I would like to know what is the best bullet remover tool on the market? What is the easiest bullet remover tool? I have a Hornaday Kinetic Bullet Remover but if you have to remove a bullet that is swaged, it is a pita!! I hit the garage floor about 8 times and it finally came loose but my hands hurt afterwards. I would like to get a bullet remover that doesn't hurt when tring to remover a bullet from the case. Guess it is all in the learning process.First one I ever had to remove. Thanks for the info.
BULLET REMOVER TOOL??
- Thread starter 74man
- Start date
- Status
The Glockodile
Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2020
- Messages
- 1,688
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/presses/lock-n-load-accessories/bullet-pullers-bullet-collets/
Hornady also makes one which uses collets - personal preference.
Hornady also makes one which uses collets - personal preference.
The pistol bullets will pull easier if you gently squeeze with a plyers to break the seal before you try to pull them.
The cheapest bullet puller I have found is a cheap electrical terminal crimper for removing rifle bullets.
It only leaves small dents in the round & can be reloaded.
The cheapest bullet puller I have found is a cheap electrical terminal crimper for removing rifle bullets.
It only leaves small dents in the round & can be reloaded.
.308 Norma
Member
I don't know if it will work with a Hornady kinetic bullet puller or not, but a trick I learned when using my Frankford Arsenal kinetic bullet puller is to just to leave the cartridge case sticking up about a half inch instead of pushing it into the shell holder clear up to the rim. It only takes one or two blows that way - the first blow breaks the bullet loose from the most tightly crimped case, and the second blow sends the bullet into the foam earplug I installed in the bottom of the puller.
Also, I bang on a piece of 2X4 or 4X4 instead of concrete - that might take some of the "shock" out of it.
Last edited:
RockRat64
Member
RCBS bullet puller
Targa
Member
I use the RCBS as well and have been very happy with it. https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell...ard-bullet-puller-without-collet/16-9440.html
Blue68f100
Member
For hand gun I use the Kinetic for most of the time there is not enough to grab for a collet puller. The advantage kinetic pullers have is that they do not damage the bullet in any way. I use the Hornady Cam-lock puller for most rifle loads that needs to be pulled. But it's best to avoid the mistakes that require you to pull bullets.
entropy
Member
Firing pin. Works almost every time. Sends 'em flying out the front. 
Seriously, I use kinetic pullers. RCBS & Frankford.
Seriously, I use kinetic pullers. RCBS & Frankford.
Last edited:
Same here, love mine. Does well with everything I have used it on including crimped bullets. I have not used it in any pistol rounds though.
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,262
Best? Depends. What kind of bullet, how is it seated, how it is crimped, what's it made of, what are your plans for it post-pulling?
These .40's were pushed down into the case. Nothing to grab with a plier or collet. They had to be banged out. Wadcutters, conicals, some round nose bullets, especially if they're seated past the ogive, lots of things won't pull with a collet or grabbing tool and are downright dangerous to try and shoot out. An inertial hammer is the only way.
Sorry. There's no one-size-fits-all solution.
Last edited:
WeekendReloader
Member
I have the Hornady collet puller. It works really fast and it is super easy to do a whole lot (if you need to pull many).
I also use the wire crimper/stripper tool mentioned above when I only need to pull a few, or if pulling any cast lead. The crimper/stripper tool is by far the easiest.
I also use the wire crimper/stripper tool mentioned above when I only need to pull a few, or if pulling any cast lead. The crimper/stripper tool is by far the easiest.
AJC1
Member
Collets work well when you have access to the bearing surface of the bullet. Pistol rounds are often seated past the bearing surface into the case. I hammer to do my pennants. The most common usage for me is when adjusting a seating die.
Sometimes I use both to avoid the mess if I want to reclaim the power. Sometimes there isn't enough bullet at full diameter sticking out of the case for the collet to grab on to. So I smack it once or twice with the kinetic to move the bullet out of the case a little, then finish the job with the collet.
Bazoo
Member
So you're saying, leave the head of the case proud of the collet thing in my hammer puller, and then whack it? Hmmm. How tight do you get the nut to start?I don't know if it will work with a Hornady kinetic bullet puller or not, but a trick I learned when using my Frankford Arsenal kinetic bullet puller is to just to leave the cartridge case sticking up about a half inch instead of pushing it into the shell holder clear up to the rim. It only takes one or two blows that way - the first blow breaks the bullet loose from the most tightly crimped case, and the second blow sends the bullet into the foam earplug I installed in the bottom of the puller.
Also, I bang on a piece of 2X4 or 4X4 instead of concrete - that might take some of the "shock" out of it.
I'll have to try it. Thanks for sharing that tip.
Collet style pullers never worked for me as nearly all my faux pas are handgun calibers with lead bullets. A hammer type has done me well, but I made a longer handle for my Frankfort arsenal tool (1 1/2" wood dowel 8'"long gives me 6" more length and a bit fatter). I also use a lead puck/ingot as an anvil. The lead anvil (bullet alloy) "softens" the blow but not enough to affect inertia. Softer blow is much better on my hands and quieter. The only time I pulled any amount of rifle cartridges I took apart about 90-100, 30-06 HXP and replaced the bullets and powder with Hornady bullets and 4064 and I used a wire stripping tool similar to the one in post #3...
Last edited:
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,262
Try using a standard shell holder instead of the collets in a whack-hammer. Same effect as leaving some rim space without the hassles of having a rimless round go flying into the bottom of the hammer.
GeoDudeFlorida
Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2020
- Messages
- 11,262
They make a .577.
Bazoo
Member
I knew you could use a shell holder, but I didn't know it would work better. Thanks.
Mark_Mark
Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2021
- Messages
- 18,165
I got one of those jugs!
.308 Norma
Member
Yes sir, that's exactly what I'm saying - IF it's possible to do that with your Hornady puller. I don't know what the collet is like in a Hornady puller, and the truth is, I don't understand why the trick works, but it does for me. Like you, before I read about the trick somewhere, I used to wear out my arm (and my patience) trying to pull bullets that were tightly crimped in place. It was harder than pulling teeth.
All I can say is, "pretty tight." You need to be sure that the case rim will catch on the collet as the cartridge is being slammed forward probably with the first blow. Besides, if the collet doesn't have a "tight enough" grip on the cartridge, the whole cartridge will pop out of the kinetic puller as you start your swing. You can probably guess how I know that.
Bazoo
Member
Preciate the advice. I think you are confusing me to the original poster. I'm just a drive by question asker.Yes sir, that's exactly what I'm saying - IF it's possible to do that with your Hornady puller. I don't know what the collet is like in a Hornady puller, and the truth is, I don't understand why the trick works, but it does for me. Like you, before I read about the trick somewhere, I used to wear out my arm (and my patience) trying to pull bullets that were tightly crimped in place. It was harder than pulling teeth.
All I can say is, "pretty tight." You need to be sure that the case rim will catch on the collet as the cartridge is being slammed forward probably with the first blow. Besides, if the collet doesn't have a "tight enough" grip on the cartridge, the whole cartridge will pop out of the kinetic puller as you start your swing. You can probably guess how I know that.
I'll have to try that trick next time, which I hope is a long time. I broke down about 200 44 mags a while back. That sucked.
- Status
