page_title: Handloading
section_title: Bullet puller
hierarchical_section_title: Handloading / Equipment / Bullet puller
caption_attribution_description: Impact Bullet Puller for handloading ammunition
context_page_description: Handloading or reloading is the process of making firearm cartridges or shells by manually assembling the individual components, rather than purchasing mass-assembled, factory-loaded ammunition.
  The term handloading is the more generic term, as it refers to manual assembly of ammunition using components from any source. Reloading refers more specifically to the handloading of ammunition by re-using cases or shells from previously fired ammunition. The terms are often used interchangeably, as the techniques are largely the same whether using new or recycled components. The differences lie in the preparation of the cases or shells; new components are generally ready to load, while previously fired components often need cleaning, removal of expended primers, and possibly other reshaping/resizing preparations to make them ready to load again.
context_section_description: Like any complex process, mistakes in handloading are easy to make, and a bullet puller device allows the handloader to disassemble mistakes.  Most pullers use inertia to pull the bullet, and are often shaped like hammers.  When in use, the case is locked in place in a head-down fashion inside the far end of the "hammer", and then the device is swung and struck against a firm surface.  The sharp impact will suddenly decelerate the case, but the inertia exerted by the heavier mass of the bullet will keep it moving and thus pull it free from the case in a few blows, while the powder and bullet will get caught by a trapping container within the puller after the separation.  Collet-type pullers are also available, which use a caliber-specific clamp to grip the bullet, while a loading press is used to pull the case downwards.  It is essential that the collet be a good match for the bullet diameter, because a poor match can result in significant deformation of the bullet.
  Bullet pullers are also used to disassemble loaded ammunition of questionable provenance or undesirable configuration, so that the components can be salvaged for re-use.  Surplus military ammunition is often pulled for components, particularly the cartridge cases, which are often difficult to obtain for older foreign military rifles.  Military ammunition is often tightly sealed, to make it resistant to water and rough handling, such as in machine gun feeding mechanisms.  In this case, the seal between the bullet and cartridge can prevent the bullet puller from functioning.  Pushing the bullet into the case slightly with a seating die will break the seal, and allow the bullet to be pulled.
  Primers are a more problematic issue. If a primer is not seated deeply enough, the cartridge (if loaded) can be pulled, and the primer re-seated with the seating tool. Primers that must be removed are frequently deactivated first—either firing the primed case in the appropriate firearm, or soaking in penetrating oil, which penetrates the water resistant coatings in the primer.
  Components pulled from loaded cartridges should be reused with care.  Unknown or potentially contaminated powders, contaminated primers, and bullets that are damaged or incorrectly sized can all cause dangerous conditions upon firing.
caption: Impact Bullet Puller
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