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Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

JCH

JCH

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 10, 2008
2,768
116
Oklahoma City, OK
#1
Just a reminder when using a bullet puller to always wear glasses. I use a RCBS static puller and was pulling some 69gr SMK's from a 223rem, when i pounded on the concrete the back end of the bullet puller exploded. I found part of the back half but not the metal insert that held the back end of the brass. I am still looking for the other pieces and the piece of brass. The bullet was in the puller. I had some fragment of something, probably plastic, hit my glasses.

I'll try to post pictures and I will try to figure out what happened tomorrow. i am off to bed......and to say my prayers.
 
#3
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

Glad your okay. I hope i never need to pull a bullet.
eek.gif
 
#4
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

Well dang, thanks for that tip!

Pulled a million and never had a problem. Never occured to me that it might go wrong.

Seriously, thanks
 
#6
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jakermeister</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Glad your okay. I hope i never need to pull a bullet.
eek.gif
</div></div>

Either you'll remain one careful, smart or lucky dude, or you don't reload!
laugh.gif
 
#8
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

well i got up this morning and went looking for the piece of brass that was in the puller and still can't find it. I'll have to pull out all my tables and sweep up this weekend to see if I can find it. The brass and primer should tell the story.

I think on the directions of the puller it says to hit it on a hard surface like concrete......I'll find out because I have to get another one now.
 
#10
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 300sniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i am always scared of that thing. just looking at it, it looks like it wants to shatter into a million pieces. </div></div>

I have actually pulled several hundred bullets with it. This is the first time I had an issue.
 
#11
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: queequeg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Either you'll remain one careful, smart or lucky dude, or you don't reload!
laugh.gif
</div></div>

You got that right!
 
#12
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

I have been reloading since I was 17, so over 25 years. Just this last year I started wearing glasses for EVERY stage of the operation. So far no problems.

A few years ago I was pulling a 80 gr smk with a kinetic puller from a live round. BANG. The weirdest thing was the primer cookie went off but the powder did not ignite. The primer pushed the bullet out.

I considered that my wake-up call re: kinetic pullers. I only use them now for messing with OAL measurements and dummy rounds. The RCBS and Hornady bullet pullers work just fine and do not harm the projectile.
 
#13
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well i got up this morning and went looking for the piece of brass that was in the puller and still can't find it. I'll have to pull out all my tables and sweep up this weekend to see if I can find it. The brass and primer should tell the story.

I think on the directions of the puller it says to hit it on a hard surface like concrete......I'll find out because I have to get another one now. </div></div>

You should be able to get a new cap and collet...I did. I keep a spare on hand.
 
#15
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

Wow, JCH! If powder and primers are involved, I ALWAYS wear safety glasses. I've never used the impact pullers, and this is one reason why. The collet pullers work great, and are much cleaner. I would highly recommend them, if you have a single stage press.
For some reason, the thought of putting a live round in a hammer type device to pound on a hard surface with gunpowder and primer inside, doesn't set well with me.
 
#16
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EddieNFL</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JCH</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well i got up this morning and went looking for the piece of brass that was in the puller and still can't find it. I'll have to pull out all my tables and sweep up this weekend to see if I can find it. The brass and primer should tell the story.

I think on the directions of the puller it says to hit it on a hard surface like concrete......I'll find out because I have to get another one now. </div></div>

You should be able to get a new cap and collet...I did. I keep a spare on hand. </div></div>



You can use your shell holder in place of the collet, not nearly the pain to use as the collet. T
 
#18
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

I will bet that you always struck the puller at an angle to the hard surface. It still works that way but it breaks much sooner.
Have a look at the impact end of the puller if you have it.
I predict the impact is over on one edge.
I broke one years ago that way and now I use an anvil as the impact surface and it allows the puller to strike nice and straight because its raised up off the floor.
Also the kinetic pullers are not designed to pull crimped ammo . They will do it but you are belting them way harder than they were ever ment to be used.
I use a CH collet press puller for any hard to pull ammo especially Military stuff. When I was in the Army I would kind of walk out on leave with approx 2 x 100 round link belts of 7.62 Nato clipped around my stomache. Don't know how they got there but they were sure cheap ammo. I would pull the military bullets and substitute hunting bullets.
One time while going out the main gate of the base I got dressed down by an officer for having a pot bellie and putting on too much weight for a combat soldier. I was yes sir no sir three bags full sir just to keep him happy. Then he wandered off . I was not sure wether he was a real putz or he new what I was doing and was sort off warning me off without busting me. So I stopped doing it just incase.
 
#19
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

I just use a Frankfort Arsenal puller. They are cheap and when I break it I can get a new one fairly quick. I have started to notice a bend in the handle on the current one.

I like the kinetic pullers because when using a single stage press if I have a whoops while seating I just grab the puller and erase the mistake. I don't have to swap out the die in my press.
 
#20
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

I must admit it's sort of a strange feeling when your pounding a loaded bullet away on the concrete. I always wondered whether it could detonate. I think I'll wear my glasses now
 
#21
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

+1 on the collet puller. Admittedly, it is a pain to change out the die if you are in the middle of a run but if you have more than one to do, it is quicker and tidier. I am not sure how some people who reload have never had to pull bullets. I have had whole batches of a load that I decided I didn't want to shoot because I came across a better one.
 
#22
Re: Always wear glasses while pulling bullets

My brother went out with a girl that had scars on her face from primers.
Her father wanted the primers removed from some brass. She was derpiming live primers, when the cup full of primers exploded.

She said that sometimes an anvil would work it's way to the surface of her skin.
 
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