Hickok
06-06-2019, 08:45 PM
Trying to pull bullets from Russian 5.45x39 cartridges to make up some "Mexican Match" ammo, as I have a Lee .221"sizer and am sizing down .224" bullets to use place of the FMJ steel jacketed bullets.
My problem is I can't pull the bullets without a lot of damage. I seated the bullets deeper to break the bond/seal between case and bullet, and then used a Kinetic bullet puller to try and hammer the bullets out,....no joy, no go. I hammered on a piece of hard wood, then tried a piece of steel on concrete, bang, bang, bang, still no bullet movement.
A pair of side-cutters (or vice-grips)used on top of my RCBS press will pull the bullets, but they get pretty cobbled-up. I never had any type of cartridge/bullet combination that was so hard to pull bullets. Even with the side cutters, you have to really put a lot of grip and pressure on the press and bullet to get them to come out.
Just wondering if the RCBS collet-type bullet puller would work with the .224 collet? These 5.45 bullets have a long tapering ogive, and look like they would be difficult to get a "bite" on with collet.
Anyone have any experience or ideas. I really would like to save the pulled bullets and have them in fairly good condition after pulling.
My problem is I can't pull the bullets without a lot of damage. I seated the bullets deeper to break the bond/seal between case and bullet, and then used a Kinetic bullet puller to try and hammer the bullets out,....no joy, no go. I hammered on a piece of hard wood, then tried a piece of steel on concrete, bang, bang, bang, still no bullet movement.
A pair of side-cutters (or vice-grips)used on top of my RCBS press will pull the bullets, but they get pretty cobbled-up. I never had any type of cartridge/bullet combination that was so hard to pull bullets. Even with the side cutters, you have to really put a lot of grip and pressure on the press and bullet to get them to come out.
Just wondering if the RCBS collet-type bullet puller would work with the .224 collet? These 5.45 bullets have a long tapering ogive, and look like they would be difficult to get a "bite" on with collet.
Anyone have any experience or ideas. I really would like to save the pulled bullets and have them in fairly good condition after pulling.