I have a bunch of 30-06,308 and 243 ammo that I reloaded a while back ,but I got rid of those rifles so I don`t need the ammo.My question is-Whats the easiest way to pull the bullets from the shell cases?I tried just grabbing the bullets with plyers an yanked but the bullets come out really hard.Is there an easyer way?Thanks in advance.

RCBS makes a impact puller...it will suit you!!
Shaped like a hammer, and will allow you to pull the bullet out, without scaring it..sakofan..

If you don`t want to save the bullets put the round in your shell holder and run it up through the top of your press with no die installed. Grab the bullet with your pliers through the hole your die screws in and lower the ram.

I`ve used vice grips this way with good results but the bullets do get marked up. If you want to save the bullets, RCBS and others make a puller that screws in your press and grabs the bullet with a collet. It`s fast and doesn`t mark the bullet but you need a collet for each caliber.

[ 08-07-2003, 05:35: Message edited by: Ol` Joe ]

Ol Joe is right on, but to save marking the bullets, just put an old piece of innertube (or something similar,showing my age)in the jaws of the pliers and get after it...

Thanks for the help guys.I don`t care if I mark the bullets up so I don`t have to buy a bullet puller.Thanks again yotecaller.

You can run the cartridge up through the top of your press and grab the bullet with side-cutter type pliers but regular style pliers will work best if you put them nose down and grab the bullet close to the cartridge then pull down the press lever. This will squeeze the plier jaws tighter as they are pulled into the die hole and wont slip off the bullet.

Yote:

Sakofan was right on again. AN RCBS bullet puller hammer is a GREAT investment if you hand load. I find I use it quite a bit, more than I ever thought.

I had a Midway one first, and broke about 6 of them. Got the RCBS and nnot only have I not had to have it replaced, but the cork at the bottom does not destroy the lead tip on bullets.

It may be $25.00 but it sure is a saver of frustration or on just throwing away bullets or loaded rounds.

I will chime in for those who want to save the bullet. It takes a small bit of time but about the same time as putting a shell into the Kinetic hammer device and all. If you take the cartridge and put the neck on a solid piece of steel, like the top of your press without a die in it and you tap the neck lightly with a small hammer,(brass works well) and turn the neck as you tap, after a few taps and turns you will grow the neck so you can pull the bullet easily with a tool, a few more taps and you can pull it out by hand. I use this with old or heavily crimmped mill surp ammo. You can use it to loosen and pull in any number of ways as mentioned above. Another trick with heavy crimped or old corroded mill surp ammo is to seat the bullet further into the case to break the hold/seal and then use the kenitic hammer and the really stubborn bullets will come free. JB

The easiest way.
1. Place cartridge in appropriate rifle
2. Close Bolt
3. Point in Safe Direction
4. Pull trigger
Presto; the bullet's gone

Seriously; I have used an RCBS Kinetic puller way too many times. I put a little wad of paper towel in the bottom to keep the bullet from deforming.

YOU COULD SEEL EM OR GIVE EM TO YOUR FRIENDS THAT HAVE THOSE CALIBER RIFLES YOTE............

OOOPPPPSSS I MEANT SELL EM..........

I have a collet-type puller (Forster) that works great. But for calibers for which I have no collet, I just put the round in the shellholder, raise the press ram until the bullet is above the die station, grab the bullet with a pair of diagonal sidecutters, then lower the ram. The sidecutters hang up on the die station, and out comes the bullet! Of course, this makes it a little hard to salvage the bullet.....

There are sever IFs to coonsider...
The FORESTER Super Fast Bullet Puller works fast and efficently but, it damages the bullet. It cost aboout $20 per caliber.

Buy an RCBS collett bullet puller. I use this. All you have to do is buy a collett for the caliber of bullet you are going to pull. No damage to bullet, although if you are pulling mil. bullets try seating them a little deeper then pull them they sometimes have a asphalt sealer. Good luck and good shooting.

If you buy an impact bullet puller, don't waste your time using those collets that are included, and DEFINITELY don't waste your money buying additional collets. Simply use the same shell holder that you have in the press for that cartridge. Works like a charm, and it's faster than fumbling around with those collets.

[ 08-08-2003, 21:08: Message edited by: SST ]

I have a full set of collets that don't tear up the bullets and it is fast to operate and I can pull a hundred bullets in I'm guessing probably 30 to 45 minutes, but have never timed it...You do get a motion/routine going and its fast, if you don't wear out.

I've been using the Quinetics bullet puller for years. It's not the fastest, but it does a good job.
Put a piece of cotton batten in the nose to prevent any deformation occurring when you strike the concrete floor. It only costs about 18. and should last a lifetime. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I just got done doing this to nearly 100 rounds of 257 Weatherby shells. I went with the RCBS puller for a few reasons:

1. If it breaks, RCBS will send me a new one. They have great customer service!

2. It will fit several calibers if I ever need it in the future for some other shells. You need to buy additional collets to fit each caliber if you go with the collet puller.

3. It was quite inexpensive. One time purchase. No additional collets to buy.

Couple of recommendation with it though. Use your reloading press shell holders instead of the collet (as mentioned above). Much quicker and more durable.
Use a concrete floor with a scrap piece of linoleum on it to bang the puller. Don't be afraid to whack it. It took me a few bullets to realize that thing wasn't going to break. Seems unnatural when you're smacking a piece of plastic off the concrete.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Man, that shellholder trick in the kinetic bullet puller is the best thing since sliced bread - just tried it! Thanks for the tip!

You're welcome

Of course it goes without saying that my 500 rounds of 140 gr. flush wadcutters won't succumb to the collet puller, nor will cartridges with the ogive begining at the mouth of the case be easily gripped without deformation.
With the inertia puller, light bullets have little inertia.
Bullets are usually invisibly deformed with either method, but shoot fairly well anyway.
I use both,, and have used the insane "hammer-the-neck-to-stretch-it" method without an explosion. Yet.
Cheers from Gray's California,
Ross

Great tip about the press shellholder

When using the kinetic puller, I use a 10# block of lead on the floor. The lead cuts down on the noise and rebounding a little and makes it more comfortable to pull a bunch.