Bullet puller question

roadie · 03-07-2008, 10:43 AM

Just a quick question. I just got a RCBS ROCK CHUCKER BULLET PULLER. I have about 270 rds of bad .223 reloads that I mistakenly bought, and want to salvage the brass, bullets and powder. Using this type of puller, since there are still primers in the rds, they are live. Is it safe to use this puller to take the rds apart? After watching a youtube video on how to use it I am just a little nervous on striking the garage floor with a live round, and don't want it to go off and blast a hole in something, mainly my head. although buying these reloads was not the brightest idea and they preformed horribly...to me that is not a suitable punishment for a bad purchase decision. Also, once they are all apart, will I be able to re-use the primers so not to waste any of the components of these rounds. In case you are wondering whyI feel they are bad, I am convinced that they were loaded improperly, not crimped, wrong powder..ect. When shooting these rounds, the cases would jam very tightly in the chamber and the cases once removed showed obvious signs of over pressure...so that's why I want to take em apart and re-use the components, besides...after I did the math, for what I paid for them, the values of the individual parts are worth almost the same. I had thought about re-selling them, but it would be wrond to lie to a potential buyer and say there were great and possibly expose that person to bad ammo that could damage their weapon. So I will salvage them, anyway back to the original question...is this alright to use with live ammo? Any thoughts?

You Tube

Mooseman684 · 03-07-2008, 10:50 AM

It is perfectly safe to use that inertia puller with live ammo...I have used one for years to salvage bad ammo...primer will not go off...I strike mine on a Hardwood Block !
Rich

lefty o · 03-07-2008, 11:08 AM

its safe, and throw the powder away. you do not know what powder was used, so it is unsafe to try and re-use it.

roadie · 03-07-2008, 11:15 AM

good point on the powder

samuel · 03-07-2008, 12:12 PM

A good man realised he gave bad advice and deleted his post,and,miracle of miracles I figured out how to delete mine with his help.Three cheers for BaserRolin. sam.

I forgot why I wanted to post on this.Sometimes an enertia puller doesnt work very well with light bullets so what I do is put the cartridge in the press and with no die in the press,run the cartridge up so I can clamp sidecuts on the bullet on top of the press and lower the ram to pull the bullet.If you are careful you can do it without destroying the bullet.There will be a little nick on each side of the bullet,really not even as bad as a bullet puller die makes.I have done it with 40gr VMAX and used the bullets with no difference in performance than new bullets. sam.

Ron AKA · 03-07-2008, 02:39 PM

"Also, once they are all apart, will I be able to re-use the primers so not to waste any of the components of these rounds?"

Yes I think you can. If you have to resize the cases then I am less sure about the safety of resizing with the live primer in. You could take the depriming pin out of the die, I supose. Can't comment on the safety of it. I have deprimed a live primer, but I don't think I would have the nerve to do it again.

In any case if the jamed cases are due to overpressure then you probably don't need to resize.

Ron

samuel · 03-07-2008, 03:31 PM

Are you using an auto-loader?If so,they should be either re-neck resized or crimped as the throat was stretched once to reload and the bullet probably wouldnt be held tight enough,also check the casing length.They should meisure not over 1.760" .Again,I advise everyone not to buy reloads from someone else.Wierd things happen.They could have worked good in the other person,s gun.Chambers and bores are different between guns. sam.

Jimbo Indy · 03-07-2008, 03:36 PM

I use a similier bullet puller all the time with live rounds. Usually when I find I have screwed up with the loading press. Pull the bullet, reclaim the materials (again, dump the powder unless you loaded it and know for sure what it is), recharge, seat bullet and crimp.

Primers are ignited from a sharp strike to the back of the primer. It is the deformation of the primer body that initiates the action. In the inertia puller, like you have, the primer is not struck and is shielded by the cap. You would have to use the tool upside down and hit it on a small rod to make the primer go off.

BaserRonin · 03-07-2008, 03:44 PM

Not sure how far you were planning on breaking these things down. I would, however, not try to de-prime and re-use the primers. It will most likely deform them, making them unreliable. If you pull the bullet and powder, you have pre-primed cases ready for a neck-sizer though. Similar to the primed brass winchester mails you, just with added work!

killer · 03-07-2008, 04:13 PM

I use the same bullet puller as in the you tube video and some of my 30 cal stuff takes about 12 wacks to drop the bullet. Wear ear plugs while wacking it gets quite irritating.

If anything its made me more careful in reloading and not making a mistake and have to use the darn thing.

But the price was right and it works.

jimkim · 03-07-2008, 04:57 PM

I like taking the press no die as mentioned above. put round in bring it to the top take an ordinary pair of pliers holding them straight down insert bullet gently squeeze and lower the round the curvature of the pliers will engage the hole and it will tighten itself and pull the bullet....... god that is confusing.....yes its safe

roadie · 03-07-2008, 06:16 PM

Thanks all or the advise, I will not pull the primers, just the bullet and powder. Then'll I'll resize and reload the right way.

03-07-2008, 10:50 AM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,632 Images: 2	It is perfectly safe to use that inertia puller with live ammo...I have used one for years to salvage bad ammo...primer will not go off...I strike mine on a Hardwood Block ! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-07-2008, 11:15 AM	#4
roadie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 625 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 1	good point on the powder __________________ Blaming guns for violent acts is like blaming the keyboard for your poor spelling.

03-07-2008, 12:12 PM	#5
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	A good man realised he gave bad advice and deleted his post,and,miracle of miracles I figured out how to delete mine with his help.Three cheers for BaserRolin. sam. I forgot why I wanted to post on this.Sometimes an enertia puller doesnt work very well with light bullets so what I do is put the cartridge in the press and with no die in the press,run the cartridge up so I can clamp sidecuts on the bullet on top of the press and lower the ram to pull the bullet.If you are careful you can do it without destroying the bullet.There will be a little nick on each side of the bullet,really not even as bad as a bullet puller die makes.I have done it with 40gr VMAX and used the bullets with no difference in performance than new bullets. sam. Last edited by samuel; 03-07-2008 at 03:17 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

03-07-2008, 03:44 PM	#9
BaserRonin Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In a Dark Cubicle Posts: 371	Not sure how far you were planning on breaking these things down. I would, however, not try to de-prime and re-use the primers. It will most likely deform them, making them unreliable. If you pull the bullet and powder, you have pre-primed cases ready for a neck-sizer though. Similar to the primed brass winchester mails you, just with added work! __________________ "It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favour of vegetarianism" ~ R. W. Inge

03-07-2008, 04:13 PM	#10
killer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the rat race Posts: 905 Images: 6	I use the same bullet puller as in the you tube video and some of my 30 cal stuff takes about 12 wacks to drop the bullet. Wear ear plugs while wacking it gets quite irritating. If anything its made me more careful in reloading and not making a mistake and have to use the darn thing. But the price was right and it works. __________________ "Yeee Hawww...I'm a cowboy on an iron horse." Killer's cabin: http://buckmountainchateau.com/

03-07-2008, 11:08 AM	#3
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,783	its safe, and throw the powder away. you do not know what powder was used, so it is unsafe to try and re-use it.

03-07-2008, 02:39 PM	#6
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	"Also, once they are all apart, will I be able to re-use the primers so not to waste any of the components of these rounds?" Yes I think you can. If you have to resize the cases then I am less sure about the safety of resizing with the live primer in. You could take the depriming pin out of the die, I supose. Can't comment on the safety of it. I have deprimed a live primer, but I don't think I would have the nerve to do it again. In any case if the jamed cases are due to overpressure then you probably don't need to resize. Ron

03-07-2008, 03:31 PM	#7
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Are you using an auto-loader?If so,they should be either re-neck resized or crimped as the throat was stretched once to reload and the bullet probably wouldnt be held tight enough,also check the casing length.They should meisure not over 1.760" .Again,I advise everyone not to buy reloads from someone else.Wierd things happen.They could have worked good in the other person,s gun.Chambers and bores are different between guns. sam.

03-07-2008, 03:36 PM	#8
Jimbo Indy Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 69	I use a similier bullet puller all the time with live rounds. Usually when I find I have screwed up with the loading press. Pull the bullet, reclaim the materials (again, dump the powder unless you loaded it and know for sure what it is), recharge, seat bullet and crimp. Primers are ignited from a sharp strike to the back of the primer. It is the deformation of the primer body that initiates the action. In the inertia puller, like you have, the primer is not struck and is shielded by the cap. You would have to use the tool upside down and hit it on a small rod to make the primer go off.

03-07-2008, 04:57 PM	#11
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,038 Blog Entries: 11	I like taking the press no die as mentioned above. put round in bring it to the top take an ordinary pair of pliers holding them straight down insert bullet gently squeeze and lower the round the curvature of the pliers will engage the hole and it will tighten itself and pull the bullet....... god that is confusing.....yes its safe

03-07-2008, 06:16 PM	#12
roadie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 625 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 1	Thanks all or the advise, I will not pull the primers, just the bullet and powder. Then'll I'll resize and reload the right way. __________________ Blaming guns for violent acts is like blaming the keyboard for your poor spelling.