Recommendations for bullet puller?
- Thread starter ghbucky
- Start date
Mr.RevolverGuy
New member
I had both actually gave the rcbs away kept the Hornady. Both worked equal but the I preferred the Hornady lever over the twist of the rcbs.
I wonder if it's your technique with the kinetic puller. I've seen too many people use it like a hammer driving a nail, and that won't do it. You need to hold it loosely with only a couple fingers and let it bounce off the concrete. It's the bounce that does it.
If I only have a few to pull, I use the kinetic puller, if I have a lot to pull, I set up the RCBS collet puller
If I only have a few to pull, I use the kinetic puller, if I have a lot to pull, I set up the RCBS collet puller
Suggestions from a Reloader
I had a few hundred bullets to pull recently because the ammo was exposed to too much heat in a house fire. The kinetic puller rarely worked on the 40cal bullets. It was suggested that I use my dies to press the bullet into the case just to break the weld that was creating. However, the suggesting came too late and I had already cut the cases near the base of the bullet and split the cases so and retrieved 2/3rd of the bullets.
Beware, if you use pliers, you could damage the threads on your press. I did this on the 40cal ammo and had to replace the part. You have a collet puller so you shouldn't have to do this. My press attached puller is different and acts like a Chinese finger trap.
As a suggestion, if you're not retrieving the powder, maybe WD40 will work. But don't use it otherwise because it'll kill your primer and might effect your powder.
I had a few hundred bullets to pull recently because the ammo was exposed to too much heat in a house fire. The kinetic puller rarely worked on the 40cal bullets. It was suggested that I use my dies to press the bullet into the case just to break the weld that was creating. However, the suggesting came too late and I had already cut the cases near the base of the bullet and split the cases so and retrieved 2/3rd of the bullets.
Beware, if you use pliers, you could damage the threads on your press. I did this on the 40cal ammo and had to replace the part. You have a collet puller so you shouldn't have to do this. My press attached puller is different and acts like a Chinese finger trap.
As a suggestion, if you're not retrieving the powder, maybe WD40 will work. But don't use it otherwise because it'll kill your primer and might effect your powder.
jetinteriorguy
New member
I’ve pulled thousands of bullets with the Hornady collet puller. Works great. Just set it to hold enough but don’t over tighten the collet. Over tightening the collet just puts undue stress on the pivot pin and premature wear. Also don’t forget to lube the pin regularly, makes operating the tool much easier and prolongs service life. This is something you develop a feel for as you use it.
Small, light bullets are the most difficult to pull with an inertia puller, as they have the least inertia. An "expert" with the inertia puller can do it. 
If the .223 is GI stuff then seating the bullets slightly deeper to break the seal is often needed.
I went years with the RCBS collet puller, with often less than satisfactory results. Many times it was impossible to hand tighten the collet enough, and it would slip off. And, of course, forget about pulling lead bullets in any condition other than scrap for the lead pot.
I retired the collet puller when I got a Lyman "orange hammer". I have pulled .223 and .22-250 with it, as well a many larger bullets.
The trick, for those who aren't experts, is not how hard you swing it. The trick is the sudden stop. Many surfaces that are very hard to our bodies are "sub-optimal" for the hammer puller. Concrete is common, and seems very hard, but there is enough "give" to it when the hammer strikes to actually cushion the blow to a degree.
What I have found works best is the hard cast iron top of my wood stove. (COLD STOVE, of course). A few quick "snaps" is usually all it takes, though the .22s might need 5 or six.
Up to you, but the hammer works BETTER, for me, than the collet. Plus, the hammer also pulls lead bullets, undamaged!!
If the .223 is GI stuff then seating the bullets slightly deeper to break the seal is often needed.
I went years with the RCBS collet puller, with often less than satisfactory results. Many times it was impossible to hand tighten the collet enough, and it would slip off. And, of course, forget about pulling lead bullets in any condition other than scrap for the lead pot.
I retired the collet puller when I got a Lyman "orange hammer". I have pulled .223 and .22-250 with it, as well a many larger bullets.
The trick, for those who aren't experts, is not how hard you swing it. The trick is the sudden stop. Many surfaces that are very hard to our bodies are "sub-optimal" for the hammer puller. Concrete is common, and seems very hard, but there is enough "give" to it when the hammer strikes to actually cushion the blow to a degree.
What I have found works best is the hard cast iron top of my wood stove. (COLD STOVE, of course). A few quick "snaps" is usually all it takes, though the .22s might need 5 or six.
Up to you, but the hammer works BETTER, for me, than the collet. Plus, the hammer also pulls lead bullets, undamaged!!
I use a piece of boiler plate. Steel works better than concrete because it is slightly elastic and rebounds hard against the head, giving it a very rapid shove back in the other direction that assists in the bullet pulling.
That said, I use the inertial puller primarily for small numbers of rounds. When I had over a thousand surplus rounds with powder rapidly deteriorating, I got the RCBS, quickly tired of all the effort that went into tightening the handle and got the Hornady. The Hornady is easy on you hand and quick. I could pull several in the time it took to pull one with the RCBS unit.
That said, I use the inertial puller primarily for small numbers of rounds. When I had over a thousand surplus rounds with powder rapidly deteriorating, I got the RCBS, quickly tired of all the effort that went into tightening the handle and got the Hornady. The Hornady is easy on you hand and quick. I could pull several in the time it took to pull one with the RCBS unit.