How Bullet Pullers Work

[Chris M]

Someone at the San Jose Reloading Clinic asked how bullet pullers work, and expressed concern about putting a bullet into a device that gets pounded into a solid object over and over.

I figured I'd put this together to show anyone interested exactly how they work, and why they're safe.

Bullet pullers are actually very simple and safe devices. Have you ever shaken, or pounded on a glass ketchup bottle to get the ketchup to start flowing? Well, you're using essentially the same physics as a bullet puller uses. You're using gravity and kinetic energy to remove the bullet.

As you can see, there are only 3 parts to a bullet puller. The handle, the collet, and the collet cap.



The collet (or chuck) slips over the cartridge case and grips the rim of the case as shown here:



The cartridge is then placed bullet-down into the bullet puller, and the cap is screwed on to hold the collet (and cartridge) in place:





Note that there is absolutely nothing touching either the primer nor the bullet.

[Chris M]

continued...

After the cap is screwed into place, you're ready to start striking the bullet puller onto a suitable hard surface. Wood is the best thing to strike it against, because concrete or metal could shatter the plastic bullet puller.

Before making any strikes, here's what the cartridge looks like inside the puller.



After several strikes, you can see the bullet making it's way out.



A couple more strikes, and the bullet and powder pour out.



Unscrew the cap, remove the collet and case, and pour the bullet and powder out. I find pouring them into a powder funnel is the easiest way to separate the powder from the bullet. It's probably best not to pour them out onto a table like this.



There you have it.

[ChrisO]

What do you do with the powder hwo do you dispose of it?

[ChrisO]

Also where did you purchase that bullet puller what make/model is it? I'm going to be buying one soon.

[Chris M]

If you absolutely know for certain what powder was in the cartridge, then you simply pour it back into the container that it came in. The powder shown above is Hodgdon H-4895. It's going right back into the jug that it came in.

I honestly don't know how to properly dispose of unknown powder, since I've never had to.

The bullet puller shown above is an RCBS. I think it was about $15-$20. Well worth the investment.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=630146

[Mikeb]

I like to use a cartridge holder from the press instead of the fits all collet thing.
A puller is a must have piece of reloading gear.
take care
Mike

[Gio]

Nice write up Chris

-Gio

[mif_slim]

What if it explodes?! jk. haha I've used mines to the point where I need a new one. I like those more then the press ones. Pulls them out cleaner.

[Chris M]

What if it explodes?! jk. haha

I guess, if, on the upswing, you hit the primer on an exposed nail on the wall behind you, it's possible...not likely, but possible.

I've used mines to the point where I need a new one. I like those more then the press ones. Pulls them out cleaner.

Yeah, these kinetic pullers don't mar the bullets.

[mstlaurent]

I actually prefer the press-mounted collet pullers. I have the RCBS model, and if you use it right it doesn't mark the bullet up at all. It works really well in a progressive as well, if you have a lot of bullets to pull.

As for disposing of unknown gunpowder, spread it out over your lawn, it makes great fertilizer.

[Twystd1]

Old powder makes good fertilizer.
Just throw in on the grass or feed the bushes.
Hose it down to get the powder to start breaking up. The water also carry's the nitrates into the soil. It's that simple.

Twystd1

[Chris M]

As for disposing of unknown gunpowder, spread it out over your lawn, it makes great fertilizer.

Old powder makes good fertilizer.
Just throw in on the grass or feed the bushes.
Hose it down to get the powder to start breaking up. The water also carry's the nitrates into the soil. It's that simple.

Twystd1

Good to know. I'll keep that in mind if I ever have to dispose of powder.

[Hans Gruber]

A bullet puller is an absolute must have piece of safety equipment.

If you have a doubt about some rounds you just loaded, the odds of you doing something foolish go up substantially if you don't have a means to tear them down and start over.

[spddrcr]

I was a little worried the first couple of times i was told to "here take this hammer with a rifle cartridge in it and bang it on the ground till it falls apart"

now that ive done it a bunch i get a kick out of telling friends to do it

[jimbo1747]

Thank you Chris. I always wondered how those kinetic bullet pullers worked!