Bullet pulling 101

[Homerange]

Why would you need to pull a bullet?

It happens.
Overload, underload or a previous handload won't chamber in a new rifle.
Even projectile terminal performance is unsatisfactory so pull the load and develop another.

 

[bobm]

Please explain about the homemade davidson knock off pullers, if you would

Davidson Bullet Puller

Davidson Bullet Puller If we reload, we all at sometime face the task of having to disassemble cartridges or pull bullets. The Davidson Bullet Puller is unlike any bullet puller that you have used before. It is a very efficient and easy to use bullet puller. It is designed to use on soft...

www.creedmoorsports.com

I bought one of these tools many years ago. One day at work I decided to just measure it and duplicate a few with other sizes I needed rather than buy new ones. Easy work for a metal machinist. The wire cutting EDM process was done with a Mitsubishi brand machine. It is done by electrically burning away metal with a wire following a NC controlled "path" while under water. Cut time maybe 25 minutes. The tool was nearly cut complete from plate stock. Handles were rounded on a milling machine.

Just one of thousands....OK hundreds.... of "G-jobs" I have done over the years.

I retired as a machinist 9 years ago with 42 years in the trade.

 

[bobm]

Why would you need to pull a bullet?

In my case it was to pull down hand loads to salvage the components. These items were sent to new homes for reuse.

 

[markm87]

Why would you need to pull a bullet?

I have a dedicated old Hornady single stage with a .223 collet puller die on the end of my bench. I pull all kinds of bullets for various reasons. "Mexican Match", sketchy factory ammo, etc. I once got hundreds of rounds of really sketchy Israeli .223 that had all kinds of problems.

I pulled it all down and reclaimed whatever I could for safe ammo production.

 

[BigBolt]

Why would you need to pull a bullet?

Personally, in the past I have been given hundreds of reloaded rounds. I will not use someone else's reloads so I purchased one to dump the powder and reuse the bullets with my powder after resizing and checking case length. Also, if you hose up a reload you can fix it.

 

[DeerHunter82]

PMA Tool makes great pullers. I have the 6mm and 30.

 

[Ned Ludd]

@bobm - let me see if I've got this straight...you pulled all of those loaded .25-06 rounds, then gave away the bullets and the brass. So, were you solely after the powder, or the primers?

 

[bobm]

Don't have a .25 rifle. The RL-22 got dumped back into an open can of it. Those CCI 200's are now in a little tin of mixed LR primers to feed my beater 8mm Turkish Mauser. So, both!

 

[Ray123]

I have both the hammer and collet type bullet pullers I use the RCBS collet type bullet puller mostly cause it's easier and fast....especially if there is more than one mistake. Even made my own extra large collet puller for the 50BMG with a brass collet.

 

[Tempest]

Been using a spark plug boot and pliers for years on the press.

 

[ebb]

Yea I thought so. You guys make mistakes too.

 

[Just Say Moe]

Why would you need to pull a bullet?

Seating a bullet too deep, finding a better load, discovering an error (horror!), being gifted reloaded ammo, etc. Reusing components is beneficial these days.

 

[BigBolt]

 

[bobm]

Brown just dropped these off at my house. $25. bucks shipped for both. Found those two .375 rounds that escaped tear down a few days back. My steel collet fits like a glove. Not keen on blue color, though.

HAMMER ON

 

[craveman85]

A few years ago I traded some powder, or something I didn't need for a set of RCBS collet pullers. I didn't even know what they existed until then. It's SOOO much nicer than trying to use an inertia hammer. Only ones it doesn't work on is if the bullets seated so deep you can't get a bite on the bullet past the ogive.
I've been procrastinating on a bunch of 308 I need to disassemble.

Sometimes you can use a smaller collet and get a bite on it in the ogive.

 

[markm87]

I still like the hammers too. For relatively heavy projectiles, the inertia works good. And sometimes I need to bang a bullet forward enough to let the collet die get something to grab.... like from a mashed gas gun round, etc.

 

[Homerange]

I still like the hammers too. For relatively heavy projectiles, the inertia works good. And sometimes I need to bang a bullet forward enough to let the collet die get something to grab.... like from a mashed gas gun round, etc.

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

 

[Mark611]

Well sometimes primers don't go boom! or you may at some point load a round and forget to put powder in the case!!!! it happens!!!! or you load some ammo that's too hot!!! and they need to be pulled and not shot!!!

 

[Homerange]

Well sometimes primers don't go boom! or you may at some point load a round and forget to put powder in the case!!!! it happens!!!! or you load some ammo that's too hot!!! and they need to be pulled and not shot!!!

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

 

[markm87]

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

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.