Bullet pulling 101

[Homerange]

I've hammered plenty of brass in 30 years and never had an issue pulling bullets. I don't like some aspects of the hammer, but it's an option.

Yup, suggest you read reply 12 in this thread.

 

[bobm]

Is one recovered piece of brass and the risk of injury really worth that much ?

Please explain...are you hammer trashing again? That scenario was caused from stupid reloading technique. Continued use of cases with enlarged primer pockets.

 

[OldCrippledEagle]

OK, I have an old Bair bullet puller with several "adjustable" collets. Any oldtimers on here ever seen this one?

 

[divingin]

I know, scroll to top of this page.
Collet pullers are one thing, hammer pullers are another.

I suspect there are many times more hammer type pullers than collet pullers in use. For some cartridges and loads (.45SWC, any full wadcutter bullet) there is no option other than using a kinetic puller (no exposed bearing surface for the collet to grip, and a collet would distort the bullet anyway.)

The few cases of a primer detonating would advise caution; not exactly dire risk, IMO. And yeah; it happened to a guy I know as well (he's a scrounger - has pulled many, many thousands of bullets using the kinetic puller. One went off.)

 

[JFrank]

I recently posted a link to this puller and thought to add a couple of pictures. Perfect size for a tool box and works great.

 

[Mark611]

Reply #12 is good info for sure! which is why I only reload a case so many times before they are loaded and put away for 1 last time use! 5 or 6 times fired on a gas gun, and its over! bolt guns a little more, but you should be able to feel if the primer pockets are loose IMO,

 

[Homerange]

Reply #12 is good info for sure! which is why I only reload a case so many times before they are loaded and put away for 1 last time use! 5 or 6 times fired on a gas gun, and its over! bolt guns a little more, but you should be able to feel if the primer pockets are loose IMO,

100% but how loose might we let them become before scrapping the brass ?
I've loaded a good few well aged cases where primer pockets are getting loose but are still tight enough to be perfectly serviceable and because of their cup shape are still performing as they should to provide the perfect seal.
Many after priming I have tipped aside and tapped firmly on the bench in an effort to move the primer....none have !
Would I consider the brass fucked and not fit for purpose, no way and with the mild loads I use they might provide service for a good while yet.
Some might say I'm making a potentially fatal loading error using cases with loose primer pockets that might liberate primers when used in a hammer puller and not a collet puller.
For this reason alone I've never thought the use of a hammer puller was a wise idea to be used with any percussion initiated ignition system for explosive propellants.
YMMV.

 

[Mark611]

I agree HR!! and I have also thought about what could happen using a hammer!

 

[bobm]

The photos attached to post 12 show proof that the primer was partially out of the case when it was again hit on a hard surface. That impact force caused the primer to bottom out in the pocket. The pocket was too loose to prevent primer from slipping forward and the anvil was driven into the compound and went bang.

The soot or carbon shown indicate most of the millisecond flame blast was used to eject the cup outward. Not enough flame entered the case to ignite the propellant.

The hammer tool is not at fault and should not have been used for breaking down this ammo. The user should have seen protruding primers, evaluated a possible safety issue and stopped using the hammer.

The hammer is a safe method when used properly.

 

[Mr Wick]

I second the RCBS Bullet Puller with Collet. Works great.

 

[jelenko]

Well, I'm getting the soft jaws pliers. I'm hoping they will work faster than my Forster collet puller and leave less of an indent.

ETA: LOL. Pliers arrived yesterday. Not a chance of holding the bullet securely enough - at least on mag length 69 gr 223 rounds. If I had thought about it for a minute, it's clear there's very little bearing surface available.

 

[bobm]

These Utica #1300-6 pliers are the way to go. Those scars are on the ogive and won't hurt a thing.

 

[JFrank]

4/1/23

 

[Homerange]

4/1/23

Really, 2nd April here in NZ.

 

[OldCrippledEagle]

Really, 2nd April here in NZ.

Think that was April Fool!

 

[markm87]

Here's another bullet pullfest for me. This new bargain priced ammo is loaded WAY TOO hot. "jamming" 5 of our ARs, swipes, and we got one round that was going 2893 out of a 20" bolt gun. Pulling it all down and reworking it:

 

[Cecil S.]

The hammer makes my butt pucker. Collet all the way....just sayin.

 

[bobm]

Don't be afraid of the hammer. Just use it properly, all will be good.

 

[Cecil S.]

Don't be afraid of the hammer. Just use it properly, all will be good.

Well........OK.....if you say so here goes.......OH hell no I just cant do it.... LOL

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I use the hammer when i need to reuse the bullets