How Many Kinetic Bullet Pullers Have You Broken?

[Bc'z]

Pretty much gave up on them.

My home brew method is a bit crude.

Remove die from press. Run loaded cartridge up on ram until bullet protrudes. Grab bullet above the ogive with electric wire strippers. Use downstroke of ram to withdraw case from bullet.

I then use the faintly deformed bullets as foulers.

You should really try a collet puller. Lol

 

[mousegunner]

One FA, RCBS is still going strong. Pulled some commercial crimped .308 with 2 whacks on cement also some .308 with sealant. I bring it up to my shoulder and flick with the wrist at the end. Have a Hornady collet puller also but not used a lot.

 

[Twicepop]

Just one, the first one had a metal shaft between the plastic head and the plastic handle, it broke where the metal shaft entered the handle. The replacement is all plastic and the only issue I've had with it is to replace the universal collet. I have used this to break the seal of bullet to case then use the collet puller to reduce the chance of damaging a bullet.

 

[carlsbad]

zero. Bought one long ago. gave it away. Have used collets ever since.

 

[snowpro440]

Bought one 40 years ago , replaced the collar on it twice so far , bought another 10 years ago for a spare , used them quite a bit over the years.

 

[butchlambert]

one

 

[dkhunt14]

Like mentioned earlier, if the round was loaded awhile it welds fast. This process starts as soon as the bullet is put in the case and the longer it sits, the tighter it gets. If you break the bullet loose by seating deeper, they come out easier. Hardly ever takes more then one hit or two. Matt

 

[JMayo]

I think i see a pattern here.....
Anyway, I have a big problem pulling factory loads. I can see how the hammers are broken. But on my reloads is never been a problem.
3 medium whacks using wrist like I'm splitting firewood on the concrete, not wood, and they are out.

 

[1kbrxDave]

Just repaired my first Lyman bullet hammer style puller. The bottom opened up from the bullets hitting the inside bottom- so out comes the JB weld little on the inside a little more to cover the outside and it is better than NEW.

 

[powderbrake]

Broke one, bought a replacement. Then I bought a Hornady collet puller, …. way to much trouble. I then bought a
GRIP-N-PULL, and it works great!!!. I never try to save a pulled bullet, so any marks left on the bullet are of no consequence.
www.grip-n-pull.com

 

[Lesloan]

None...
I prefer a collet puller.

I have both types. If I want to save the bullet I use the impact puller. (Sometimes the collet will mark a bullet.) If I want to save the powder charge I use the collet puller (I actually only did this once. I had gotten a bargain on a bunch of garden variety .223 w/ 52 gr. FMJ's & changed the bullets to 52 gr. SMK's. Didn't have to weigh a charge. These "Mexican Match" loads shot really well.) The collet puller is a lot quicker if you have a bunch of bullets to pull. I've never broken an impact puller, but mine hasn't had much use..

 

[DJB]

I have 2 kenetic bullet pullers ( RCBS, Lyman) that are over 40 years old, and still going strong. I have always used a 5 lb lead divers wt. to impact the kenetic hammer. I just cringe at the thought of hitting it on anything concreate. DJB

 

[338 dude]

o-rings or shell holders; makes no difference when a live rounds goes off in the puller.
Handle was in my hand, pieces of puller all around and the fluorescent bulb in tiny shards that took a month to clean up.
Glad I was wearing safety glasses.

I’m glad you weren’t injured it could’ve been bad just another reason why I use the grip n pull

 

[CarlP]

I’ve had the same one for twenty years. It must be wearing out. It takes more whacks to pull them apart than it used to.

 

[Papa Charlie]

Answer to OP, None.
I used one for a short time. Hated slamming a live round in the house. Went to the Hornady Collet Puller. Use it for rifle and pistol with no issues. Admittedly, you need to get a feel for the force you apply as you can mar the round. You would be surprised at how little force on the lever it takes to pull any round.

 

[284winner]

I have had the same bullet puller for 30 years. I want to say that I have pulled at least 500 rounds with it. Finally went flying apart today. RIP. How sturdy have yours been?

RCBS flew apart in the first 10 years.

 

[mikeinct]

I have & use both types . Begrudgery, I hate making mistakes. mike in ct

 

[Lesloan]

That happens to be the exact one that a went bang with me. It wasn't tough enough! Funny thing is only the primer went off and, thankfully no powder ignited. The primer is what caused all that damage to puller and light.

You were never in any danger. A few years back, SAAMI did some testing to show how ammo behaves in a fire. In the first 3 minutes of this 27-min. video they show some tests firing shotgun, handgun & rifle ammo in a rig where they fired cartridges not in a gun chamber. Basically, only superficial damage was done to a piece of cardboard or sheetrock In short, for a cartridge to fire with high velocity it has to be in a gun chamber. Fascinating video that, IMO, all shooters and firemen should see.

Here's the video (courtesy of Accurateshooter.com):

 

[shoot4fun]

You were never in any danger. A few years back, SAAMI did some testing to show how ammo behaves in a fire. In the first 3 minutes of this 27-min. video they show some tests firing shotgun, handgun & rifle ammo in a rig where they fired cartridges not in a gun chamber. Basically, only superficial damage was done to a piece of cardboard or sheetrock In short, for a cartridge to fire with high velocity it has to be in a gun chamber. Fascinating video that, IMO, all shooters and firemen should see.

Of course not in danger of fatal injury but, as I so aptly saw on a poster many years ago, safety is no accident.
My two scenarios that support the fact that while we "think" we know what will happen EVERY time, we really don't when dealing with live ammo.
First, I was sitting on a field at a dove hunt a few years ago when I heard a dull thump. I looked over at the hunter about 50 yards away in time to see a stunned look on his face. Then he began pouring loose shot out of the mag tube of his Ithica M37. On close inspection, for some unknown reason, one shell in the magazine detonated. Although confined in the tube the shell did no damage to the gun, no damage to the hull and no damage to the hunter. We never figured out why it happened.
Second, Even many more years ago I was an apartment dweller and did my reloading at my then father-in-law's home. We had loaded a large cache of 45ACP ammo with 230 grain ball bullets and stored it in a large butter tub. I reached up on the high shelf to retrieve some other ammo and knocked the tub off onto the floor. The noise was deafening and the smell was definitely of burned powder. One 230 grain bullet hit the primer of another cartridge in just the right way to detonate the primer. I found an indention in the hardwood floor and a hole in the ceiling just above my head. The jagged ruptured case had just cleared my head and my unprotected eyes.

 

[stork]

Use both. Impact for pistol bullets with little to no grabbing surface & collet for everything else.
Broke the first Frankford impact after owning it for 20+ years & about 6 or so uses (shot mostly rifle in those days). Replaced it with an RCBS that I've used several dozen times with no issues.