just use an arbor press and push it back in.

If you want to move a bullet out but keep it seated that is also simple with an inertial hammer. I use spacers inside the hammer puller with some plastic or rubber washers at the top for the bullet to fit into. Experiment, vary the spacer lengths and make it so your pounding and pulling the bullet only gets that bullet to move so far and not come out of the neck.

Then, using your arbor press, Push it back in to the depth you want. I do it lots and lots. No issues at the range or at home.
 
What’s the best way to pull bullets at the range without bringing a press and not losing powder? I would like to play around w seating depth but I inevitably wind up seating one too long. I’m thinking about using an inertia puller and mark the bullet/brass junction w a sharpie and “bump” it till it moves enough to reseat. What do you guys think?? E
If you need to bump them longer so that you can reseat them, it sounds to me like you are talking about too short rather than too long. If they are too long, all you need to do is set them deeper, and that can be done with an arbor press and suitable die, or a regular or hand press with a threaded seater.
 
I do not get this. To pull bullets completely out is one thing. I use inertia bullet pullers and after the bullet comes out you just dump the powder into a container for use later.

Then you would like to play with seating depth but seated one too long??? Just use an arbor press and push it back in.

If you want to move a bullet out but keep it seated that is also simple with an inertial hammer. I use spacers inside the hammer puller with some plastic or rubber washers at the top for the bullet to fit into. Experiment, vary the spacer lengths and make it so your pounding and pulling the bullet only gets that bullet to move so far and not come out of the neck.

Then, using your arbor press, Push it back in to the depth you want. I do it lots and lots. No issues at the range or at home.
My bad, I meant to say to seat short. And yes my plan would be to use my Wilson press and die and adjust as needed. I’ll think the methods you mention is what I’m looking for since I’m not looking to pull the bullet just move it out so I can reseat it.
Captain Mal you probably don’t remember me but I shot a few 600 yd matches at Manatee a few years ago, I remember you were very helpful and generous with your knowledge, you helped me tremendously. E
 
What’s the best way to pull bullets at the range without bringing a press and not losing powder? I would like to play around w seating depth but I inevitably wind up seating one too long. I’m thinking about using an inertia puller and mark the bullet/brass junction w a sharpie and “bump” it till it moves enough to reseat. What do you guys think?? E
kinetic style bullet puller
 
I haven't tried it, but I think the Lee Hand-Press with RCBS bullet puller collet tool should work. Heck, everybody oughta have a Lee Hand Press. You'll be amazed at how handy they are for almost every stage of loading. jd
 
My bad, I meant to say to seat short. And yes my plan would be to use my Wilson press and die and adjust as needed. I’ll think the methods you mention is what I’m looking for since I’m not looking to pull the bullet just move it out so I can reseat it.
Captain Mal you probably don’t remember me but I shot a few 600 yd matches at Manatee a few years ago, I remember you were very helpful and generous with your knowledge, you helped me tremendously. E
Picture is worth a thousand words.

Took this for you to see. Inside the inertia hammer is a series of spacers with soft rubber ones at the top. Here you can see a BRA cartridge sitting in position. Tapping it down only moves the bullet out as far as the spacers that catch and stop it. For different cartridge lengths you just change the spacers by trial and error.

I do it all the time both at home and at the range. Works.

Thanks for the compliments. Always appreciated. Not helping run the show at Manatee any more. Got nasty sick and had some issues at the same time. Sometimes sacrifices and the help you do are not appreciated. Well I appreciate and welcome your praise.

IMG_5096.jpeg
 
As others have said, seat the bullets long and use arbor press and inline seater at the range

IMO, you leave the bullet pulling for the shop/home.
 
What’s the best way to pull bullets at the range without bringing a press and not losing powder? I would like to play around w seating depth but I inevitably wind up seating one too long. I’m thinking about using an inertia puller and mark the bullet/brass junction w a sharpie and “bump” it till it moves enough to reseat. What do you guys think?? E
Why not seat them all long and then adjust shorter as needed
 
Inevitably I will seat one or two too short and was looking for a way to move the bullet back out without removing the bullet. E
 
I have the hammer style and a bit of foam in the bottom. A slight tap moves the bullet longer.
But it does lose a few grains of powder if bullet comes completely out .
 
As an RSO I would not normally allow an inertia puller to be used on an active range. There are instances of rounds discharging, albeit with improper use. The PMA would not be an issue. In the case above it would depend on the person using it.
 

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