Inertia puller, it finally happened.
- Thread starter Dogleg
- Start date
I just shattered a 25 year old RCBS Hammer . RJ
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
If you're not worried about salvaging the bullets, you can always pull 'em bu loading the cartridge into the shell holder, running it up into the empty space where the die usually goes, and grabbing that sucka with pliers.
Handle comes up, ram goes down, bullet stays with the pliers. Job done. Kinda punk rock, but it works.
Handle comes up, ram goes down, bullet stays with the pliers. Job done. Kinda punk rock, but it works.
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
Yep, that's about the quickest way to do the job. I had a lot of rounds to pull a while back, and used a slightly modified technique because the cartridges were too short to pass through the die opening:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...s-pictures?p=19645170&viewfull=1#post19645170
Geez, that primer acted as a projectile, good damn thing your head was not straight above it. I've been reloading since 1982 and over the years I slowly accumulated RCBS reloading equipment. When the time was required, I purchased the RCBS die and collet (s) bullet remover; the inertia system never appealed to me, for various reasons. I usually use pulled bullets for plinking at gongs when at the gun range.
Well, main thing, you're here to tell of a life experience, sans bodily harm.
Well, main thing, you're here to tell of a life experience, sans bodily harm.
If you go the plier pulling route use new sharp 10 gage or bigger wire a stripper so that you only have 4 pin point contact on the bullet. If dun right it will leave 4 barley viable marks on the bullet if you can catch the cannelure groove nothing is visible. I've been able to reuse every one I've pulled, once I got the right pliers for the job.
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- Location
- Western Manitoba
Maybe because Federal (or Speer or whomever owns Federal brand in those days), did not give Lee any freebies, or allowed them to use previously printed material?? Somewhere I read that the Lee organization does NOT do any pressure testing - that all the data they publish is from someone else's prior work and publication.
I have been using inertia pullers and press pullers for about 50+ years. Have pulled hundreds of bullets with both.
About two months ago I was pulling bullets from my 30-378 with a RCBS inertia puller with it's factory supplied shell holder.
100 gr of powder in that shell and ....bang (CCI 250). Just like OP, with no ignition of the powder as well.
I had my safety glasses on and got dusted by some shrapnel around the glasses; no real harm thank heaven.
After a long look at the shells and some trials using the brass I had emptied already with a bullet and no powder, a few had a slight to moderate loose pocket, and I could see the primer sometimes flip in the hole on the first hit or two, and the charge would face out from the shell as I struck the concrete.
I think that is how it happened. The fact that the primer could have popped half out and then slammed down to ignite as discussed may be possible as well.
I think I am going to use my press pullers from now on.
About two months ago I was pulling bullets from my 30-378 with a RCBS inertia puller with it's factory supplied shell holder.
100 gr of powder in that shell and ....bang (CCI 250). Just like OP, with no ignition of the powder as well.
I had my safety glasses on and got dusted by some shrapnel around the glasses; no real harm thank heaven.
After a long look at the shells and some trials using the brass I had emptied already with a bullet and no powder, a few had a slight to moderate loose pocket, and I could see the primer sometimes flip in the hole on the first hit or two, and the charge would face out from the shell as I struck the concrete.
I think that is how it happened. The fact that the primer could have popped half out and then slammed down to ignite as discussed may be possible as well.
I think I am going to use my press pullers from now on.
Yikes ! I as well have hammered out 100's of bullets over the years with out a problem BUT ! Now i hear of 2 explosions ! I'm Sincerely glad your ALL OK ! RJ
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
Good tips with the socket and the wire stripper. Thanks, boys. 
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I think Richard Lee knows what he's advising regarding handling Federal primers. Federal primers are definitely more sensitive to impact than most other brands. Can't cite the source but I have read several reports besides Lee that seemed credible. Federal use a different explosive mixture in their primers than other manufacturers. Again, I can't define the difference but have read reports from several respected gun writers. I know that if I get light firing pin strikes and failure to fire, as can happen with some double rifles and combination guns, switching to Federals has always cured the problem for me.
I’ve heard it said that federal primer cups are made of much softer brass than other manufacturers. Lee recommends against using them because the Lee hand primer doesn’t have a cut-off gate like the RCBS hand primer. If you have a detonation while priming with a Lee hand primer, the flame can enter the primer tray and ignite all of the primers.
I’ve seated thousands of Federal primers and never had a detonation yet. I don’t recommend using the Lee hand primer.
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prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
The new lees have a cut off as well.
Thanks! Did not know that. I wonder if they still warn against using Fed primers in the instructions that come with them?
