Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Pulling bullets to reload

Got like 20 rounds of 243 Hornady Inrerlock bullets loaded up and can you safely pull these rounds to reload with a different powder? Been laying around for a while and want to reload them with RL 26….yes or no?

Don't see why not, but what's wrong with them at the moment?

A absotively. If they’ve been sitting a couple years or so you might want to bump the bullets down a few thousandths to break any bonding loose. Makes them a lot easier to pull especially with an impact hammer.

That’s a great idea, never thought of that. I was given 80 rounds of 270 Weatherby a while back. I bet that would have made it much easier.

Yup. Option B when you have a bunch to do is Grip-N-Pull

Yup. Option B when you have a bunch to do is Grip-N-Pull[/quote]

Does the Grip N Pull mar bullets, making them less than perfect to reload? I've read yes and no. Wondering what the general consensus is on The Forum

Having used a impact puller for years I can tell you from experience that a collet puller is definately the way to go. I have an RCBS and it leaves the bullets unmarred.

Impact puller also lea es bullets unharmed

I have three types of bullet pullers. The impact hammer works on some well. On some it doesn't. I have some pulled bullets where the lead has slipped out of the jacket, or part way. The types that grab the bullets will often (some hardly noticeable) leave a crimp in the bullet jacket. I'm not sure that does any damage and I'm not sure about accuracy after doing this. Some seem to be affected and some not so much in my opinion.
If I were to buy on set up, it would be the type that grabs the bullet, beware that you'll have to buy a collet for every caliber you pull. The one caliber I've had zero luck with it 17. The type that grabs the bullet really puts a big dent in the bullet and the impact hammer just has not worked at all. In that case, I think a pliers will work as well as anything - just poke the loaded shall above the hole in the press where the dies go, grab the bullet with a pliers and lower the ram.

Little green plastic hammer too weak... Ask me how I know this. I like the collet much better..

I have used a Hornady bullet puller. It’s a collet type. The bullets are in good condition afterwards and I have used them again. The worst part about pulling bullets is that the powder in the casing is kind of tight or stuck in uneven places and difficult to get complete out. Don’t expect to salvage much powder and it’s almost worth another cleaning which means bye bye to the primer. You can try a rotating brush in a case prep center and that kind of works. Messy, but works.

I've used the hammer and collet type of pullers with reasonable success. Regardless of which type you use there will most likely scratches along the length of the bearing surface. As fas as I can tell, they haven't affected accuracy in any way. What will affect accuracy is if you somehow damage the base of the bullet. I've used pulled bullets on hunts and they worked just fine. It seems that the scratches didn't hurt anything other than the deer.
Paul B.

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Make sure you check carefully that none of the old powder is left in the case. Compressed loads can sometimes cake up some.

I wanna know where BSA got the red banded bullets and colored primers?

8mm mauser steel core . When I was done that day, I had almost 2 pound of powder!! Good for dumping down ground squirrel holes I guess?? ha ha..

I’ve had good success with the gripnpull mentioned above. Minimal marring, particularly after you’ve used it a little bit.

I agree...this is the way to go 👍.....Hb