Hornady cam lock bullet puller disappointment

[mongo chicago]

I had to rebarrel my 6mm Rem. I went to a different chambering. Since I had a lot of 6 Rem ammo loaded up I thought it would be prudent to pull the bullets and reuse them. I have a Hornady Cam Lock bullet puller. Upon reusing the bullets accuracy went into the toilet. I am talking a four feet group spread with many rounds at 600 yards. I compared it to ammo where I used new bullets and I am at about a minute of angle at 600 yards.
My only conclusion is that I slightly deformed the bullets during the process throwing them off balance or out of round. It doesn't happen with every shot but frequently enough. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Beiruty]

I am happy with the RCBS version.

 

[kenhwind]

I don't recall any issues like that but I'm not a long range shooter.
But I agree with Beiruty on the RCBS version.

I had a Hornady Cam-Lok bullet puller, but ended up with an RCBS, so, I sold my Cam Lok and do not miss it.

The Forster is nice too, uses a collet like the RCBS. I ended up buying one because I couldn't find a specific sized collet for my RCBS

 

[nbkky71]

I have the Hornady version and I e actually had good luck with it this far. I used it to pull about 300 unknown 223REM rounds that I inherited.

Although a number of bullets did end up with a ring on them, I was able to retrieve most of the projectiles without a mark. I found that playing around with the tension to provide the minimum amount of gripping force was the key. If the tool didn’t pull the bullet on the first try, then it went into a bucket for a second go, where I readjusted for more tension/grip.

So far I’ve used the pulled bullets for practice only and accuracy has been decent. I’m using them for offhand shooting and most shots are relatively close to being on call. The ringed bullets definitely opened up the group size dramatically.

 

[Della]

And if you’re using the RCBS with a Forster press, you can order this handle from McMaster-Carr to accommodate the press.

 

[big5ifty]

Any force applied to the ogive of a target bullet is going to change it slightly, and it doesn't matter which tool, RCBS or Hornady, they both grip on the ogive, and neither can be pre-set for a fixed amount of clamping force, so the bullet distortion will vary.

 

[Della]

With the rcbs and the handle above I can easily pull bullets and you’d never tell. It does take a careful touch.

 

[DiffEQ]

User error

 

[old codger]

I have the Hornady with collets in 223 and 30 caliber. The 223 works very well but the 30 is piss poor.

 

[Just Say Moe]

I have the Hornady version and I e actually had good luck with it this far. I used it to pull about 300 unknown 223REM rounds that I inherited.

Although a number of bullets did end up with a ring on them, I was able to retrieve most of the projectiles without a mark. I found that playing around with the tension to provide the minimum amount of gripping force was the key. If the tool didn’t pull the bullet on the first try, then it went into a bucket for a second go, where I readjusted for more tension/grip.

So far I’ve used the pulled bullets for practice only and accuracy has been decent. I’m using them for offhand shooting and most shots are relatively close to being on call. The ringed bullets definitely opened up the group size dramatically.

Exactly - I found you don't even have to lock the handle all the way down most times with mine. I can use my 223 for 20 and my 30 for 338's also.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Mine is in the junk drawer.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I think you might have used too much pressure on the bullets and deformed them, I have used the hornady
tool and it requires a little finesse to get it adjusted with just enough grip but not too much.

Wait, what ? you name is mongo? That explains it.

 

[K22]

Impact puller anyone? Used one for about 40 years and it works flawlessly. However, I've never had to pull more than 10 to 15 bullets in one salvage occasion.

 

[Beiruty]

Since I have a quick Hornady bushing on the Hornady Single Stage press, to loosen the collet the die would spin out of the Hornady quick bushing.
My solution, I got a small vise-grip locking wrench and use it to grab the body of the die, so it would not twist while unlocking the bullet.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You can drop a bullet on the floor and see it go out of the group. A cam lock puller demolishes bullets

 

[Kymike]

I have pulled several hundred 6.5 match bullets and reused at matches at 500 yds. with very good results. Made sure collet was all the way down the bullet and barely touching the top of the case. I did not cam over the die lever very much, just enough pressure to grip the bullet and then slowly pull the case back down to remove the bullet. I am very satisfied with the system.

 

[Sniperhandle]

And if you’re using the RCBS with a Forster press, you can order this handle from McMaster-Carr to accommodate the press.

View attachment 1370513

Dude! That's Genius! Did you figure that out?

 

[D-4297]

I have the Hornady , but I don't pull Match rounds with it . I do pull practice loads , and rounds that are long past date , to check for corrosion , though . The biggest problem using one is in direct relation to how much interference fit , Neck Tension , you have on your loads . Since I have very low neck tension , they pull quite easily . But they only get used for sighters , or barrel warm-ups .

 

[whatsupdoc]

I have the Hornady , but I don't pull Match rounds with it . I do pull practice loads , and rounds that are long past date , to check for corrosion , though . The biggest problem using one is in direct relation to how much interference fit , Neck Tension , you have on your loads . Since I have very low neck tension , they pull quite easily . But they only get used for sighters , or barrel warm-ups .

Yes, true how much neck tension and also how much of the bullet bearing surface you have to grab will
affect performance of a collet puller.

 

[Ccrider]

You can drop a bullet on the floor and see it go out of the group. A cam lock puller demolishes bullets

Yep. Use the pulled bullets as foulers.