Bullet Pullers?

J

JeepHammer

Moderator
I've been using an RCBS bullet puller for years,
Need a different caliber, and the inserts are no longer made...

Ordered a Hornady die type collet bullet puller...

Any comments if you own one, or recommendations on RCBS type collet pullers?

Anyone got any tips on collet pullers?
 
I bought this handy little puller that works a lot like a electricians wire stripping tool. You basically use your single stage press without a die, place the round in the shoe, pull ram down until bullet is poking out the top, then grab the bullet and push the handle back up. It pulls the bullet with no damage, as there are several holes in it for a variety of calibers.
 
RCBS Collet bullet puller is still made and available

RCBS Collet bullet puller is still made and available. The body is out of stock, but MidwayUSA has the collets, several were available just now like 224 and 45.
That bullet puller works well and you can reuse the bullets.
Otherwise, visegrip pliers can be used with no die in a press.
 
Sorry guys. The tool is at my shop and I was racking my brains trying to remember the name of the thing. It's called a Grip-n-pull. Anyways, this is a very handy item. Honestly, you could make one yourself out of a old wire stripper, or if you had a plasma cutter, cut it out of a blank of 1/8" steel or aluminum.
 

Attachments

  • grip n pull.jpg
    grip n pull.jpg
    9.1 KB · Views: 53
I have:
the RCBS collet
the Forster collet
the Hornady toggle collet
the grip-n-pull that looks like pliers
a couple of impact pullets.

I sometimes use the impact pullers to pull a bullet.

I sometimes put a pin gauge in a collet puller for compressing powder.

I sometimes put a Lee decapping rod in collet puller as a decapping die.

I think the Hornady is a better design than the RCBS or the Forster.
 
Not sure I described the old bullet puller correctly.
Think of a large die with a round rod run through it,
Inside the die half the rod is cut away.
The bullet goes in between die body and rod,
You rotate the rod, the cut away rotates over and bites into the side of the bullet.
Damages, gouges and distorts the bullet, but the case is fine.

No name, but remninants of green paint so I assume RCBS,
Or maybe not...
My grand dad owned it before I did, so its probably older than me.

Time to upgrade to something a little more modern and less damaging.
 
I've tried several impact pullers, I have the Forester model which works well. It saves both the case and bullet. Only issue I have with it is the bullet tends to stick in the collet, a tap usually knocks it loose.
 
I have the RCBS collet puller. I started with the Hornady cam lock. They advised me it was the way to go if I planned to do as much bullet pulling as I described. I spent all my time waiting for parts, I do not believe I overheated it because it is difficult to build up speed. About the third time I called they informed me I made too many mistakes.

In their sales pitch nothing was said about making mistakes, so I went to see them. They decided there was a problem with a vendor, seems the vendor was the heat 'treater'. I suggested we go see the heat treater while I was there, they decided they changed vendors. In time I received the part, I added it to the box of parts and I use the RCBS collet puller.

Two weeks ago I started on ammo that was loaded in 1970 and 1972. All magnum belted, I had one of those moments, I got over it and dug out the RCBS collet puller.

I did enjoy my visit, I ask a lady who owned the Schnauzer, it was hers. I ask who sat at the desk in the back, she wanted to know why I would ask. I explained, her Schnauzer was eating someone's lunch on top of the desk in the back.

F. Guffey
 
I use the Hornady collet puller and it works like a charm. However, the instructions that come with the thing are not at all clear. But if you go on YouTube there is a video which demonstrates very clearly how to use it. I found it very helpful and would recommend it.
 
I use the Hornady collet puller and it works like a charm. However, the instructions that come with the thing are not at all clear. But if you go on YouTube there is a video which demonstrates very clearly how to use it. I found it very helpful and would recommend it.
Click to expand...

Sid, you recommend it, Hornady recommended it to me. I made it clear I was going to use it, I hardly got started before it quit. It should not have come as a surprise to Hornady, I made it clear I was going to use it. There is a chance improvements have been made.

I have been wondering about using it again one day, I thought about using it on 8mm bullets, but first I set up the RCBS 30 Cal collet, it worked but I have the Hornady cam lock bullet puller JIC, just in case.

F. Guffey
 
I use the Frankford Arsenal impact puller. It works well but it starting to show some wear. If i remember correctly it was a very cheap option.
 
Have the RCBS collet type, never had an easy time, or much good luck with it. Got a Lyman "hammer" type, works well, and easy for everything medium and large, not quite so well for small caliber (.22), but it still worked, and was less hassle than the RCBS press mounted one.

Just my experience, yours could be much different.
 
I use a fairly hard crimp, so impact pullers are a pain,
And my old stand by for the last 40 years ruins my expensive bullets.
Wasn't an issue with cheap bullets, but I haven't seen a 'Cheap' bullet in about 20 years...

Since I have a bunch of questionable rounds,
Some built as tests that didn't work out,
Some got crimped while setting up the presses,
Some are 'Found' from batches I have no idea what they were loaded for or with,
And it's a few years of back up, so there are several, I thought I'd move into the 20th century since its the 21 now!
(Don't want to move too quickly!)

I have the Hornady on order with a couple collets,
If I don't like it I won't have too much invested in it.
 
The Hornady puller works well for jacketed bullets.

Just remember that you're trying to pull the bullets, not crush them into oblivion.
Don't cam the lever over. I know. I know. It's in the instructions and even in the name....
But don't cam it over. Set the puller up so that you're just putting pressure on the lever while pulling bullets, and things will go much smoother. The process will be faster, there will be less damage to the bullets, and the bullets will release from the collet better.

When I was 'in need', I looked at all of the collet type pullers on the market, and the Hornady seemed like the best option. I don't regret the decision, and have been collecting every collet size, since.

It doesn't really work for lead bullets, but it sure does make life easy when you have a bunch of jacketed bullets to pull.
 
I got an RCBS collet bullet puller body at an auction. Have gotten the collets that I use and I really like it!!

I thought you could still get the collet puller body/die from RCBS still.
 
I have a Hornady cam type puller and like it very much. One tip is to adjust the collet to where it slips over the bullet when the cam is relaxed, but not over the case mouth. Then tighten the cam adjustment lock ring. Then raise the ram until the case mouth touches the collet and pull or push the handle and hold tension on it while lowering the ram. The handle doesn't need to "cam over" to get a grip on the bullet, but you do need to hold tension on it while pulling. I crushed a few case mouths before I learned this.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top