Bullet Pullers--Use on Factory Ammo

Larry M. Jordan

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Apr 1, 1994, 5:21:39 PM4/1/94

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[I'm a neophyte reloader]

Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?

I just got the bullet puller I ordered from Midway and it says that
it should only be used on reloaded ammunition and not factory/
'sealed' ammunition. Well, I want to tune some PMC factory ammo
I have on hand and that's why I bought the device. I'd sure like a
second (or third) opinion on this.

Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
techniques? I dont' care if the bullet gets mangled, since I'm planning
to replace the existing bullet (spitzer) with a boat tail of the
same weight. If this is a bad idea, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

--Larry

Gary Coffman

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Apr 2, 1994, 4:36:30 PM4/2/94

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In article <2ni6pj$j...@xring.cs.umd.edu> jor...@aero.org (Larry M. Jordan) writes:
#[I'm a neophyte reloader]
#
#Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?

No, it just takes more, and harder, whacks to get them out.

#I just got the bullet puller I ordered from Midway and it says that
#it should only be used on reloaded ammunition and not factory/
#'sealed' ammunition. Well, I want to tune some PMC factory ammo
#I have on hand and that's why I bought the device. I'd sure like a
#second (or third) opinion on this.
#
#Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
#techniques? I dont' care if the bullet gets mangled, since I'm planning
#to replace the existing bullet (spitzer) with a boat tail of the
#same weight. If this is a bad idea, please let me know.

For your purposes, the best bullet puller is a gun. Fire the rounds
and reload with the bullets you want to use. It's not a good idea
to substitute components, even bullets of the same nominal weight,
without working the load back up. It *probably* won't cause an over
pressure situation, but it might, and that's something you don't want
to risk. (It'll be almost impossible to exactly dupicate factory neck
tension, and the bullet diameter or jacket engraving resistance may
be slightly different.)

gost...@gold.tc.umn.edu

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Apr 3, 1994, 12:54:49 PM4/3/94

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On 1 Apr 1994 17:21:39 -0500,
Larry M. Jordan <jor...@aero.org> wrote:
...

#Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
#techniques? I dont' care if the bullet gets mangled, since I'm planning
#to replace the existing bullet (spitzer) with a boat tail of the
#same weight. If this is a bad idea, please let me know.

Just shoot them, it is not a good idea to make your own with unknown
powder. Different bullets will result in different pressures even if they
are the same weight.

If you are just trying to get to the primed brass, you could use the
bullet puller. But you will go nuts if you have a lot of ammo.

Might be a good time to practice rapid fire or other ammo eater.

alex

Bart Bobbitt

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Apr 3, 1994, 12:55:03 PM4/3/94

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Larry M. Jordan (jor...@aero.org) wrote:

: Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot

: be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?

No.

: Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
: techniques?

Some folks pull the bulley by putting the round in a reloading press,
then raising the ram so the bullet sticks out above the press top, grabbing
it with a pair of pliers, then lowering the ram. This will marr the
bullet, but it's an inexpensive way to get it out of the case.

I dont' care if the bullet gets mangled, since I'm planning
: to replace the existing bullet (spitzer) with a boat tail of the
: same weight. If this is a bad idea, please let me know.

Except that through 500 yards, you probably won't detect any difference
in trajectory. And the existing flat-based spitzer may be more accurate
in a factory barrel in the first place.

BB

HENRY E SCHAFFER

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Apr 3, 1994, 1:01:15 PM4/3/94

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In article <2ni6pj$j...@xring.cs.umd.edu>,

Larry M. Jordan <jor...@aero.org> wrote:

# ...
#Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?

I don't see why it wouldn't work. But I haven't tried it.
# ...
#Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
#techniques? ...

There are 'collet' type bullet pullers.

A while ago I posted a review of both types - probably in the archive
or write me for a copy.

--henry schaffer

HENRY E SCHAFFER

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Apr 4, 1994, 4:44:56 PM4/4/94

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In article <Cnoqu...@fc.hp.com>, Bart Bobbitt <ba...@hpfcla.fc.hp.com> wrote:
# ...
#Some folks pull the bulley by putting the round in a reloading press,
#then raising the ram so the bullet sticks out above the press top, grabbing
#it with a pair of pliers, then lowering the ram. This will marr the
#bullet, but it's an inexpensive way to get it out of the case.

A non-mangling but more expensive way is to replace the pliers with a
collet which grips the bullet without marring it. This is called a
'collet bullet puller' - there are a number of brands made and they work
*very* well - fast, clean and easy. You need a different size collet
insert for each bullet diameter, and then you need to adjust it each
time you use it - so I prefer an intertial one for pulling one or two
bullets. But the collet style would be a big winner for quantity work.

--henry schaffer
# ...

Don Baldwin

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Apr 4, 1994, 10:45:32 PM4/4/94

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In article <2nkta7$a...@taco.cc.ncsu.edu> h...@unity.ncsu.edu (HENRY E SCHAFFER)
writes:
##Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?
#
# I don't see why it wouldn't work. But I haven't tried it.

I've tried it and my RCBS kinetic puller will work on anything.

Well, maybe not .50 BMG...

Don
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Dion Hollenbeck

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Apr 6, 1994, 6:45:42 PM4/6/94

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#>>>> "Larry" == Larry M Jordan <jor...@aero.org> writes:

Larry> [I'm a neophyte reloader] Is it true that Bullet Pullers cannot
Larry> be used on factory/'sealed' ammunition?

Larry> Are there other (possibly destructive to the bullet) pulling
Larry> techniques? I dont' care if the bullet gets mangled, since I'm
Larry> planning to replace the existing bullet (spitzer) with a boat
Larry> tail of the same weight. If this is a bad idea, please let me
Larry> know.

I have never been comfortable with "hammer style" bullet pullers even
though I have used them, so, with the exception of my 22PPC which has
so little neck tension on the bullet I just use a Davidson puller, I
have developed the following method.

Insert your loaded round in a single stage press which has no die
inserted in it. Move the ram to the top of the stroke, the bullet
will poke out the top of the press. Grab the bullet with a pair of
vice grips and lower the ram, sliding the case off the bullet.

--
Dion Hollenbeck (619)675-4000x2814 Email: hol...@megatek.com
Staff Software Engineer Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California