Thoughts on collet bullet pullers

FoxAlpha

FoxAlpha

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So my Lyman kinetic puller exploded tonight, after pulling maybe 15-20 bullets in its entire life.
Naturally, my opinion is less than ideal on these types so now I'm looking at collet pullers.
How are these for keeping bullets clean and intact? One reason I liked the kinetic pullers is no damage to the bullet but if I'm going to be buying one or two every year or so, they lose their value.
Compared the RCBS model to the Hornady and it seems like it's no contest in favor of green.

So, what's your guys' thoughts on collet pullers? Worth the cost or suck it up and try another kinetic?


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You can see some pretty distinct impact marks from the tip of the 168gr SMK's I was pulling.
 
I love my RCBS collet puller.

No marks whatsoever on the bulkers other than from the case mouth. No spilled powder either.

Just re-neck size the brass and load them up again.

I usually load up to a grain past book values, and watch for pressure/velocity and end up pulling anything above. Works great.
 
I have both Forster and RCBS collet type bullet pullers. They are OK but I have noticed that especially with match grade bullets they degrade the accuracy to the point where there are more unexplained flyers.

I usually use the RCBS inertia puller, which is almost identical to the OP's.

OP, there really was nothing wrong with your puller other than you may have used it in a manner that wasn't conducive to best performance.

I'm not knocking you at all. I had a very similar experience with my RCBS hammer puller.

Here's what I did.

I put a half cm black rubber pad in the bottom to stop the pointed bullet tips from damaging the well.

Next, I use a lead block to pound against. This doesn't effect how well the puller works but provides a softer surface to hit against.


I find the inertia puller to be faster as well as I don't have to worry about having enough surface to grip if the bullet is seated to the ogive.
 
FoxAlpha said:
Compared the RCBS model to the Hornady and it seems like it's no contest in favor of green.
Click to expand...

Have you actually used both the RCBS and Hornady?

I borrowed an RCBS collet puller after my kinetic hammer fell apart. I used it for a bit and then ended up buying the Hornady collet puller which is a better puller by far. Easier to use. Faster and left the bullets in exc. condition with almost no marks. That Hornady puller is one of the best pcs of kit I own.
 
My RCBS kinetic exploded as well. RCBS did try and replace parts under warranty but they took weeks to get here. I ended up buying a Redding collet puller off of the EE. Couldn't be happier and I won't go back to kinetic.
 
Tips for using any kinetic puller.
- Drop in a disposable ear plug or two to give the bullet a soft impact, or put in as many as you can fit and almost all the powder will stay in the case.
- Don't hammer it on concrete or any other hard surface. Use a block of wood, hitting the end grain is the best. I use a 4x4 cut off.

I also use a Hornady puller for larger corrections. take a bit of fiddling to get it to grab and not leave too big of a mark.
 
mbogo3 said:
If you are beating it on anything other than wood that what happens.
Click to expand...

I found my Frankford arsenal one only worked well hitting it on something hard. I use a 6x6x1 brick on a table.

I put a pencil eraser in the end to prevent bullet tips from deforming. I've used mine to pull almost 200 surplus 7.62x54r (with sealer on the necks), still holding strong... I can't help but think that the OP's puller may have failed due to the damage being caused by bullets, that's pretty beat up... Maybe not though, maybe I've just gotten lucky with mine, or the FA one is somehow better...
 
I've wrecked a few hammer-type pullers. They are great when you just need to pull a few bullets or if you need to pull bullets with no parallel gripping surface.
But, collet pullers are really the cat's meow if you have to pull a large batch.
As mentioned, stiking it on a substantial piece of wood will greatly extend it's life. I have a chunk of maple that I use. I've never considered a block of lead, tho I would think that might work too.
 
+1 for the RCBS collet puller. I just rebarelled my .308 and had to pull over 300 reloads as they weren't in tune with the new barrel. Job was quick and easy. I will be reusing all the components as they all came out perfect.
 
SuperCub said:
Have you actually used both the RCBS and Hornady?

I borrowed an RCBS collet puller after my kinetic hammer fell apart. I used it for a bit and then ended up buying the Hornady collet puller which is a better puller by far. Easier to use. Faster and left the bullets in exc. condition with almost no marks. That Hornady puller is one of the best pcs of kit I own.
Click to expand...

No I've yet to use either. Strictly basing that off of brief internet reviews and this thread here. Only reason I say that, is judging by the construction of the collets the hornady looks to be relatively flimsy by comparison.

Seagull said:
Tips for using any kinetic puller.
- Drop in a disposable ear plug or two to give the bullet a soft impact, or put in as many as you can fit and almost all the powder will stay in the case.
- Don't hammer it on concrete or any other hard surface. Use a block of wood, hitting the end grain is the best. I use a 4x4 cut off.

I also use a Hornady puller for larger corrections. take a bit of fiddling to get it to grab and not leave too big of a mark.
Click to expand...

Great tips, thank you.


Sounds like I'm going to go with the RCBS route, I can't see any reason not to. I'm also going to pick up a replacement kinetic and try it with some of the suggestions posted above.

Thanks everyone.
 
I bought the RCBS collet setup for the 45 Colt that I reload... it slips off the 250 grain plated bullets no matter how tight I crank it down... I'm disappointed and wouldn't recommend it for pistol calibers anyways.
 
I have both the hammer style kinetic puller and the Hornady collet. Hammer style for one or two now and again, otherwise the Hornady. Yes, the Hornady takes a bit of fine tuning to get it to work right for a specific bullet, but once dialed in, it works and works and works. . . bullets pulled are essentially brand new less any markings from seating or crimping and the powder remains in the case where it belongs. The Kinetic puller can be good too. With a bit of finesse, a bullet can be hammered until it starts to move and then tapped to a point where the round can be removed from the hammer and the bullet carefully wiggled free of the case. Powder stays in the case where it belongs too this way - most of the time.
 
I got a frankford arsenal one and Ive yet to break it. I pulled steel cased ammo. Destroyed 2x4's smashing it against. Probably pulled 50+ rounds.

I bought this grip in pull style and works 10% of the time. Depends on the bullet if it will grip.

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OkayShooter said:
I got a frankford arsenal one and Ive yet to break it. I pulled steel cased ammo. Destroyed 2x4's smashing it against. Probably pulled 50+ rounds.

I bought this grip in pull style and works 10% of the time. Depends on the bullet if it will grip.

27858914_10156071389906241_296561170930934572_n.jpg
Click to expand...

It occurred to me a while ago that you could make your own grip N pull out of a pair of dollar store wire strippers.
 
No experience with collet pullers but my RCBS hammer puller has been in action for ~25yrs and has pulled maybe 100 or so bullets in that time. I've never had to pull more than a couple of bullets at a time, so this has always been a great solution for me.
Sorry to hear about your Lyman, that's a real bummer.
As was mentioned before, a nice solid piece of wood to hammer on seems to be the ticket(advice from my dad who was the previous owner). I just use the chopping block in my garage (Cottonwood).
 
Suther said:
It occurred to me a while ago that you could make your own grip N pull out of a pair of dollar store wire strippers.
Click to expand...

Probably work better. I regret buying these. Since they only seemed to pull JHP bullets. Any RN unless you got a long bullet, they just slip. Wouldn't even work on 45 ACP SWC.
 
Kinetics are kind of a mystery to me. If you have only a few bullets to pull, then most probably the components are not worth the price of the puller, and if you have many, then the time required is insane.

I just waited until I had lots of bullets to pull, and then bought an rcbs. It completely destroyed x-metal bullets, but not even a tiny mark on anything jacketed. Pistol or rifle rounds there's nothing the eye can see. Maybe on match bullets you would lose some accuracy though.
 
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