Accuracy loss of pulled bullets?

[tiny68]

I have never messed with pull bullets. However 175 SMK are hard to come by. What is the accuracy lost by using the pulled. Would be using them for practice for FClass mainly. Thanks, Tim

 

[ShootDots]

I use that "Kinetic Bullet Puller" where you place a loaded round in upside down and rap it on a hard surface, using inertia to "pull" the bullet. I put packed down cotton balls in the "tube" and have never found them to be any different than straight out of the box...BUT, that is for that style of bullet puller.. If your intent is to use them for practice, there should be no problem....

 

[boltgunluvr]

using a Quinetics intertial puller, never any loss. I do not use collet pullers.

 

[tiny68]

These are the military pulls that Grafs has. No idea what they look like or method of pulling.

 

[ShootDots]

The only answer to that one is to try them to find out...

 

[KMart]

A friend gave me some pulled 175's some time back. They were machine pulled by a commercial company for resale. some had scratches on the outside and some were deformed (out of round) enough that they did not seat uinformly or you could not reliably measure the seating depth to the ogive. I gave up on them quickly.

 

[Duster_360]

I've taken mil match ammo (white box) and pulled those bullets, neck sized the cases then seated 168 SMKs, and shot those in matches. The pulled bullets I always used for practice and they seemed fine. I used a collet puller since the pulled bullets were sealed in the cases with that black compound the military uses. I had to first bump the bullet seating depth deeper to break that seal then pull them.

Tedious and time consuming and generally not worth the effort. The next ammo can of white box I did, I just reclaimed everything and started over.

 

[CaptainMal]

That "cotton ball" idea in the bottom of an inertia bullet puller is a good idea. I've been smashing the tips for decades. Living proof I'm as dumb as I look.

 

[jlow]

I have a bunch of 175 SMK pulled bullets that I got from Rocky Mountain Reloading, they are machine pulled which is really likely since these are done in large batches.

All commercial pulled bullets (which is what the OP is specifically talking about) are really only good for plinking or fouling rounds and not for precision reloading or F Class practice. The reason is first of all these are usually pulled bullets from military rounds and as such comes from a huge variety of batches of bullets and as such their weigh and bearing surface varies quite a bit. The second reason is they are smaller in diameter than your new boxed SMK, not sure why but likely being seated and under neck tension for a long time. Third, their necks are slightly rough and so would also likely affect neck tension again.

Other than that they were OK

 

[Catskinner]

I use that "Kinetic Bullet Puller" where you place a loaded round in upside down and rap it on a hard surface, using inertia to "pull" the bullet. I put packed down cotton balls in the "tube" and have never found them to be any different than straight out of the box...BUT, that is for that style of bullet puller.. If your intent is to use them for practice, there should be no problem....

I have used a lot of pulled projo's for plinkers load development I use a Lee Ring die to reform them and they shoot fine. If you can find air pulls they shoot good.

 

[dsbur]

Powder Valley has new 175 SMK's available at the moment, to address the OP's supply issue

 

[jlow]

I use that "Kinetic Bullet Puller" where you place a loaded round in upside down and rap it on a hard surface, using inertia to "pull" the bullet. I put packed down cotton balls in the "tube" and have never found them to be any different than straight out of the box...BUT, that is for that style of bullet puller.. If your intent is to use them for practice, there should be no problem....

I have used a lot of pulled projo's for plinkers load development I use a Lee Ring die to reform them and they shoot fine. If you can find air pulls they shoot good.

Please give more details on "Lee Ring Die" - thanks!

 

[chevytruck_83]

I currently run pulled 175 smk with the deformation etc. like everyone's saying. the hardest thing is seating them consistent due to pull marks. otherwise I've had decent groups Shooting for fun at the range. I wouldn't try to compete with them though

 

[K22]

I've used a kinetic bullet puller for years and never had any issue with accuracy from reloading these pulled bullets. Mine has a soft sponge at the end so bullets tips are not deformed.

The only problem I can think of is that if your neck tension is so severe that you are shaving bullets when seating them. Of course if this exists you already have a problem irrespective of pulling bullets.

 

[Perk]

Powder valley has factory seconds under specials. perk

 

[tiny68]

Powder valley has factory seconds under specials. perk

Thanks Perk, I have 2 boxes of seconds on the way from PVI. Tim

 

[r bose]

I bought 500 of the 175 factory seconds and for general plinking (garands) and they are fine. Ogives are about 35 thousands swing but really doesn't matter if loading mag length.

The new 175's cost about 8 cents more, are available, and the ogives are dead on (same lots) So, for precision reloading go with the new ones where your OAL is crucial. A match where you shoot 66 rounds cost .8x66=$5.25 more to use the best.

Don't waste your score using pulled or seconds at a match. use them at Garand matches, plinking and hog hunting.

 

[7x57 Shooter]

I have never noticed any difference with pulled bullets compared to out of the box bullets as far as acuracy goes, I believe the only thing that would make a difference is if you damaged the base of the bullet.
When using a kinetic bullet puller, I put a foam ear plug inside the puller, it works great.

 

[tenring]

I use a Forster collet puller, and it works well. I pull competition loads apart all the time, and re-use the components in matches. Never noticed a difference in accuracy.

I tried putting a cotton ball in the kinetic puller, and found out its ell to get powder granules outta cotton.

 

[rogn]

As mentioned the foam earplug is the answer.