For those that have never used the inertia hammer method, don’t be dissuaded from using it. I have removed likely a thousand bullets over the last 10 years only using the hamner and never had an O ring break. They work just fine for a fraction the cost of a press mounted bullet puller. Great idea using the shell holder.
I've worn out the insert on an RCBS hammer, but never broke an O ring. I am going to try this method for sure. It will be easier to take the brass off and put it in.
To slow ,, 4 x4 ,, half turn to loosen, bowl on the other side, tap the Shank of the hammer on the 4x4 dumping the brass,powder and bullet insert next round . Press a foum earplugs in the bottom to protect soft point bullets .
@@dhuze66. The old ones had a coiled spring and they sucked. I finally mangled the thing and dreamed up the O ring on my own. I had a HF box out in the shop and grabbed the closest size I could find and it worked far better than the spring. SOOOOO much easier getting those jaws back in place without them flying into a dark corner as well👌🏻
That’s a fifty cent o ring at your nearby hardware store. Quick and cheap repair. Swing the puller like a tack hammer, all in the wrist not the elbow. That will give you the speed to pull the bullet easiest.
Mac, (In my experience) whacking the bullet puller on a steel or concrete surface will crack the plastic body of the puller. I set up a chunk of 4x4 in a vice and hit the end of the bullet puller on it, this allows a little "give" and lessens the shock to the puller. it my take a couple of more hits, but it is easier on the tool. It's your puller, I'm just saying what works for me. - Dave
Further to that I glue a small amount of thin high density foam into the end that catches the projectile, saves deformed ballistic tips. Good tip on the shell holder though!
I’ve beaten my inertia bullet puller very hard on the concrete floor many times and haven’t broken it yet. I retired it some years ago in favour of an rcbs collet puller but it saw a lot of use until then.
I just tried it on a 38 wadcutter that had flown out of the inertia bullet puller a couple of months ago when I having to pull about 350 improperly sized cartridges, until I realized that I could resize them if I removed the deprimer on my press. Definitely a good hack to keep in mind and thank you for making the video.
The inert hammer pullers work very well, I have the same style shown here and the all plastic RCBS model (my go to). I've been using the same o-ring on the RCBS puller for several decades. Eventually it will fail, so keep a backup or two. Tip: never use the hammer puller on a steel or concrete anvil/surface, use wood. The hammer will destruct as the dynamics of transferred shock are very different. Use a block of wood, a section of small log. I use around of apple, covered with a piece of 1/4" high density foam. You're looking for inertia, not a sudden impact energy transfer. Then hit the block with some authority, not little baby taps. I've pulled far more than I wanted to pull, only having failures when I foolishly used a concrete surface. Yep, the shell holder is a great tip.
@@DB-be9wy that's not what I'm saying exactly. You have to strike it to a hard surface,but doing it with a quick whipping motion with your wrist aids in the process.
Great work around. I have bought O rings to replace the originals. I tend to whack mine on a piece of firewood. My other trick is stuffing a cotton ball down in the bottom to cushion the bullet. A little powder hangs up in it, but never been an issue.
That’s a great idea! Something else to try is to put the 3 part she’ll holder in the puller. Then leave it loose, push the cartridge in from the back till it’s seated. After that tighten and pull the bullet. I have used this with the Midway version of that puller for almost 30 years and have never broken one of the o-rings. I hope you find this helpful.
Cool idea but I prefer to use the various sized three piece collets that come with the inertia puller becasue they almost fully support the rim leaving little chance of deforming it.
I have been reloading for 45 years and 40 of that I have pulled thousands of bullets with the same RCBS inertia hammer. The O-ring has never been replaced. I do however put a little bullet lube on it before and after use. I have been pulling the primer punch for 40 years also to resize a primed case. You don't want to be punching out live primers! It is time consuming to dry fire them plus they cost money. The entire reason for reloading is to save money.
I hadn't thought of that. I have used the same inertia bullet puller for over thirty years and the O Ring has yet to give out on me. I know, the day will come. Now I have a fall back. Thank You for letting me know.
Brilliant! The collets that come with the hammer style pullers are usually aluminum or plastic and wear out quickly. Wish I’d seen this trick years ago. Thanks
@dallasddunn- I’ve been reloading 55 plus years and have had to use the hammer on a number of rounds, even a few over charged rounds that needed pulled, and have never, ever worn out the aluminum colets, and have only broken one o-ring, how in the hell do you wear them out ??
@@brucebangeman8627 I’ve been reloading since the 1970’s and have had only a few of the o-rings break as well. Pulling factory crimped bullets from rifle cartridges, especially ones with rebated rims, for example: 300 RSAUM, etc. have worn out the aluminum collets that came with my RCBS hammer puller. The plastic collets that came with a Frankford Arsenal hammer puller wore out quickly even with lighter pistol cartridges. I do love being able to save the components with only rarely damaging the bullets.
Good idea using a shell holder. I use a wood 4"x4" about a foot long standing on end to hit the inertia puller on, it gives a little cushion to the puller.
The shell holder adds some mass and some additional forces on the plastic hammer, which might be okay but remember too the little rubber ring is just a regular o-ring you could get at any hardware store.
After decades of use, the impact hammer broke the little rubber ring that contains the three pieces. I had purchased new rubber rings just in case, a few years ago. YES, they are a PITA to re-assy.
I hold the hammer sorta loose so it can rebound freely. I usually hit something dense and relatively soft, like a phonebook or a couple of magazines. I'd just replace the oring because it's simple, but it's cool that a shell holder fits.
Neat idea in a pinch but ive been using my RCBS bullet hammer for 20 yrs and only had the metal O ring break once. Shell holder is nice in a pinch but much slower since you only loosen the top nut to slide the case in or out not take it out each time,
I stick with the O ring and what it came with , if you have a O ring break you can get a new one at the hard wear store. Of auto parts store. I very seldom have a o ring break , I have 2 hammer pullers and for different sizes one did not come with collars to pull different sizes. I also use it to adjust some bullets that seat past they need to be , I use the end of 2x4 to hammer on . Save on the hammer. I use them for many years and it works for me. I did read some done it with the shell hold and had very bad problems .
I have both a bullet 4:47 4:47 puller hammer and the RCBS bullet puller die. When using the appropriate shell holder, I also place a a piece of tape covering the expose end of the hammer. This prevents powder from flying out of the inside of the hammer cavity.
I saw that video too. It is a great idea! Both Lyman and RCBS will send you replacement pieces for them for free but this is just a much better solution. Take care
I used to do this until I ran into a huge safety issue. If you have reloaded your brass enough to loosen the primer pockets and attempt to pull a bullet with the shell holder, the primers can also back out and strike the shell holder and ignite. I have personally had this happen and also I have read about this happening to others that have used the tool incorrectly like this.
@@dhuze66 That is what worried me , I was lucky and each time it done it, the bullet had popped out, but always worried what would happen if it done it on many of the hits before the bullet came out with the complete loaded cartridge
I had to pull a couple thousand a while back. I found the best thing to beat on was a nice 2-4’ long piece of scrap 2 x 4. Steel is too hard and I can’t see any appreciable difference in effectiveness. Works like a charm
Here is a method I use for rifle rounds and some of the longer pistol rounds. I take the die out of the press, put in the appropriate holder and lower the handle. Grab the bullet with some side cutters across the whole opening and pull the round when I raise the handle. This does ruin the bullet so if you want to reuse it don't bother with this.
You aren't actually disassembling the hammer and trying to stick the bullet into the collet out of the hammer are you? That is where most people complaining about those are going wrong. Loosen the lid and stick the bullet through. Don't remove the aluminum collet from the hammer.
That will work, but it does not hold the case as tightly therefore it does not work nearly as good as the provided collets. Don't ask me how I know (been there, done that). Yet again in an emergency it will work better than nothing.
When you hit the subscribe button to a channel it’ll turn into a little bell and when you click on that it’ll give you four options for you to pick which one you want hopefully this helps. Thank you.
i love screaming this. YOU ARE DOING IT ALL WRONG. one tip, only loosen the top of the puller, push the bullet through the 3 piece collar. once the bullet is out remove the case with the collets, dump the powder then slide the case out before replacing it in the puller ready for another bullet. two tip, use the end of a 4x4 to hammer the puller. i get mine out with one or two whacks. i have broken a puller with the vise. if its green RCBS will replace it. i use these pullers because they dont mark the bullets. i have been reloading since i was around 18. i am 69 now. check my vids. i never wanted anyone to see my reloading table so i havent made vids on that but i do have a machine gun that will shoot lots of calibers and i load for it. that is a great idea using the bullet seat.
it supposed to be great..... a lot great reviews. kind of like a hammer style but it mounts on the wall.... should check it Macman.... I think you would like it..@@macman039reloading5
You are probably right, but I have been doing this for a while now,with no issues it’s like every thing in reloading we try and be as careful as we can,thanks for watching hope you enjoy my other content
Bud, where are you from? You sound like you’re from a country that would charge you with a felony for even touching an EMPTY brass case….. I’m not trying to give you sht or anything, I’m honestly really just curious. Either way thanks for the video 👍👌
