Reloading Tip – Pulling Bullets with Press-Mounted Collet Tool

May 19, 2022 – Do you have ammo that was incorrectly loaded, or with the wrong powder? For safety’s sake, you will need to disassemble the ammunition. An impact puller can be used for this task. However, if you have more rounds than that, a collet-style gun puller may be more suitable. These are quick and efficient, making it easy to complete large jobs quickly. If you regularly disassemble ammo, the efficiency of the collet style puller is well worth the investment. These devices retail for under $25.00 (collets sold separately). You will need a collet that is specific for each bullet diameter. Collets aren’t very expensive so this isn’t a major issue, especially if you only load a few calibers like.223, 6mm and.308. Hornady and RCBS have different mechanisms to tighten their collet around the bullet. The Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller has a lever-arm at the top that tightens the collet around your bullet. To grab the bullet, simply rotate the lever horizontally from the vertical position. To remove the case, lower the ram. When you return the lever arm vertically to its original position, the bullet will drop off. This is shown in the video below. Collet bullet-pullers look like a loading sieve with a handle or lever on the top. They fit into standard reloading presses. Both Hornady RCBS make collet-style cartridge pullers. The basic principle is the same: the device tightens the collet around a bullet and then the bullet can be separated from the case by lowering its press ram. NOTE: Collet pullers can leave small marks on bullets unlike impact (kinetic), pullers. The RCBS Bullet Puller uses a collet, just like the Hornady tool. The RCBS tool tightens its collet in a slightly different manner. The internal threading of the RCBS tool’s head is done internally. Rotating the lever arm in a horizontal circle clockwise, you will squeeze the collet around your bullet. After lowering the pressram, turn the lever arm in the opposite direction to remove the bullet. These videos demonstrate the use of the RCBS tool. WARNING: Always ensure that there are no obstructions under loaded cartridges or in the shell-holder when removing bullets. When working with loaded rounds, you should never engage the primer seating accessory. Contacting the primer can cause a round’s discharge. We recommend that you keep your head and body away from the bullet pulling tool at all costs. *In contrast, impact pullers rarely mark bullets. This is especially true if you place a small amount of foam or paper wadding at the closed end. Powder kernels can get stuck in the wadding when dismantling loaded rounds. If you plan to save the powder, you should remove the wadding and replace it.
Similar Posts:Tags: Bullet Puller, Cam-Lock, Collet Tool, Gavin Gear, Hornady Bullet Puller, Impact PUllet, RCBS, RCBS Lock-Out Die, Reloading, Video