Register
Log In
Home
April 4, 2013
Offline
I have about 500 rounds of .44 mag that came with a DW model 44 I bought used earlier this year. They are all reloads. I have shot a few with some going bang, and some going little bang with lots of smoke and one with a swollen and near case separation that was jammed in the cylinder. So I worry about the accuracy of the loads.
That means removing the bullets from about 500 rounds and reloading. So I'm gonna need an efficient bullet puller. I have an inertia puller, but that is less than ideal for this volume. I calculate it will take about 8-12 hours to pull them with the inertia puller. I have not used a collet puller but they don't look any more efficient.
Any ideas from this very knowledgable group? Are collet pullers more efficient/quicker?
Supporter
Moderators
Dans Club
February 22, 2009
Offline
This should help you make up your mind. Sounds like a job for a teenager; $.01 per bullet pulled...
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
February 21, 2011
Offline
The RCBS works fine. Its as fast as anything you're going to find anywhere.
Matthew Quigley on handguns:
“I said I never had much use for one. Never said
I didn't know how to use it.”
June 16, 2013
Offline
When I occassionally need to pull a bullet (primer wasn't seated correctly, etc) I remove the turret from my press, advance the round all the way up, grab the buller with a strong set of pliers (preferrably one with a cutting face like a wire cutter). The pliers cross all the way across the opening of the turret so they are held in place by the frame of the press. Then just raise the handle, lowering the shell holder/round. The bullet pulls right out. It destroys the bullet but preserves the brass.
It is cheaper than a collet puller and way faster than an inertia puller. You just have to be sure the pliers grab the bullet firmly and that the pliers rest against the press at two points.
Hope this makes sense. If not, i'll try and post a picture.
Supporter
Range Officer
Moderators
DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
Offline
Just take them to the range and shoot them, don't worry about accuracy, just make some noise. Its faster and cheaper than a puller, but you won't be able to reuse the bullets.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
Offline
Just use an inertia puller-- no rush...pull a few every evening...
They key to inertia pullers ( and yes, there is a better way 
-- you need to use a quick swing and it has to hit a SOLID surface... and I mean solid like a concrete driveway, concrete step, railroad rail, etc. Smacking a chunk of 2x4 or a wobbly workbench will just give you a workout. Don't worry about breaking or mutilating the hammer, they are made for abuse. I have one that looks like a mushroom on the end from whacking concrete with it.
I pulled 400 rounds of 204 ruger that came with a rifle I bought...took time, but I reclaimed all of the bullets/powder/brass.
SHOOT
February 11, 2010
Offline
Another +1 for the hammer puller. I did 350 rnds in less than four hours. The last 250
went faster than the first 100. You will figure out a rhythm and it will go quick after the
first 50 or so. I don't like the idea of hammering concrete so I used a thick piece of
walnut, keep hitting the same spot, it will get hard. Like SHOOT said, use a whip like
swing and you will get most in a smack or two.
Just dump all powder and bullets in a tub and then pick bullets out when your done.
Your not going to keep unknown powder, so pitch it or make a....
Toss all the brass in another tub or container as well.
I ended up wearing out a set of the aluminum collets before I got through the 350,
luckily one of the other sets that came with my Frankford puller also worked so I was
able to finish the 350. Also would like to mention a few days later I called Frankford
Arsenal and explained I had wore out one collet within 300 rounds, the pleasant English
speaking lady I talked to that day sent me, not one but two full three collet sets !
Have fun, be safe and shoot straight.
-Blacktop
Supporter
Range Officer
Dans Club
Range Officers
Members
July 2, 2011
Offline
I stopped at a local brickyard and bought a road grade paving brick. Nice supper hard surface to get out your frustrations..... errr, I mean pull bullets.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
April 4, 2013
Offline
Many thanks for the advice. I have a 3X3X1" piece of stainless I use to bounce the hammer. I like the idea of just dumping bullets and powder into a tub then separating later. I know the powder type based on the enclosed paper tag in the bags of cartridges. Looks like lots of whacking coming.
November 6, 2013
Offline
Instead of using the spring loaded collets, use a reloading press shell holder or Lee primer shell holder.
April 25, 2008
Offline
Last year, I sold a bunch of guns, but wanted to keep the components. Used a hammer-type puller and did, at most a couple hundred a day, and those were the ones not crimped. 3300 rounds later, I had a bunch of "new" components to load in other cartridges.
A tip for the hammer-type pullers. Put one of those foam rubber ear plugs in the bottom. That will cushion bullet impact and protect the soft lead noses of rifle or pistol bullets.
The Savantist
1 Guest(s)
