RCBS Collet Bullet Puller - WOW what a difference

[SuperCub]

I started with the hammer kinetic puller and it broke. I had to pull some bullets, so I borrowed an RCBS collet puller and used it a lot before buying the Hornady collet puller.

IMO .... The Hornady is the best of the bunch I've used by far. Barely leaves a mark on any bullet type and is easier to use than the RCBS.

 

[VanMan]

As I was curious, I just tried it myself and Your idea won't work...

The RCBS Puller T-Handle is fixed i.e. not a sliding T-Handle. This means that you can't tighten the collet onto the bullet even if the die is backed out to the point where there are very few thread turns holding it in place. It gets worse with large rifle cartridges as you would have to break it over your knee to get the pulling action...

Excellent feedback, thanks very much, saved me from buying another gadget that would end up just sitting in a drawer. I'm going to get the RCBS collet style puller and just get another toolhead for my 650 to mount it in. Maybe I'll get an extra decapper too so I can press out some of the primers I've got in upside down and sideways.

 

[Abman]

Will the RCBS collets work in the Hornady puller?

I started with the hammer kinetic puller and it broke. I had to pull some bullets, so I borrowed an RCBS collet puller and used it a lot before buying the Hornady collet puller.

IMO .... The Hornady is the best of the bunch I've used by far. Barely leaves a mark on any bullet type and is easier to use than the RCBS.

 

[SuperCub]

Will the RCBS collets work in the Hornady puller?

I don't think so. The Hornady is quite fast once you have it set up. There's a cam-over lever on top that compresses onto the bullet and pull away.

I wouldn't trade mine for an RCBS any day.

 

[luke s]

so are these good for surplus 7.62x39 by any chance? the kinetic puller does not work well for that

 

[davesaudio]

I've had an RCBS collet style for many years, it doesn't like to release the bullet after being pulled. ...

I like the puller otherwise. I was thinking of getting a hole drilled thru the handle so I could push down with a stiff wire to pop them out.

 

[BCRider]

Will the RCBS collets work in the Hornady puller?

Nope, totally different collets with reversed angle locking tapers.

A short time back I got the Hornady collet puller and the correct collet for my .357 bullet size. But due to the shape of the bullets I just can't get a proper grip on most of them. The issue being that the inward taper on the Berry truncated cone like plated bullets starts right at the crimp. So there's just not enough to hold onto. I did get a couple to come out but the bullet was totally ruined. And the cast bullets I load have a little step ahead of the cannelure groove. So I need to get the next size smaller collet if I want to use it for that shape. Also the copper plating seems to be slippery to grab. And since the big majority of my reloading messups are on my handgun ammo I'm stuck with the hammer puller for the most part. So I'm not sure how much I'll actually use the collet puller.

Someone above mentioned that their RCBS collet doesn't like to release easily. Be sure to very lightly grease the locking cone on the outer die. You don't want grease in the jaws of the collet but a little smear on the outer wedging surfaces will go a long way to ensuring that the collet springs open on it's own. Otherwise a light bump on the top of the handle will do the trick.

 

[BCRider]

so are these good for surplus 7.62x39 by any chance? the kinetic puller does not work well for that

Those bullets have a nice long parallel portion just ahead of the case lip. A collet puller would be superb for unloading that sort of ammo.

 

[SuperCub]

A short time back I got the Hornady collet puller and the correct collet for my .357 bullet size. But due to the shape of the bullets I just can't get a proper grip on most of them. The issue being that the inward taper on the Berry truncated cone like plated bullets starts right at the crimp. So there's just not enough to hold onto. I did get a couple to come out but the bullet was totally ruined. And the cast bullets I load have a little step ahead of the cannelure groove. So I need to get the next size smaller collet if I want to use it for that shape. Also the copper plating seems to be slippery to grab. And since the big majority of my reloading messups are on my handgun ammo I'm stuck with the hammer puller for the most part. So I'm not sure how much I'll actually use the collet puller.

That's a good point. I've only used the Hornady collet puller for jacketed rifle bullets, never handgun or cast.

 

[silverfoxdj]

I started with the hammer kinetic puller and it broke. I had to pull some bullets, so I borrowed an RCBS collet puller and used it a lot before buying the Hornady collet puller.

IMO .... The Hornady is the best of the bunch I've used by far. Barely leaves a mark on any bullet type and is easier to use than the RCBS.

I have the cam lock hornady puller and it is very good... like this h ttp://www.midwayusa.com/product/851547/hornady-cam-lock-bullet-puller

 

[ted_dent]

Way better then that stupid hammer. Some that I had to pull I was beating on the floor for 15 minutes for the bullet to come out. Not so with this puller.

I hope you're exaggerating. If you spent more than 10 seconds you're doing something really wrong unless you tried to pull a lacquered in bullet without first breaking the seal and that's not the fault of the puller.

I have pulled at least 2000 bullets of all sizes & calibres with inertia pullers and broke just one (which RCBS replaced free, BTW). 1000 of those were surplus 7.62x45 bullets, some of which were rusted to the steel cases. The keys to using an inertia puller are first to hit it on a non-compressible surface (concrete floor works perfectly) and second to hit it perpendicular to the striking surface. Most problems are caused by not doing these two things.

I've used it with all types of ammo & never had one I couldn't pull. There is nothing wrong with collett pullers but they are a lot more expensive (you need to buy different collet for each calibre bullet) and ithey won't pull bullets that have little exposed profile. You can also use your press shellholders to hold the cases in an inertia puller rather than the aluminum collets as they are pretty much indestructible.

As I said, there is nothing wrong with collet pullers but those who criticize inertia pullers usually have bad luck with them because they're using them wrong, not because they aren't well designed.

 

[VanMan]

This RCBS collet style puller is GREAT! I got one and a spare tool head for my XL 650 as suggested and pulled apart this pile of 147g 9mm rejects in about 1/2 hour. I think I spent more time inspecting the brass than actually pulling the bullet. Only slight markings on the pulled bullet which I think are actually from the crimp, so I don't think I'll have any problems reusing the bullets.

View attachment 25538

 

[Dogleg]

Quote Originally Posted by dead meat View Post

I've had an RCBS collet style for many years, it doesn't like to release the bullet after being pulled. ...

I like the puller otherwise. I was thinking of getting a hole drilled thru the handle so I could push down with a stiff wire to pop them out.

There is a bit of trick to it. What I do when the bullet sticks is to run the case back up to the bullet and reseat it a tiny bit. That "un-bites" the collet and the bullet will come down with the case and can be plucked out with your fingers. Sort of like un-biting a pipe wrench to get it off. Its done by feel, but works pretty slick when you get the right release pressure down pat.

 

[rookie wildcat]

Really liking the idea of that, but I think it may be too much of a pain to use on my Dillon XL 650. I wonder how this collet bullet puller would work in this Lee Hand Press? I probably have 200+ 9mm reloading rejects to pull apart.

Like a post further along, this won't work. However, if you are only pulling 9mm, get a Lee "C" press. Even less expensive than the hand press, yet easily strong enough to pull pistol rounds.

I've been using the RCBS Collet Puller for 20+ years. It always works good.
The problem with inertia hammers is they break all too often.

While my inertia puller gas never broken, I use the collet puller heavily. It has been permanently mounted in my RockChucker for the past dozen years. I pull a LOT of milsurp bullets, to Mexican match them.

Have both bullet puller styles. Usually use kinetic type as its quicker to access. Use the hammer on 4X4" post end grain supported on cement floor. No problem

cement floors only exist in my Laundry room. She does not like the noise next to the family room. The collet puller is quieter.

so are these good for surplus 7.62x39 by any chance? the kinetic puller does not work well for that

They are FANTASTIC for that. However, pulling milsurp is a two-step process. Set up your seating die, seat the bullet deeper to break the lacquer. Then they pull easy.

Someone above mentioned that their RCBS collet doesn't like to release easily. Be sure to very lightly grease the locking cone on the outer die. You don't want grease in the jaws of the collet but a little smear on the outer wedging surfaces will go a long way to ensuring that the collet springs open on it's own. Otherwise a light bump on the top of the handle will do the trick.

X2. This works great.