Best bullet puller for cast bullets ?

jski · February 11, 2018, 09:51 AM

Looking for a bullet puller for some .45 Colt hard cast rounds. Looked about and found the RCBS collet puller. Got great reviews on Mindway but it's been suggested that a collet puller may be sub-optimal for cast bullets. Not sure why?

hounddawg · February 11, 2018, 10:21 AM

hammer style, the collet based pullers destroy cast bullets

condor bravo · February 11, 2018, 10:33 AM

The collet type has to grip the bullets rather tightly and will leave grooves in the bullets. Not exactly ruined but the inertia puller is preferable.

briandg · February 11, 2018, 11:31 AM

There is a new pliers type. it should work pretty well.

https://grip-n-pull.com/

jski · February 11, 2018, 11:35 PM

Ended up going with the Lyman inertia bullet puller. And here's some very useful information to have with it: https://youtu.be/vLcxqisS7KA

Chainsaw. · February 13, 2018, 06:16 PM

Rcbs hammer type.

jamaica · February 14, 2018, 11:48 AM

You did not say why you need to pull bullets. I hate pulling bullets. The only reason I would is if they are loaded too hot to be safe to shoot.... anyway if you must, Chainsaw. has it right: RCBS hammer type. That is if you are interested in keeping and re-using the bullets. If you are not going to try re-using the bullets just grab a pair of pliers and use the press with no die installed. Run the round up and grab the bullet with the pliers and go down. The bullets go in the melting pot.
Do you know what the powder is? I would not save it if it is of unknown type. Make garden fertilizer of it.

Don Fischer · February 14, 2018, 12:20 PM

I've got an RCBS collet puller, never use it. Ruins the bullet every time, jacketed and cast. I use a hammer type and can drop the bullet's out without slamming them into the bottom of the puller, take's a bit of practice. Great for jacketed bullet's as the tip doesn't get mashed. Doesn't really matter with cast bullet's because I've always remelted them anyway.

hounddawg · February 14, 2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

I've got an RCBS collet puller, never use it. Ruins the bullet every time, jacketed and cast.

A friend was breaking in a new 6BR barrel a couple of weeks ago. He was using some pulled bullets and was doing his break in at 200 then decide to stretch it out to 800. Each bullet had a minor ring indented into the jacket from the puller and he was making ragged holes at 200 and then a 1/2 MOA 10 shot group at 800. Surprised the heck out of him, me, and a couple of other observers

MislMan · February 14, 2018, 02:12 PM

For the inertia (hammer) pullers, put a foam earplug in the bottom for the bullet to land on. Pretty much stops any damage to the bullet tip.

gwpercle · February 14, 2018, 03:04 PM

To make pulling easier , seat the bullet just a little deeper...this breaks the crimp and is easier to pull with the inertia puller, or as my daughter calls it " the whack a mole puller "
Gary

T. O'Heir · February 14, 2018, 03:10 PM

"...the inertia puller is preferable..." More fun too. Best thing to whack one on is a rock. Nothing else is as hard. Nothing else is free for the finding either.

February 11, 2018, 09:51 AM	#1
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	Best bullet puller for cast bullets ? Looking for a bullet puller for some .45 Colt hard cast rounds. Looked about and found the RCBS collet puller. Got great reviews on Mindway but it's been suggested that a collet puller may be sub-optimal for cast bullets. Not sure why?

February 11, 2018, 10:21 AM	#2
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	hammer style, the collet based pullers destroy cast bullets __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

February 11, 2018, 10:33 AM	#3
condor bravo Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2014 Location: Nevada/Ariz/CA Posts: 1,753	The collet type has to grip the bullets rather tightly and will leave grooves in the bullets. Not exactly ruined but the inertia puller is preferable. __________________ Ouch, the dreaded "M-1 thumb", you just know it will happen eventually, so why not do it now and get it over with??

February 11, 2018, 11:31 AM	#4
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	There is a new pliers type. it should work pretty well. https://grip-n-pull.com/ __________________ None.

February 11, 2018, 11:35 PM	#5
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	Ended up going with the Lyman inertia bullet puller. And here's some very useful information to have with it: https://youtu.be/vLcxqisS7KA Last edited by jski; February 12, 2018 at 01:22 AM.

February 13, 2018, 06:16 PM	#6
Chainsaw. Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2015 Location: Issaquah WA. Its a dry rain. Posts: 1,774	Rcbs hammer type. __________________ Just shoot the damn thing.

February 14, 2018, 11:48 AM	#7
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	You did not say why you need to pull bullets. I hate pulling bullets. The only reason I would is if they are loaded too hot to be safe to shoot.... anyway if you must, Chainsaw. has it right: RCBS hammer type. That is if you are interested in keeping and re-using the bullets. If you are not going to try re-using the bullets just grab a pair of pliers and use the press with no die installed. Run the round up and grab the bullet with the pliers and go down. The bullets go in the melting pot. Do you know what the powder is? I would not save it if it is of unknown type. Make garden fertilizer of it. Last edited by jamaica; February 14, 2018 at 11:57 AM.

February 14, 2018, 12:20 PM	#8
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	I've got an RCBS collet puller, never use it. Ruins the bullet every time, jacketed and cast. I use a hammer type and can drop the bullet's out without slamming them into the bottom of the puller, take's a bit of practice. Great for jacketed bullet's as the tip doesn't get mashed. Doesn't really matter with cast bullet's because I've always remelted them anyway.

February 14, 2018, 02:12 PM	#10
MislMan Member Join Date: July 20, 2015 Posts: 57	For the inertia (hammer) pullers, put a foam earplug in the bottom for the bullet to land on. Pretty much stops any damage to the bullet tip.

February 14, 2018, 03:04 PM	#11
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	To make pulling easier , seat the bullet just a little deeper...this breaks the crimp and is easier to pull with the inertia puller, or as my daughter calls it " the whack a mole puller " Gary

February 14, 2018, 03:10 PM	#12
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...the inertia puller is preferable..." More fun too. Best thing to whack one on is a rock. Nothing else is as hard. Nothing else is free for the finding either. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!