Author Topic: Bullet Puller - Collet or Kinetic (Read 1948 times)

Jack Crevalle · « **on:** March 14, 2003, 10:02:23 AM »

Being a newbie and still getting my equipment together, I was originally going to buy a kinetic bullet puller. It looks like from my reading however that the kinetic has all the disadvantages. The one that wasn't mentioned about the collet is that I assume that it will deform the bullet whereas the kinetic might not.

Am I correct?

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2003, 10:08:09 AM »

If used properly, the collet puller will not defor the bullet anymore than when you seated it (and/or crimped it).

The collet is a lot quieter, and easier on the hand and forearm...

Ka6otm · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2003, 10:24:05 AM »

And....the collet won't pull tightly crimped Keith style cast bullets for beans.

Ka6otm

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2003, 10:40:49 AM »

The kinetic puller won't pull crimped handgun bullets either. In fact, it doesn't seem to pull much of anything well, except for jacketed rifle bullets. Even that's enough of a hassle that I generally don't bother pulling them.

savageT · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2003, 11:44:40 AM »

Quote from: Jack Crevalle

Being a newbie and still getting my equipment together, I was originally going to buy a kinetic bullet puller. It looks like from my reading however that the kinetic has all the disadvantages. The one that wasn't mentioned about the collet is that I assume that it will deform the bullet whereas the kinetic might not.

Am I correct?

Jack,

I purchased Cabela's Brand name kinetic puller and found for my jacketed bottle-neck loads to work well. Only time I had a problem was when I didn't empty the bullet and powder from a previous pull. Wasn't any bigie, just jambed the 2 bullets into the soft rubber stopper in the bottom. I would recommend it.

Jim

Bullseye · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2003, 05:34:47 PM »

I have never had any luck using a kinetic puller with any crimped handgun catridge. If pulling anything other than semi wadcutters, the collet will generally not damage the bullet.

Ka6otm · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2003, 04:20:08 AM »

Well, I hate to disagree with the critics of the kinetic puller, but I pulled 41 .44 Mags 3 days ago...these with 429421 Keith bullets and a heavy crimp.

Only took about 15 minutes. The puller was the Midway model and I didn't use their collets either. I used an RCBS shellholder instead as it works much faster and better.

By the way, I have the RCBS collet puller also and it wouldn't work with these bullets.

Ka6otm

The Shrink · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2003, 04:20:52 AM »

Jack

The basic difference is leverage. The collet bullet puller has all the leverage you can apply with your press. It will pull almost anything that the collet can close on. The kenetic puller relies on the inertia of the bullet when the case stops suddenly, like when you slam the bullet puller onto something very hard - carpet won't work, I usually use the brick in front of my fireplace. Concrete garage floors work well, too. A crimped bullet, especially a crimped lead bullet, is simply in there more tightly than inertia can overcome. Think about it - thatls why you crimped the thing in the first place! You didn't want it to start moving from the recoil of previous shots.

Robert357 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2003, 05:55:01 PM »

Ill add my 2 cents for the kinetic bullet puller. I have used mine for tightly crimped 357 Lead SWC bullets and jacketed bullets, 30-30 highly crimped Jacketed bullets, 30-06 jacketed bullets, 7.62x39 jacketed bullets, 32 ACP jacketed bullets, and 9mm jacketed bullets.

I do have to say that it takes a solid surface (like a wood workbench) and a real sharp and quick swing to loosen a really tight crimp, followed by a couple of more sharp hits, depending on the caliber.

Dand · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2003, 09:41:08 AM »

A kinetic will work fine but you must use a solid surface - concrete - a wood bench might be ok if its REAL solid but you'll likely dent it up.

But a kinetic is no fun if you have to do a lot of pulling. That's when the collet is nice, and a lot neater.

hubbard · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2003, 09:50:00 AM »

i've got a piece of hickory wood close by that i use to beat on when i remove bullets kinetically. mainly lead or jacketed pistol bullets. the collet type is ok for rifle loads.

Roy Cobb · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:45:03 AM »

Quote from: Questor

The kinetic puller won't pull crimped handgun bullets either. In fact, it doesn't seem to pull much of anything well, except for jacketed rifle bullets. Even that's enough of a hassle that I generally don't bother pulling them.

I presume that by kinetic y'all mean the hammer type?
I pull tightly crimped handgun bullets with it all the time the only thing I haven't been able to pull is a 223 or smaller bullet that is crimped in,
Maybe I am doing something wrong.

jhm · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:12:46 AM »

Roy Cobb: The reason you are having a little more trouble with the 223 is the kenetic hammer works on energy and the light weight bullet dont have quite enough energy at that speed you are swinging the hammer just increase the speed, the heavier the bullet the less speed you you would need.

JIM

GKing · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:36:37 AM »

Here's a biased unscientific reply -----

I have both. I never use the Kinetic puller. It's just uncomfortable to me to hit that puller on a block with a live round in it. The collet puller is smooth and quiet -- I love it!

I know, I know ........

boneguru · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2003, 07:44:10 AM »

also vote for kinetic, just remember no volatile heads. incendiery etc. the collet has a tendancy to mar and scratch components, I use an end grain block of 6x6. good hard whack or two and done. Raymond

rimfire · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2003, 07:16:09 AM »

Anyone recommend a specific collet puller for my Rockchucker press? Many different options and prices.

Graybeard · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2003, 05:08:31 PM »

Take a look at the Hornady Collet Puller. Love it. Won't ever use anything else again. The kinetic pullers will damage the bullet nose pretty badly unless you pad the inside of the puller well. Even then your powder is all mixed in with the bullet and whatever you pad it with. Real pain. Want real trouble? Pull a lubed cast bullet. Whoa what a mess. Never again.

The Hornady has a unique camming action using a handle. Ya just drop in the appropriate collect, screw on the cap with the cam action handle and raise the bullet into it. Pull down on the cam handle and you get all the holding power ya need. I've never yet damaged a bullet with it. I sold a couple of TC barrels that I had hundreds of rounds loaded for. I pulled maybe 500 bullets using the Hornady in maybe 5% of the time it would have taken me to do it with the kinetic puller I've owned for many years.

Another plus of the Hornady is one collect will work beautifully for the next larger and smaller size calibers than it is marked for. Oh yeah that's the voice of experience speaking.

Try it and you'll love it. There is a review of it on my Product Test Page at:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/product_test/review-20.shtml

It is called the Hornady Cam Lock Bullet Puller. I use and recommend it highly.

GB

rickyp · « **Reply #17 on:** May 15, 2003, 04:02:15 PM »

I have the rcbs kinetic and the RCBS collet pullet
The kinetic has worked well for almost every round that I have tried until I got to the 17 Remington did not work at all. DO NOT TRY TO PULL RIMFIRE ROUNDS with a kinetic puller. The RCBS collet puller did well with FMJ bullets but when I tried and pull cast bullets (30 cal is the only collet I have) I could not get a good grim and the bullet would just slip out of the collet.no matter how hard I would crank it down.

Graybeard how well does the hornady collet puller work on cast bullets

BTW I would like to trade the RCBS 30 cal collet for another caliber in.17, 355,375, 45

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #18 on:** May 17, 2003, 04:38:24 PM »

:grin: Count another vote for the collet, the kinetic puller kind of falls in the same class as the Lee products (OOOOPs that should start a back fire in some quarters). What I mean is, the idea behind a kinetic puller may be good, but the ones I have tried rapidly!!! began to show wear. In this case, damage in the area of the shell holder. They did pull the bullet if I hit hard enough on a SOLID surface, but shell holder area wear made me question how long they would last without replacement parts.

Passed up the chance for a collet puller with a good selection of collets at a gun show, dumb choice as the collet puller works great. The Hornady unit with the cam lock should be a good choice if and when I buy my own. Guess the fact that I haven't shows just how often a puller gets used around these parts. :wink:

Thomas Krupinski · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2003, 05:58:08 PM »

I use both types, have a couple of the Midway kenetic and a couple of the RCBS collet pullers. Each has special advantages and disadvantages depending upon the task.

If you are into handloading for any substantial length of time both types probably will eventually end up as your tools.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** May 17, 2003, 09:08:47 PM »

rickyp, I've pulled a bunch of cast bullets from some .30-30 AI after I sold the barrel and the Hornady Collet pulled them just fine. No trouble at all.

I also have an RCBS Collet puller as well as the RCBS kinetic puller which I've had over 20 years, how much over I'm not sure. I never use the RCBS Collet as the Hornady is just do much quicker and easier to use. I gave up on the three little wedges of aluminum and the wire to hold them for the RCBS kinetic puller long ago. Now I use the Lee shell holders for the Lee Auto Prime. I have them for every caliber I load as that is the ONLY way I prime cases so I always have the correct shell holder. It makes the kinetic easier to use. If I only have one or two to pull I might use it rather than set up the collet. But if more than a couple I use the collet. I alway hit my kinetic on a concrete floor.

GB

longwinters · « **Reply #21 on:** May 22, 2003, 06:07:20 PM »

I just took Graybeard's advice and bought the collet puller from Hornady. Talk about slick! Easy to use, no mess to sort thru and no loss of reloading materials. For sure one of the better reloading tools on the market. I give it 5 stars ***** :grin:

eroyd · « **Reply #22 on:** May 23, 2003, 03:21:38 PM »

Find the RCBS one to be a bit of a pain to use. Heaving up on that press handles hard work on tight seated bullets. The collets you need for each caliber are expensive. That unit sure get's tight in the press.

I will definitely investigate the Hornady one.

I use the inertia hammer one for the occasional pull.

Recently I pulled a bunch of cast bullets and many of the gas-checks got left behind in the case neck. How do I get them out? Shoot them?