Bullet-puller issue

[ditchparrot]

You mentioned revolver so Im assuming your reloading pistol cases. Are you making sure your resizing die is screwed all the way down and touching the face of the shell holder. I run mine slightly past touching the face so you get a caming action with your press handle. Also I have found it much easier to use Carbide Sizing dies when doing pistol cases. That eliminates the need for any kind of lube. Lubing cases just adds more work in my opinion as the lube needs to be removed.

Good points, Al -- thanks!

[rickhem]

I don't see a reference as to which cartridge you are loading, but for some, there are different size bullets that are intended for different firearms. The 45 Colt is the easiest reference here. If you set up your dies and resized some typical brass for a 45 Colt, flared the case mouth a bit, and then loaded bullets that were .454" diameter, you'd get them to seat. but it would expand the brass a bit in the process. Then, if you used an inertial puller (hammer type) it would leave that brass still slightly expanded from the larger diameter bullet.
I'd think that it would be a good practice to full length resize any case that you pull bullets from. You can take the decapping pin out and just leave that primer in place, but since the brass has been expanded slightly while seating a bullet, resizing gets everything back to the same starting point.

The .44 and the .357 cartridges also have larger diameter bullets, but it's less common with those.

[Pitchman1968]

I always f/l resize the case after using a hammer type bullet puller. I have been under the impression that is a required step after pulling a bullet.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I never had that problem using the hammer style puller. I never really liked it so I switched to a collet type puller for using in my loading press. I was then very happy to give the hammer type away. The collet type is the best in my opinion. Mine is a Forster-Appelt die type for use in standard 7/8X14 thread loading press. I have collets for all the calibers I shoot. Not sure if Forster is still in business but I believe RCBS makes a collet type puller.

I’m in the same boat as bandit other than I use the RCBS collet puller. Works great and does not deform the lead tip on the pulled bullet like the hammer style can. Forster is still in business but I believe they were bought out by Lyman (maybe?). But to the original question when using my hammer puller I never had an issue with a case bulge.

If you put a piece of foam in the hammer pulller nose it will never deform a bullet.

[rickhem]

If you put a piece of foam in the hammer pulller nose it will never deform a bullet.

I use a foam ear plug. Sometimes the powder will adhere to the ear plug, but not enough to worry about.
Works well, and is almost the perfect size for the ID of the kinetic puller.