Reloading ammunition is a pretty challenging process, but pulling the bullets from your cartridges can be even harder. If you handle your ammunition too rough, there’s the possibility of it going off which could have catastrophic results.
For safe bullet pulling, you need the best bullet puller. In this bullet puller review, we’ll be taking a look at all the hammer types of bullet puller tools that should be part of your gun maintenance tool kit if you love to load or reload your own ammunition.
Why You Need a Bullet Puller
There are two main ways to discharge a cartridge. You can either fire it or you can extract the bullet from brass casings by using a bullet puller. There are quite a few different reasons you might want to disassemble a cartridge rather than fire it off.
Old Ammunition
It’s very risky to fire off old ammunition because the functionality of these cartridges can be unpredictable. Some might fire okay but others could explode inside your handgun. Firing old ammunition can damage your firearm and can even result in eye and facial injuries. Extracting the bullet from its casing so you can discard old gunpowder is a much safer solution.
Ammunition that Misfires
Occasionally you will have factory loads that might have weak primers and even after multiple primer strikes it will not fire. You can then easily use a bullet puller to reclaim the bullet for use in another reload.
Inspect Bullet Design and Quality
Weapons experts and product reviewers often take cartridges apart so they can inspect the build, design, type of powder, weight of powder, and bullet design. For this purpose, you’ll need a collet-type puller that won’t cause damage to the product or spill the powder all over the floor.
Repair Faulty Reloads
A lot of people love to load their own ammunition. By reloading used ammunition you can save a lot of money and loading your own ammunition gives you more control over the amount of powder you’d like to include in the cartridge.
Mishaps often happen when you’re trying to assemble a cartridge. If this does happen, a bullet puller hammer can be a very handy tool to separate the bullet from the casing so you can correct your mistakes.
Best Bullet Puller Reviews
1. The Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-Easy Bullet Puller – Overall Best Collet Puller
The Frankford Arsenal Quick-n-easy is our overall top pick because of its popularity, quality, and features. There are over 4,000 reviews and recommendations on this handy little tool and most of these reviewers gave high star ratings for the product. The kinetic puller is made with an aluminum shaft and has a hard plastic hammerhead and handle.
This type of collet-style puller might be slightly more durable than other plastic and metal combination tools because the metal parts are deeply connected into the plastic handle and hammerhead with visible grooves to keep the two different materials connected.
The collet bullet puller comes with three separate collets. These collet sizes make the impact style bullet puller functional for separating bullet heads with just about any caliber. They can be used on sizes from .22 up to 70.
The device is pretty simple to use. Simply slide your collet pieces into the o-ring, place it over your bullet, and screw the bullet inside the hammerhead. You can now proceed to whack the head against a wood surface to pull the bullet from brass.
The clear hammerhead design gives you a pretty good indication of what’s going on inside the hammer and the head is designed to capture gunpowder when the bullet comes loose.
Specifications
- Item Dimensions – 2.09 x 7.09 x 1.61 Inches
- Weight – 0.4 Pounds
- Main Materials – Aluminum and plastic
- Compatibility – From .22 hornet to 45-70 rimmed or rimless bullets
- Collet Sizes – 3 collet sizes included
- Included – 1 Hammer, 3 collets, and 4 o-rings
Pros
- It can be used to extract rounds when mistakes are made
- Practical for a great variety of bullet calibers
- Affordable price range
- The aluminum bar can handle a lot of powerful hits
- The materials are extremely light to prevent fatigue
- 3 different collet sizes are included
- You can use the puller for rimmed or rimless bullets
Cons
- It’s a bit challenging for beginners to figure out
- The collets can sometimes slip out of the o-rings
- The handle is a bit hard on your hands
2. The Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller – Best Puller With Soft Rubber Handle
The Lyman Magnum bullet puller is a recommended device for pulling lots of bullets. It’s also recommended for reloading since this puller doesn’t cause damage to bullets.
Unlike the other pullers on our list, this one is designed with a softer rubber handle for comfort. This rubber handle absorbs the impact of hits you make on stubborn bullets. The metal frame can handle a lot of wear and tear so you can process lots of bullets before you need to get a new puller.
The head of the kinetic bullet puller is clear so you can easily see when the bullet has started to come loose. It’s also designed to capture gunpowder when the bullet slides from the brass. This extraction kit includes 2 bullet puller collets. While you can use these collets to process a wide variety of caliber types, you won’t be able to process some smaller types like the .22.
Reload enthusiasts recommend this kinetic puller because it doesn’t damage your bullet tips or casing so you can easily reuse them without adjusting the casing, which can save a lot of time.
Specifications
- Item Dimensions – 4.88 x 1.89 x 1.69 Inches
- Weight – 4.6 Ounces
- Main Materials – Rubber cushioned handle, metal, and plastic
- Compatibility – From 5.7x 28FN to large magnum calibers
- Collet Sizes – 2 Collet sizes included
- Included – Hammer and two collets
Pros
- The collet puller has a rubber cushioned handle that absorbs impact while you work
- The steel frame can handle a lot of impact and use
- It’s designed to prevent damage to your bullet case so you can repurpose them
- The casing doesn’t need to be resized after bullet extraction
- Two collet sizes are included so you can process a wide range of bullet calibers or rifle cartridges
- 3 – 5 light blows are usually enough to disassemble bullets
- It’s made from durable materials
Cons
- Expensive compared to some bullet extractors
- Doesn’t work on .50 BMG (3 collet sizes would have been preferable)
- Concrete surfaces may damage the collet puller materials
3. The Redneck Convert Bullet Puller – Best Budget Collet Puller
The hammer-type bullet puller from Redneck convert is the most affordable on our list. It’s an ideal tool for reloaders because you can stock up on these tools so there’ll be a spare in case one breaks.
The tool prevents damage to your bullet tips because it’s designed with a little sponge in the hammer front. This sponge will keep the tip from flattening when you’re walking the hammer against a hard surface to loosen up the bullet. It’s also made with a strong steel shaft and hardened plastic handle and head.
The kit includes three different bullet puller collets so you can extract a wide range of bullet caliber types. The clear hammerhead gives you good visibility of your bullet while you hit it to loosen the tip. The 4-inch tall handle has lots of grooves to help you maintain a firm grip on your hammer while you pound down on concrete or wood.
This little hammer is tough but can give out if you hit too hard. It’s better to give 2 – 3 lighter pounds to loosen the bullet in one single hard hit since excessive force could damage your tool.
Specifications
- Item Dimensions – 11.75 x 4.75 x 1.35 Inches
- Weight – 5.96 Ounces
- Main Materials – Solid metal shaft and hardened plastic
- Compatibility – .17 up to 50 caliber guns
- Collet Sizes – 3 expandable collets
- Included – Hammer with removable cap, 3 bullet puller collets, and 3 o-rings
Pros
- Affordable price range
- Tough metal shaft won’t bend or break and can handle a lot of wear and tear
- Has three sized collets so you can pull a wide range of bullets
- Use it on rimmed or rimless cartridges
- The 4-inch grip is nice and comfortable and is textured so you can keep a firm hold on it
- The tool is made from durable materials so you can use it over and over again
Cons
- New users may find the instructions a bit vague
- Gun powder will fly everywhere if you keep hitting it after the bullet has loosened
- Your hands can feel numb from the hardened plastic handle
4. The RCBS Pow’r Bullet Puller – The Best Bullet Puller with Solid Construction
You may think that a hammer with a metal shaft will be stronger but those combination materials usually give out at the regions where the metal and plastic intertwine. A solid plastic hammer like the RCBS Pow’r hammer puller doesn’t have these weak spots because it’s cast from a single material.
You might not be able to hit as hard with this little hammer as you would using a metal shaft bullet extractor, but this tool will give you good durability if you keep your blow strength mild so you can process more bullets.
The hammer-style puller will also protect your bullet tips from getting flattened at the tips because it has a sponge in the front that protects the tip. The hollow see-through head automatically collects gunpowder when the bullet slips free from the brass.
This tool comes with two different collets which makes it functional for a wide range of smaller caliber sizes. The ergonomic bullet puller offers good durability considering its cheap price.
Specifications
- Item Dimensions – 15.88 x 6.75 x 1.13 Inches
- Weight – 2.08 ounces
- Main Materials – Hardened plastic
- Collet Sizes – 2 Collets included
- Included – Hammer, 2 collets, and 2 o-rings
Pros
- Clear plastic gives you a good view of your bullets
- 2 collets are included so you can disassemble different types of cartridges
- Ideal tool for resolving previous loading mistakes
- Affordable price range
- The handle is nice and long so you can get a firm grip on the hammer
- The one-piece construction isn’t as likely to detach or come loose as hammers that are made from combination materials
- The hammer doesn’t cause damage to bullets
Cons
- The plastic handle might not be the most durable
- Only 2 collets are included so you can’t use them on large bullets like 50 calibers
- The twist-off cap can spin loose after a couple of hits
5. The AmeriGun Club Quick and Easy Bullet Puller – Simple But Functional Bullet Puller
The AmeriGun bullet puller is another affordable tool to consider for your ammunition reloading equipment. This hammer puller is almost identical to the Frankford Arsenal Bullet Puller. It has a sturdy metal shaft with a hardened plastic hammerhead and ergonomic handle.
The handle is textured so you can get a good grip on the tool and the head is see-through so you can see when the bullet pops out of the brass casing. It’s also designed to capture gunpowder when you pound down on concrete or wood.
This tool includes three different-sized bullet holders so you can extract a huge variety of bullet caliber sizes. It’s a pretty tough tool considering its plastic components and it’s light enough for easy swinging.
Specifications
- Item Dimensions – 12 x 5 x 1.7 Inches
- Weight – 0.63 Ounces
- Main Materials – Steel and hardened plastic
- Compatibility – Any caliber from 00 Hornet to 45-70 on rimmed or rimless cartridges
- Collet sizes – 3 Different collets included
- Included – Hammer, 3 collets, and 4 o-rings
Pros
- 3 collets are included so you can extract a wide range of caliber bullets
- Compatible with just about every bullet caliber
- You can use it on rimmed or rimless bullets
- It has a lightweight design to prevent fatigue
- Affordable price range
- The design is nice and light
- It’s very simple and straightforward to use
- Use it on dozens of bullets without damaging your tool
Cons
- The metal between the head and ergonomic handle can start to bend after excessive use
- Hard hits on a concrete floor can damage the hammer
Final Thoughts
We hope our guide has helped you find the best bullet puller so you can easily disassemble faulty cartridges. We’re quite sure that any of these tools will be a huge help in your reload kit.
If you’re also on the market for other gun maintenance tools or gun cleaning kits, or if you just need a few more weapon tips, then you should hop over to our other guides where we compare other fantastic quality products to pick up.
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