How Do You Sort Pulls?

[Demi-human]

Actually, it sort of does. If you want to experiment throw a layer of beans and a layer of peas in a glass and mix them up. Shake the glass gently and they will tend to sort themselves.

I agree, this is how chaff is separated from some things on an inclined plane. The differing densities and friction slowing them to settle.

This would be a difficult method to separate lead from lead with however.


Like The Inventor, I’d use a bullet collator. I’d just dispense them onto the table, look at the tube stack distance to the bullet tip as each one sits there to determine the bullet, then flick it right or left with a pencil by hand.
Two bins, four hours tops, hand done, mostly.

 

[Atavar]

All things fall at the same rate no matter the weight, air resistance will affect fall. They dropped a feather and a hammer on the moon and they hit the ground at the same time.

Maybe the bullets will look different enough to sort, I would try using a loading block like ones to hold brass, the heavier ones may stick up higher to sort it not a scale is the sure way.

It’s not a feather falling case, which only applies in a vacuum, anyway.
It is a case of a mixture of objects in a container. With vibration the heavier objects will tend to push their way to the bottom of the container through the lighter objects.
An extreme example of this would be bullets and corks. With vibration the corks will float to the top of the bullets.
A good experiment to prove this would be to put some scrap cases and scrap bullets in your vibratory tumbler with no media and run it for a few minutes. The cases will be on top of the bullets.
If it is a mixture of objects that are the same weight the denser (smaller) objects will sift to the bottom with vibration.

 

[Atavar]

Density and weight are not the same thing.

The density of dried peas and dried beans is very similar but the beans will be heavier.

 

[Demi-human]

Density and weight are not the same thing.

Draw!
>Bang!<
You got me!

(And with less words, too. Dang.)

 

[243winxb]

I would load 10 of each, using a 180 gr powder charge. Same COL. Test @25 yard. Can you or the gun tell the difference?
Buying pulled, tells me accuracy is not number 1 on the list.

 

[Demi-human]

The density of dried peas and dried beans is very similar but the beans will be heavier.

Pound for pound, bullets aren’t beans.
And when measured by sectional density, they still aren’t.

 

[Atavar]

If it were me I would stand up a single row along one side of a box and use a putty knife to knock over the tall ones. You could cut the side of the box down to just over the height of the shorter ones to make it easier. It would be trivial to build a tipping blade that was higher than the short ones but lower than the tip of the long ones but probably not worth the effort.
If you need 100% surety you’re probably going to weigh them anyway.
Checking weights using a mechanical beam scale would be quick. Set the scale at a weight between the two sizes of bullets, in this case about 172g. If the pan stays up it is the lighter bullet, if it goes down it is the heavier bullet. Quick and easy.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

By the time you build and test some of these clever contraptions you could have sorted 4000 bullets by hand using a digital kitchen scale. The units don’t matter - grams, grains, ounces, whatever - the fact that they are not the same is enough for sorting.

 

[lordpaxman]

I bought the same mix some time ago, and assumed it was only 165 and 180. On a big table, I’d tip them up about 10 at a time and the height difference would be quite obvious. Then I noticed a slight difference in the 165s, and there were some 155s in there as well. A scale is the only way to be sure, but you can do a first pass to get the 180s out of the way.

 

[Atavar]

By the time you build and test some of these clever contraptions you could have sorted 4000 bullets by hand using a digital kitchen scale. The units don’t matter - grams, grains, ounces, whatever - the fact that they are not the same is enough for sorting.

Correct. A beam scale is probably simplest and quickest. Digital scales would be slower due to settling time.

 

[Pottimus]

I just don't care anymore.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I just don't care anymore.

Me either but I do think this may be the first time “avoirdupois” has been used in a reloading thread. That’s worth something. Thanks @Random 8

 

[Akula69]

I buy quite a bit of pulled projectiles, and the only sure way of getting reasonable consistency is to manually check for weight, circumference and ogive. Would I shoot the firearms instructor course with them? No, but they work just fine at 15-25 yards.

 

[Random 8]

Me either but I do think this may be the first time “avoirdupois” has been used in a reloading thread. That’s worth something. Thanks @Random 8

Just doing my part to enrich your vocabulary one post at a time! I got a chuckle this morning to see a few posters mention that a balance beam scale might be a good idea.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Just doing my part to enrich your vocabulary one post at a time! I got a chuckle this morning to see a few posters mention that a balance beam scale might be a good idea.

Well I’m too old to learn French but nice try. But I have learned if I ever buy pulled bullets you guys will be the last to know.

 

[Random 8]

Well I’m too old to learn French but nice try. But I have learned if I ever buy pulled bullets you guys will be the last to know.

Well now you know, it is the system of weights we generally use in the US, as well as a general use term for a balance/counterweight mechanical device to measure same.

 

[JFrank]

I sort primers by weight, one at a time on an electric scale using the gram setting for less drift and a pair of tweezers. It takes awhile but I’m retired and just drinking coffee anyway so why not.

 

[JFrank]

Correct. A beam scale is probably simplest and quickest. Digital scales would be slower due to settling time.

I have tried using a beam scale… not very fast for sorting, ( especially if you have multiple weights and need to adjust the main or minor poise each time) you may need some help.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have tried using a beam scale… not very fast for sorting, you may need some help.

Although, that’s actually not a terrible idea. If you’re single or wanting to be…

 

[CQB45ACP]

Well now you know, it is the system of weights we generally use in the US, as well as a general use term for a balance/counterweight mechanical device to measure same.

I actually do speak a little French—took it in grades 7-9 until the French ambassador to the US returned home and took his daughter with him. Was no point after that. New ambassador had two sons.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I actually do speak a little French—took it in grades 7-9 until the French ambassador to the US returned home and took his daughter with him. Was no point after that. New ambassador had two sons.

Wow! Fancy Dan. The only Ambassador I ever “met” had a 343 V8 and a leaky power steering pump.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Wow! Fancy Dan. The only Ambassador I ever “met” had a 343 V8 and a leaky power steering pump.

Haha. I’m a Ramblin man.

We lived in Arlington County—immediately across river from DC—in the early 60s. The end of the colonial era put great pressure on former European colonial powers to act more like regular folks. So, our public schools were full of kids from UK, France, Belgium. A few years later the show was over and back they went to the private schools in Bethesda MD.

 

[Charlie98]

A beam scale is probably simplest and quickest.

That's what I used. I accidentally dropped about 50 230grn plated bullets into a box of 200grn plated bullets. I set my 5-0-5 on 200grn and went after it.... it didn't take long. Those 230's dropped the tray like a fat kid on the seesaw...

 

[CQB45ACP]

That's what I used. I accidentally dropped about 50 230grn plated bullets into a box of 200grn plated bullets. I set my 5-0-5 on 200grn and went after it.... it didn't take long. Those 230's dropped the tray like a fat kid on the seesaw...

Fat kid on a see saw
You’re scheduled for reeducation tomorrow 8am.
(Hilarious&Smiley face doesn’t do that justice but I can’t get another emoji to work)

 

[Charlie98]

Fat kid on a see saw
You’re scheduled for reeducation tomorrow 8am.

I beg pardon...

....like a gravitationally-challenged non-binary individual on a see-saw.

Do they even have see-saws anymore? Didn't they go the way of the merry-go-round?