Best/easiest (hopefully on press) bullet puller?

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Jon.

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Good afternoon. I have an issue. I have an ammo can's worth of .303 sized for a rifle I don't own anymore, and on finally taking out my newest enfield, my hopes were dashed when the rounds wouldn't fit in that chamber either. I'm not going to use a the hammer style because I want to save the powder, and that'll be far too much of a pain in my ass.

I'm looking for the best and easiest way of pulling them on press, and where I can find it.
 
Jon. said:
Good afternoon. I have an issue. I have an ammo can's worth of .303 sized for a rifle I don't own anymore, and on finally taking out my newest enfield, my hopes were dashed when the rounds wouldn't fit in that chamber either. I'm not going to use a the hammer style because I want to save the powder, and that'll be far too much of a pain in my ass.

I'm looking for the best and easiest way of pulling them on press, and where I can find it.
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The Hornady lever lock bullet puller works VERY well and is quite inexpensive. They use a collet so no bullet damage, the problem is trying to find them for sale, hopefully Hornady can get shipping orders back to normal soon.
 
slicknova said:
Henery at budget shooter supply seems to have them instock. http://www.budgetshootersupply.ca/catalog/Bullet_Pullers_29.cfm

I was going to suggest the rcbs press mounted puller, but the hornady one looks very similar. im sure they are both good tools.
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I have the press mounted RCBS puller, with the .223 collet. I can't for the life of me get a bullet out without having the close the collet so tight that it completely ruins the bullet.

Frankly, I don't understand how it couldn't work this way. The bullet has a conical shape and the edges of the collet are bare metal, so in order to get enough of a purchase to pull the bullet out it surely needs to dig into the copper jacketing.

Or, maybe, I'm using the collet wrong.
 
HeavyTread said:
I have the press mounted RCBS puller, with the .223 collet. I can't for the life of me get a bullet out without having the close the collet so tight that it completely ruins the bullet.

Frankly, I don't understand how it couldn't work this way. The bullet has a conical shape and the edges of the collet are bare metal, so in order to get enough of a purchase to pull the bullet out it surely needs to dig into the copper jacketing.

Or, maybe, I'm using the collet wrong.
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IF the bullet has a cannelure and the casing is crimped into the cannelure, getting the bullets out will be a pita.
The collet should be engaging behind the ogive and the pressure of the collet grabbing on the bearing contact area of the bullet.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
IF the bullet has a cannelure and the casing is crimped into the cannelure, getting the bullets out will be a pita.
The collet should be engaging behind the ogive and the pressure of the collet grabbing on the bearing contact area of the bullet.
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Hmm.. I don't currently crimp. Could be I'm trying to seat the collet too high and it's requiring me to put too much pressure on it.
 
alberta tactical rifle said:
I run the rounds up until the collet is almost touching the casing mouth, that way the bullet gets grabbed where it should.
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Yeah, I'm almost certain that's what I'm doing wrong. I usually wind up with marks on the top part of the bullet, above the ogive.

Thing is, I thought I was running them up as far as they would go and opening the collet as wide as it would go. I need to fiddle around with it some more.
 
Read the Hornady camlock lever is easier/faster than RCBS screw level but breaks easier.

I have the RCBS in a LNL, the level can't go full circle without hitting an obsticale so often can't tighten up enough. Usually end up using a hammer style to loosen up the bullet.
 
Seagull said:
Just get yourself a body die and bump it back a bit. Size problem fixed.
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I'm looking to full length size since the rounds won't even come close to chambering in the 2 enfields I have now, what do you mean exactly by getting a body die to bump it back?

Powder isn't a problem, I load light as I just shoot for fun.
 
A body die (I have the Redding one in 308) only bumps back the shoulder and sizes the body. Just looked at the instructions and it says to not use it on loaded rounds.
 
+1 for the Hornady puller. Seat the collet on the bearing surface of the bullet, and marring should be kept to a minimum. As long as you don't crimp, this method is very easy on any press and waaaay less fuss than a kinetic puller.
 
Jmiverson said:
+1 for the Hornady puller. Seat the collet on the bearing surface of the bullet, and marring should be kept to a minimum. As long as you don't crimp, this method is very easy on any press and waaaay less fuss than a kinetic puller.
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+1 i use the same puller and it works the best out of anything, just need different collets for the calibers.
 
If you are having trouble pulling bullets with a collet type puller, try this before attempting to pull the bullets.

Adjust your seating die so it just seats the bullet a fraction shorter. [this breaks the tight bond between case and bullet.]

Now use your collet puller....they will pull much easier without bullet distortion.

This also works well with military rounds that have a sealer between the bullet and case.

Regards, Dave.
 
Eagleye said:
If you are having trouble pulling bullets with a collet type puller, try this before attempting to pull the bullets.

Adjust your seating die so it just seats the bullet a fraction shorter. [this breaks the tight bond between case and bullet.]

Now use your collet puller....they will pull much easier without bullet distortion.

This also works well with military rounds that have a sealer between the bullet and case.

Regards, Dave.
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BINGO! That is the trick right there! My Hornady Collet puller never leaves a mark or struggles to pull bullets.
 
RCBS for me. One of the things I first bought when I started was the bullet puller and all the collets that I needed and of course I have added to it now as well. Never had a problem and it has saved my butt a few times. Plus I can make a dummy round right away and then take it apart and load it right away.
 
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