Don't make this mistake.

[tvc15]

I reloaded some .270 bullets. I wasn't really happy with the bullet/powder combo so I thought it best to pull the bullets. My mistake was buying the rcbs hammer type puller. What a PIA. should have spent the extra mone and bought the die and collett type.  Live and learn.  TVC15

[quickdtoo]

I have both, they each have the uses, and I've used both more than I'd like to admit!!! :oops:

Tim

[jerkface11]

The hammer type is OK. If you don't have to pull more than one or two. And the crimp isn't heavy. I think of it as an incentive to be careful.

[Questor]

tvc15, an obvious David Bowie fan:

I have one just like it. It sucks. I don't use it.

[Reed1911]

Both have their uses, if you have a wide array of calibers that you need to disassemble the hammer type is very economical, if you only have 1 or 2 calibers and or a high number of rounds to disassemble, the collet type is better. Both are pretty slow going.

[rickyp]

I have both and tend to use the hammer type more as normally I only have to pull a few bullets. Most of the time it is unfired "range rounds"  for the bullet or brass. I have found it works better if i use a normal shell holder in place of the rubber band one they send with it.

I find the collet pullers do not work as well with cast bullets.

[wncchester]

A collet puller won't work on almost any pistol cartridge but the impact type will.  So, as mentioned above, each type has its uses and many of us have both.

[Bullseye]

I have both and they each have their place.  I recently sold my Marlin
45-70 and the loads were too hot for my contender.  I pulled 190 of them one night while watching some TV with the inertia puller.  Worked very well for me, most took 2 hits on a piece of oak with a few taking 3.  I did use a shell holder instead of that collet that comes with it (somone on here told about that a while back...thanks to whoever).

[skb2706]

I made a little thing to put in the top of my press to protect it then I use a pair of pliers and a small piece of belting. Doesn't leave marks like the collet type and it doesn't 'self destruct' like the hammer type. Luckily I have only had to use it a very few numbers of times.

[Dusty Miller]

I've used my hammer type more than I'd like to discuss here :oops: and it has always worked as advertised. I smack mine right on the concrete garage floor.

[Muskie Hunter]

I have both.I find the hammer type better now that I have a 20 pound anvil to smack it on.Wood just wasn't cutting it.I had trouble with the collet type and my cast bullets and the collets are hard to find.You can buy the puller but look for the parts,different story when you need them.

[Coyote Hunter]

I also have both.  

The hammer type works well when smacked on concrete and I tend to use it when I have only a couple of bullets or don't have a collet for the cartridge in question.  I also use it a lot when building dummy cartridges and seat the bullet a little too deeply - a light tap with the hammer moves it back out so I can try again.

The collet puller gets the nod when I have more than a few to pull.  The powder stays in the case, making it a neater operation, no need to separate the powder and bullets as with the hammer type.

The one that gets used the most frequently is the hammer, the one that pulls the most bullets is the collet,

[roper]

If you don't put alot of tension on seating bullets the Plier style bullet pullers from Sinclair or Hart work pretty good.

[Jim n Iowa]

Using a shell holder with a hammer style bullet remover, thanks it never occured to me.
Jim

[Don Fischer]

I have both and the hammer type is my hands down favorite. The collet type will ruin the bullets everytime, doesn't always get a good hold and needs to be to tight.

The hammer type will screw up the tips, even poly carb tips, but it can be avoided with practice. Pound on concrete and do it sideways. Do it straight down and the tip is ruined! I can watch thru the collection chamber and see when I need to take a lighter blow. Haven't tried it yet but, I'm gonna wrap some cotton in a soft cloth and put it in the bottom of the collection cavity to protect the tips. Think it might work.

[PaulS]

If you put a wad of medium density foam in the nose of the bullet puller the bullets come out in good shape and the tips are intact.
With the collet style pullers you can take a bit of 80 grit emery paper or cloth and roll it in the collet so that it leaves radial marks they grab the bullet better and do it without ruining the coefficient of the bullet too much. You don't have to have it tight enough to leave the marks from the splits in the collet.

[Robert357]

I have and use a hammer bullet puller.

When I took an NRA reloading course the instructor told us we were human and humans make mistakes.  We should get a bullet puller as a basic part of our reloading kit.  He stressed that it is very important to pull your mistakes rather than try to shoot them.

He also gave us some advice.  Never load more cartridges in a single batch before trying them at the range, than you are willing to pull.

For rifles I load at most 50 cartridges at a time and then go to the range and shoot say 10 to 20.  For handguns, I may load 50 to 250.  I have had to pull about 50 handgun rounds once, when a powder manufacturer posted the wrong information on its website.  Always work up your loads, always!

Most often I will have a problem with crimps or something that I decide I want to pull the bullet, resize/deprim the case, reprime the case, bell the mouth, load powder, then re-seat the bullet and crimp it.

A friend of mine was given about 200 rounds of handloads that were way too hot and resulted in hard extraction form his revolver.  He borrowed my hammer and spent  a day salvaging bullets and brass.  I reloaded all of his brass with loads I had worked up for him.

The hammer bullet pullers work