I ask because I just pulled 20 rounds with a brand new Midway model, and the thing gave up the ghost. It just seemed to get hot and fail/crack. Surely, someone makes one a bit tougher...RCBS, Hornady, Quinetics??? Or was I not supposed to do so many rounds in a row?
Thanks, RSY
Posts: 785 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 01 October 2001
I had a dillion that did the same thing, broke after something like ten rounds. I asked them if they would fix it. They said if I paid their shipping costs, upgrades to the 'new' model and sent them the puller they would replace it. By the time I would be done paying UPS and Dillon it was cheaper to buy an RCBS which I am very glad I did.
The nice thing about the RCBS is it has a felt pad to catch the bullets and prevents more nose damage on soft poit bullets then other designs.
Well, Bill, I think I will take your advice. After a little research/surfing, it looks like the Hornady, Midway, and Quinetics units are the same. And, the RCBS model does look to be a little better design. Coupled with the service from RCBS, that's likely a hard deal to beat.
RSY
Posts: 785 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 01 October 2001
I believe Quinetics makes the pullers for RCBS and Midway.
Save yourself the danger you have in any impact puller with the possibility of discharging a loaded round. While I haven't ever had one, numerous discussions on these boards have reported cases of explosions when using impact pullers. I only use one for pistol cartridges or those rifle cartridges where the preferred collet type pullers will not grip the bullet. The latter also save the mess of separating powder and bullet when you use the impact puller.
Posts: 1261 | Location: Placerville, CA, US of A | Registered: 07 January 2001
I have used them all broke my RCBS after a lot of rounds have midway now and a RCBS can't tell the diff. have several collect type pullers well take the impact pullers any day.
Posts: 19752 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
I have been beating the crap out of a Midway kinetic puller for 8 years. I keep thinking I'm going to break it but it just wont die. (I probably just jinxed myself) I have pulled hundreds of tarred or glued military bullets. I have a 4x4x4 block of wood that I use with it. Smack the puller on the end grain. I have worn a nice packed divot in the middle. Rarely I use the concrete floor to get things started. One thing though I wish it did not mar the noses of hunting bullets. I guess I should take Bills idea and jam something soft in the tip.
Ray~ Those are the collet type pullers I mentioned in the earlier post. They are made by both Forster and RCBS. Except for the area gripped by the case, my Forster doesn't mark any bullets. It's certainly better than deforming the tip with the impact puller.
For those with impact pullers, stick an ear plug in the bottom. Fits perfect and helps a bit in not deforming tips.
Posts: 1261 | Location: Placerville, CA, US of A | Registered: 07 January 2001
I have pounded my RCBS for 20 years and it still continues to provide great service. Mine came with a soft piece of foam in the end and I've never deformed a bullet. Don't they put these in anymore?
------------------ RC
Posts: 1147 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 21 April 2001
OK, I hate to have to admit this, but I have yet to figure out how to use my Hornaday Cam-Lock bullet puller. I really hate it when the directions begin with "...is extremely simple to use." This should be a snap since I am extremely simple. All I have been able to do so far is flatten the tips of the bullets. It came with several collets but they are without caliber ID so I'm unsure which ones fit which caliber. The directions refer to positioning the collet while it is in the die but I don't understand how to set the clearance while it is sight unseen. Am I just stupid or what?
------------------ "Don't let so much reality into your life that there's no room left for dreaming."
Posts: 263 | Location: SE Colorado | Registered: 24 May 2001
I had a Quinetics that just gave up its ghost after hundreds of bullet pulls: The chuck was completely worn out and it was severely bent at the hexagonal metal grip part. They offer a lifetime guarentee, but having to pay postage limits its usefulness. I bought an RCBS which is all plastic now.
Broke my 8 year old Quinetics a couple weeks ago. Had a 257 Roberts empty case with a 75 gr VMax in it that I had used to establish where the lands were in my 700 Mountian Rifle.Gave it a whack on the concrete floor like maybe a thousand times before and the head broke and the empty cartridge hit the furnace duct above me and landed with the sharp VMax point in my upper thigh. It drew blood thru my jeans.Hurt a bit too.....I was some po'd.
RCBS will replace ANY of their products, no questions asked. Period.
I pulled several hundred bullets in several calibers . . . mostly pistol. No problems, the unit looks like new. I use a 6 x 12 beam on end for a striking surface. That may save the face of the hammer a bit.
A slotted spoon -- I paid about a buck for mine at Safeway in the kitchen wares section -- separates powder from bullet very easily. Hold the spoon over the end of the puller and dump the powder into a container. OR pour bullets and powder into the container and then sort out the bullets running the spoon through the mix.
I have the Midway kinetic bullet puller and I think the whole key to how long it lasts is what surface you're banging it on. I use a peice of 2x8 pine and have never had any problems. I've hit it on cement before and it felt like it would go to peices any minute. I like the idea of the ear plug in the bottom of the puller, and I will be adding one to my puller.
quote:Originally posted by fishnfool: I have the Midway kinetic bullet puller and I think the whole key to how long it lasts is what surface you're banging it on. I use a peice of 2x8 pine and have never had any problems.
I would agree with you except that I was whacking it on the end of a length of 4x4 when the hammer head just split in about four places. Brand new, out of the bag, 20 rounds pulled, and...structural failure. Maybe I just got a bad one, who knows?
RSY
Posts: 785 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: 01 October 2001
quote:Originally posted by Recono: Pardon my ignorance - I have heard several times that an inertial bullet puller like the Quinetics & RCBS can set off a round. How?
Primers ignite via impact, and inertial pullers work via impact. The odds of a primer going off are small, but it has happened a few times before.
I'm not a gambling man, so use a collet puller.
Posts: 7213 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 27 February 2001
I have been using a midway for about 7 years.I have 4x4 block of wood i beat on the end of,never had any problem.I pushed a foam ear plug in bottom ,stopped deforming soft point bullets.
Posts: 175 | Location: mineral wells texas | Registered: 12 November 2001
Well, what the h--- was I doing wrong with mine (Midway)? I whaled away with that thing on the end grain of a 4x4 and could hardly even get the bullet moving.
Ended up buying an RCBS collet puller. Yes, it does mark the bullets but that's less of a concern to me than what the heck to do with an over-pressure round!
Posts: 1246 | Location: Northern Virginia, USA | Registered: 02 June 2001
I use the collet pullers from RCBS and they are the best and fastest..They mark a bullet a little but so what, that won't hurt accruacy enough to make any difference in a hunting bullet...
I also have a RCBS hammer...for off breed calibers etc.
HINT: Toss the silly 3 piece wire ring holder in the trash and use a case holder from your press for what ever caliber your pulling bullets on....
quote:Originally posted by Carnivore: I have pulled hundreds of tarred or glued military bullets.
An easy way to pull bullets that have been sealed in the case mouth with lacquer is to use the seating die for that cartridge to push the bullet in a bit deeper to break the seal. Then, use your favorite bullet puller.
George
------------------ Shoot straight, shoot often, but by all means, use enough gun!
Posts: 14623 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 22 May 2001
