I picked up some RCBS collets at a yard sale. They have RCBS #1, RCBS #2, RCBS #3, and RCBS #4. Does anyone know what the numbers mean?? Does RCBS have a chart to look up myself? Thank you in advance for your time.
Senator

The collets I have for my RCBS bullet puller are not numbered but are caliber stamped.

The link below takes you to a list with part numbers for the collets but they don't match your single digits numbers.

One of my early Handloader Digests also has the same list in it as the link below does, so your collets must be very old or are not RCBS?

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/...ler_Instructions.pdf

What you are describing sounds like shell holder not collets.

Here's the RCBS shell holder chart. Each number refers to several calibers.

http://shop.shooterscatalog.co...ell-holder-chart.htm

Here's the RCBS Bullet puller with collets.

http://www.compare99.com/compa...z4lcUCFQuFaQod4IgA3w

The bullet puller comes with a body and then a series of collets. If there were collets only, numbered or by caliber, they would not be usable without the body. Each cullet would fit only one caliber.

Here's a video of how the device works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVVgG-KXaP8

RCBS also makes an inertia style bullet puller with collets. A set of three collets would fit several different cases. Those would be numbered and NOT caliber/cartridge specific.

http://www.amazon.com/RCBS-941...bs000Bullet000Puller

Thank you!

quote:

What you are describing sounds like shell holder not collets.

To all that replied:
They are not shell holder's period.
They are collets, and they are threaded on the inside, and fit my RCBS bullet puller.
Any suggestion's
Senator

Since you know them to be collets. Why can't you just try them with various bullet dia and label them?

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
Since you know them to be collets. Why can't you just try them with various bullet dia and label them?

As ramrod suggests or even just caliper them to give you an idea as to the caliber they are.
Presumably having the die you must have some genuine RCBS collets too so just compare your 'new' ones with existing.

RCBS collets will do calibres close to the designation caliber. I use a 44cal collet to pull .423cal bullets (404J) and 7mm will pull 270cal.

Polished out a .257 collet to pull 6.5mm and .257 works as it is with .243/6mm bullets.

Houston - we have a problem !

The descriptions of these collets so far leads to the conclusion that they are not bullet pulling collets for ammunition. All of the several current manufacturer make theirs the same way. The collet is smooth, inside and outside, it has 4 slits along it's length, and doesn't have threads. And firearms collets are marked by caliber, not by consecutive numbers.

Wouldn't it be helpful if we had some photos ?

The threaded collets described strongly suggest that they are aircraft collets.

https://www.google.com/search?...sAQ&biw=1280&bih=539

Numbered collet sets:

https://www.google.com/search?...ets.html%3B447%3B228

The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 refer to drill sizes. Here's a chart.

http://www.gearhob.com/eng/design/drill_eng.htm

#1 = .228"
#2 = .221"
#3 = .213"
#4 = .209"

Senator:

I viewed your affiliations and connections and I want to say that I am truly a dedicated supporter. Thanks.

When you know me better you will realize that I am an extreme, meticulous investigator. Thus I hasten to post new discoveries as uncovererd sequentially.

Second option to your query of the collets bought at yard sale are:

RCBS makes case trimmer collets. These are numbered sequentially 1,2,3,4.

If you will refer to pages 45-46 of their catalog you will find the data.

Your collets are case trimmer collets not bullet puller collets -,presumably.

Yep,
Case trimmer collets made in the early 60's. But they still fit my new RCBS bullet puller, use the #4 to pull 25-06 bullets. Thank you to all that has replied, I appreciate it. A special thank you to wetibbe, please keep in touch.
Senator.

Case trimmer collets:

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/...otaryCaseTrimmer.pdf

The 4 collet sizes are listed - each covering a wide range of cases/calibers.

#1, #2 & #3 have 3 steps or stages while #4 has only 2.

RCBS has always marked the bullet diameter on the collets..They can be purchased from Huntingtons. If yours are not then try the collets you have to pull the bullets, in many cases a .284 collet will pull a .308 bullet out of a 30-06 or .308 Win. the 277 will pull 280 Remingtons and so fourth. I have a complete set of collets and sometime I find them to work better with a smaller bore caliber than the caliber of the cartridge for what its worth.

I have to agree in that I have never seen a bullet puller collet that is numbered and mine are older than dirt..Only collets I know that are numbered are case trimmer collets. Sometime you learn something new now and then, sometimes you just have to grin and walk away.

Ray:
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
Senator