Looking to buy a bullet puller, (suggestions)

inertia is the cheapest. The RCBS collet puller works good and I'm sure others do as well.

The cheapest you probably already own. Your reloading press with the die removed. Put the cartridge in the shell holder, raise the ram so the bullet protrudes above the press, lightly grasp the bullet with a side cutter and lower the ram, remove the bullet from the case.

I am always thankful whenever I use my Hornady cam-lok.
Silent, no mess, and indoors.

I never liked using the inertia puller but now absolutely loathe the thing.

I use the RCBS collet puller for rifle cartridges. I use the inertia puller for pistol bullets. I typically reuse the rifle bullets for the range. The collet puller does very little damage to the bullet as long as they are not crimped in.

kwg

I have been using a Forster collet puller since the nineties and it hasn't missed a beat.

Depending on your neck tension & how deep the bullet is seated, I prefer these:

https://www.creedmoorsports.com/product/davidson-bullet-puller/gunsmithing-tools

I've had the RCBS inertia bullet puller for several decades, which has the rough shape of a hammer. Of course it's been in storage for 25 years. That said, I retrieved it and used it to pull out fifty rounds of .45 Colt just a few weeks ago (because I had seated all of them too deep to crimp into the cannelure), and it worked like a champ.

You just unscrew the cap, put the cartridge into the universal shell holder, screw the cap back on with the cartridge installed, and hammer onto a piece of wood till the bullet comes out. It only takes a couple of firm whacks.

this

That unit is for rifle bullets only.

Those are not universal. You need to have several of them, depending on caliber.

You can use your press and grab the bullet with pliers, channel locks, etc but the bullet is ruined. The only safe way is with the inertia puller to save the bullet for reuse.

Use a chainsaw sharpening burr in a Dremel tool to grind the jaws of a pair of pliers or vise grips to bullet-specific diameter divots. A couple of different bullet sizes can be formed on each pair of pliers. No bullet damage that way, and they're faster than setting up any kind of dedicated puller.

I use the inertia hammer type, a couple hits and its out, after you use it for awhile you will try harder to not have to pull bullets, but it works.
Frankfurd arsenal.

Lose the hammer pullers and get a collet puller. Very quick easy and no mess.

This. Rcbs hammer style. Fast, cheap and easy

RCBS collet puller; I keep most of mine set up in 4 hole Lee plates along with trim dies. The only bullet I use hammer style pullers on is 45/70.

Grip-N-Pull. I have used all of those mentioned above (except the Forster) and way prefer the Grip-N-Pull, best bullet puller I've tried, though pliers and press without a die is good. Quick, easy, doesn't damage the bullet so you can load it again.

I still use a hammer type puller once in a while but a collet type is faster, easier and works on lightweight bullets that don't pop out with a hammer type puller.

Get a collet for each of the calibers you are loading for.

I've used the hammer, RCBS collet and the Hornady collet puller.

The hammer sucked and broke. The Hornady is a good bit better than the RCBS collet puller. The Hornady very seldom leaves a mark on the bullet in question.

Definitely this.

I have an RCBS inertia puller and a Hornady cam lock collet tool. I use them both but if I only have a couple to pull, I use the inertia puller but I use the collet if I have a larger number of loads.

Seems like a heck of a lot of trouble and expense vs the hammer-style inertia pullers. Plus, it damages the bullets.

Again.

+1 on the RCBS Collet Puller, I ditched the hammer puller long ago !

I use an inertia puller but use a method that Mule Deer wrote up once. Take the universal shell holder in the puller, throw it away, and instead use the regular shell holder that I use on the press. Much faster and a lot less frustrating.

Grip in pull for rifles works pretty good.

RCBS collet, easy easy

I just tried that, and it really seems like my RCBS hammer style bullet puller was actually made for that. They fit in perfectly, as if by design (must have been). I will be doing it that way from now on, although I must say that I've never had any trouble using the universal shell holder that comes with it. That seems to work fine, too, as long at the cap is screwed on tight.

I put an ear plug in mine so it doesn't damage the bullet tip.

The RCBS hammer style comes with foam rubber in there to protect the bullet tip.

I use a Hornady cam-loc puller. If needed I use my inertia pullet to start the bullets out.

If I didn't have the bullet pullers that I own, I would think about Davidson Bullet Pullers or something like them.

I've used inertia and collet type and prefer the inertia. The collet type I have damages the bullets more than I like. I just broke my second RCBS inertia puller so bought a Frankford Arsenal. It's too small for SAUM cases so had to exchange it for another RCBS. It looks like I'm getting about 20 years out of the RCBS units before the plastic fatigues and breaks. I can live with that - this new one should be my last one unless I'm still doing this into my 80's

I have seen those Grip-n-Pull advertised but haven't heard any comments until Okanagan's post. Might go that route.

I had the primer detonate in an inertia puller but not set off the powder.....WTH?

Collet pullers work but if you're damaging bullets you are tightening too much. I guess it depends on how tight the bullet is seated in the case. Tight seated bullets are hard to dislodge with an inertia puller as well.

That's what I use.

If the bullet starts tapering to the tip close to the case mouth it doesn't work too well. I've had to squeeze the handles with channel-lock pliers to get them to grip.

grip n pull but I dipped the handles in Plasti dip a couple times. Much more comfortable to use.

Damn! How is that even possible? Nothing contacts the primer.

Hornady is about the easiest once set up. Grip n Pull when just pulling a few.

Phil

Rcbs collet puller, the best hands down and all other should be thrown away.

Remember those flaring tools we used to use for flaring copper tubing? I have one of them that has various size holes to hold different size tubing. It clamps tightly with a couple of thumb screws. I place a bullet in the press, raise it up through the hole in the press where the die would go, clamp onto a bullet using a hole of about the right size, lower the press handle and the bullet remains firmly clamped in the flaring tool. Works like a charm and didn't cost me a dime. No mess to clean up either.

Seems like that ruins the bullets though.

I’m secure enough in my own manhood to admit the grip-in-pull requires more strength than I care to use if pulling more than a couple.

There are easier options.

I've got a Frankfort Arsenal hammer type that works great. But, don't use the included collets, use shell holders for the cartridge you are pulling. Works a whole lot better.

Before you pull a bullet that's been in place a couple years seat it about 50 thousands deeper or until it pops

It'll pull way easier after you pop it

Remember, occasionally the best way to remove a bullet is to first seat it about 1/8th of an inch deeper. This will break it loose
Then use the RCBS collet puller.

I just use my teeth

RCBS collet puller

Agree, haven't gone through others' recommendations, but this is where I landed, after trying the impact style.

I use/have used hammer types and RCBS collet types. I much prefer the collet, especially if doing more than a few. I’m not sure how you damage bullets with a collet type if you have the right size collet and use it correctly.

+1 for grip n pull. Inertia sucks!

If you use an inertia puller, a couple of cotton balls stuffed down it helps keep the bullets from bouncing back and deforming.

I have never had a single problem with the Hornady bullet puller, even when pulling lead pistol bullets.

Waiting for tips from the grip-in-pull crowd on how to save the bullets, LOL……

I think so little of mine I’d almost give it away.

Give it to me

Then we’d both be disapointed.

I started out with a Frankford Arsenal inertial bullet pullers.

About a decade ago, I added a Hornady collet puller.

I keep the old one around for those occasional times where I seat a bullet too deep when I'm adjusting the die. A few taps in the bullet puller gets it far enough out that I can reseat the bullet after I get the adjustment correct.

Yep, I have used it for that, too. Just a couple of light taps to pull it out to where you can see the cannelure again.

I've had a lot of practice with disappointment

The current RCBS and Frankford Arsenal units both have foam in them to prevent bullet tip damage.

I’ve been pulling them like someone described above. Shell holder, no die, channel locks with a shop rag around the bullet. If you do it right no marks on the bullet and reuse. Will shoot just fine. Even if you put a slight mark on it will shoot just as good as never been loaded. Been doing it this way for many years. I’ve tried different pullers, my way works the best for me.

Best depends on the round being pulled.
A inertia puller works good with light crimp and not so great for a heavy crimp.