If you reload your own ammo, sooner or later you’ll find yourself wishing for the best bullet pullers you can use to separate the bullet from the brass.
That’s because Murphy’s Law tends to work a bit too frequently when it comes to reloading. Things can go wrong a lot of the time, and the bullet pullers can salvage the round to let you fix things up and not let the stuff go to waste.
However, you can’t just get any random bullet removal tool and expect it to work just as well as another one. Some of these bullet pullers are much better than the others, and that’s why we have a list of the best you should pick from.
Top 5 Bullet Pullers: Comparison Chart
Here’s a handy table that can quickly identify which ones will suit your needs. We show the type of bullet puller, the accessories that come with the purchase, and whether it suits the caliber you’re working with.
| Image | Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller |
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Check Price |
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RCBS 9440 Bullet Puller Without Collet |
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Check Price |
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Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller |
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Check Price |
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Hornady 050095 Cam Lock Bullet Puller |
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Check Price |
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RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit |
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Check Price |
Best Picks for Bullet Pullers
You’d do yourself a huge puller if you pick from our list of the top bullet pullers you can get for your money. We’ve chosen only from the top brands, and we offer several types. But they’re all effective, and should work for your need.
Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller
With this set, you actually get 3 collets with different sizes. Your purchase also includes one hammer, plus 4 O-rings.
These 3 collets are enough to let you work with a wide range of calibers, and the bullets can be rimmed or rimless. You can get right on it with just about any caliber, from the .22 Hornet to the 45-70.
It’s this versatility that makes this one of the most popular bullet pullers around. If you like to work on many different calibers, this single bullet puller can work for you.
Perhaps the only caliber this won’t work with is the 500 BMG.
With this impact-style bullet puller, you’ll find that the whole process is actually quite simple. All you need is a hard whack, and you’re able to get the bullet from the brass.
You just need to make sure that you’re also whacking this against a hard surface, like on a concrete floor even if the directions say to use wood instead.
You also have to use a lot of force. Don’t be gentle, and don’t be afraid to whack it hard enough that you’re afraid that you’ll break the tool.
The setup can be a bit tricky for some people, but once you get used to it then it’s no trouble. This may be the best impact bullet puller for reloading for those who can whack it sternly.
- Quite affordable
- Works on a wide range of calibers
- Simple enough to use
- Portable, since you don’t need a reloading press to use this
- Needs a really strong whack
- You also need a strong surface to whack it against
RCBS 9440 Bullet Puller Without Collet
This puller comes with the standard 7/8″-14 threads, so it should work with any single stage reloading press you may have. This is basically a die you use with your press.
The “Without Collet” in the name may confuse some readers, who may think that it’s meant to work without a collet. That’s not the case at all.
This still needs a collet, except you have to buy that separately. You have to get the collet that that’s appropriate for the caliber of the bullet you’re working on.
You have to setup this die bullet puller into your first press. Once that’s done, you then put the cartridge (which has the bullet you want to remove) in the reloading press.
Lift the ram, tighten the collet around the bullet, lower the ram, and you pull off the bullet. It’s much easier than sternly hammering the bullet out.
Just keep in mind that this only works with jacketed bullets.
The method doesn’t ruin the bullets, and you can then reuse them for reloading.
However, you may leave a ring or a very minor indentation on clad bullets or soft lead bullets. But this still works as a bullet puller for lead bullets, since these minor “damages” won’t destabilize the bullets or deform them enough to render them unusable.
- Easy to use
- Doesn’t ruin the bullets
- Works with most single stage presses
- Great for high volume bullet pulling
- Collets are bought separately
- There may by some slight scuffing on the bullets
Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller
Lots of people consider this among the best impact bullet puller options around.
The head of this hammer-like device has been engineered to let you use it on a very wide range of calibers.
You can set in the biggest Magnums all the way down to the minuscule 5.7 X 28FN, and it may be the best bullet puller for 223 ammo.
It’s easy enough to wiggle the bullet into the collet. The collet holds the bullet snugly.
This is also very comfortable to use because of the soft grip. The molded grip has an ergonomic design, and you still get a secure hold as well.
Just make sure you use this on a hard surface. The best option here is to find a piece of strong hardwood with a nice convenient knot to hit with the bullet puller.
That should take only a few hits to coax the bullet out of the casing. On average, about 3 hits should do the trick, as it may be better to use 3 comparatively mild hits than to use a single overpowered hit.
If you just hit it on the hardwood, you’ll only dent the wood and then you’ll need more hits to take out the bullet. If you don’t have a piece of hardwood with a knot, try using this on steel or concrete.
The main concern here is that the head has nothing to cushion tips of the bullet when they come out. You may want to set in a cushion (like a piece of a rubber eraser) inside to protect plastic-tipped bullets.
- Works with even 50 AE rounds
- Easy to set the bullet in
- Works very well with hard surfaces
- Takes only 3 whacks to get the bullet out
- The handle is very comfy to hold
- No cushion for soft-tipped bullets
- The top may need to be retightened after a few hits
Hornady 050095 Cam Lock Bullet Puller
This is another quick and easy way to remove bullets from casings using your reloading press. Just keep in mind that this particular model is only meant for rifle cartridges, so you need an alternative option if you’re working on pistol rounds.
This also doesn’t have collets, so you need to buy them separately. Hornady offers at least 14 different collets, so that you can work with bullet diameters ranging from .172 to .458.
The way this works is simple. You set the bullet puller in the press, place the cartridge in, clamp on the bullet, and pull the handle to pull the bullet out.
This does the job very efficiently, though you have to be careful about setting this up with your reloading press. Once that’s done, the bullet puller stays in place and you don’t need to make constant readjustments.
It’s even so neat that you don’t spill the powder. There’s no mess for you to deal with.
Because it works so efficiently, it’s great for high-volume bullet pulling. You can use this with 300 bullets and finish everything up in a very short while.
- Works well for a wide variety of rifle rounds
- Simple to use
- Stays put without need for constant readjustments
- Great for high-volume work
- No powder spillage
- Collets are bought separately
- Not for pistol rounds
RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit
We end the list with another RCBS bullet puller, but this time we may have the best bullet puller hammer here. This is the better option if you’re going to take out the bullets in just a handful of cartridges, as you won’t have to deal with the tedious setup of your reloading press.
The kit comes with 3 collets, which let you work with a large variety of calibers.
The only setup you need here is to put in the right collet for the caliber you’re working on. Just unscrew the head to replace the collets.
This comes with a very effective design, starting with the long handle. This gives you greater momentum to get the bullet out using inertia.
The handle is ergonomic as well, as it gives you a secure yet comfy hold. You don’t hurt your hand when you give it a whack.
The head area is even transparent, so you can see what’s happening inside. You can see right away when the bullet is out.
It’s quite durable due to the 1-piece construction, which is more dependable than embedding metal into the plastic parts of the head and handle points. The head doesn’t distort easily, even after several hundred hits onto a hard floor surface.
- See through head to see what’s going on
- Long handle for greater inertia
- 3 collets for wide range of calibers
- Easy to put in collets
- 1-piece construction makes it sturdy
- Head doesn’t deform easily
- Very affordable
- Nice handle
- Twist-off cap at the back of the head may loosen after every few hits
What Are the Best Bullet Pullers?
Does it work well and efficiently? The answer to this question is the only way to define the best bullet pullers.
The bullet puller you need may work like a hammer. It’s simple, and even portable.
This is great for a few rounds, because you don’t need to get home first and make a fuss about setting the reloading press first. It’s great, if it works quickly with a single whack or two.
Now for high-volume bullet pulling, you need the type that uses the reloading press. That way, all you need to do is to pull the handle just like for any other step in the reloading process.
As long it’s efficient, then it’s good.
Different Types of Bullet Pullers
Bullet pullers actually come in different designs, and they work in different ways. But which one is better in the collet bullet puller vs inertia debate?
The best type of bullet puller you need depends on how you’ll use it.
Impact Style Bullet Puller
Basically, you have a tool that looks very much like a hammer. And like a hammer, you have to hit this against a strong surface to get the bullet out.
This type tends to be quite portable, though you have to think about durability. All that whacking can certainly lead to a lot of quick wear and tear.
These things may also be referred to as inertia style bullet pullers, since it uses inertia to get the bullet out. It’s a bit like trying to get the last bit of ketchup from a bottle.
Cam-Lock Bullet Puller
This type will need the use of your reloading press. the reloading press sets and tightens the collet over the round, and then as you pull the handle the collet pulls the bullet out.
This may not be the best option if you’re only going to remove the bullets from a few live rounds quickly. But it’s great for high-volume bullet pulling, as it’s like another step in the reloading process.
When choosing between die bullet puller vs hammer, you have to decide whether you want something quick or efficient for high-volume work.
Go with the hammer type if you just want to pull the bullets out of a few rounds. You’ll be done by the time you set up your reloading press for bullet pulling.
But go with the die-type bullet puller when you have a lot of these rounds to work with. Once you set up your reloading press for your bullet puller, it’s just a matter of pulling the hand to get the job done, one bullet after another.
Advantages of Owning a Bullet Puller
There are several good reasons why having a bullet puller handy is so useful for someone who reloads their own ammo.
Redoing the Load
One of these reasons is that you’re able to fix your mistakes if you’ve committed some snafu during the reloading process. It happens to everyone, even to veteran reloaders with years of experience.
Perhaps you noticed that somehow, you’ve made a mistake in setting the powder measure, which means you’ll need to take the bullet out to put in the right amount of powder.
Or maybe you’re afraid that on the last few rounds, you just seated the bullet too far in. You have to take out the bullet again so you can seat it in the case more properly.
No Waste
When you fix your mistakes, then you won’t have to throw them out and waste them. You can still use them.
Remember, one of the reasons why you’re reloading your own ammo in the first place is that you save money compared to buying factory-made rounds.
Sometimes you may even find live rounds on the ground when you’re at your shooting range, and your inner tightwad objects to just throwing these rounds away. You can pick these up, and then see if the bullets and casings are still reusable.
Just don’t use the powder, to be on the safe side.
Things to Consider Before Buying Bullet Puller
When you’re reading the bullet puller reviews, you can find which bullet pullers suit your needs by focusing on the following considerations:
Type of Bullet Puller
You can go with the inertia type with the hammer design, if you generally work on just a few bullets at a time.
The bullet puller that works with a press is better for large-volume bullet pulling, but you need the press.
Caliber of Bullet Puller
Some of the bullet pullers that work with a press may work only with rifle cartridges. The inertia style bullet pullers may work on any caliber, as long as you have the right collet.
Easy Setup
Both types of bullet pullers need to be set up properly. It helps if this is easy, so that you can get to work right away.
Efficiency of Bullet Puller
For the hammer-like bullet pullers, it’s best if you can take out the bullet with only a few whacks. It’s also great if you don’t have to tighten the head cap after every few whacks.
For the ones that work with a press, the whole process should take very little time and effort. It should be easy to put the bullet in, and the bullet puller shouldn’t need constant tightening.
Read the various bullet pullers review articles written by customers, to get a sense of whether the bullet puller is easy to use.
Durability of Bullet Puller
This is a great concern for the hammer-like bullet pullers, which need to be hit against hard surfaces. It’s good enough if the bullet puller can withstand a thousand whacks before you need to buy another one.
Brand Name of Bullet Puller
In general, the more famous brand names are more trustworthy when you’re buying bullet pullers. Unknown brands may offer items that may not last long, or may not even work at all.
How to Use a Bullet Puller
The process will depend on the type of bullet puller you’re using, and the particular model.
Using the Inertia or Impact Style Bullet Puller
The first thing you need to do is to set up the hammer-like tool properly, starting with the right collet for your caliber. In cases when you have a kinetic bullet puller without a collet, you first have to buy the right collet for the caliber of the round.
Once that’s all set up with your round, you then have to whack it against a hard surface. It’s like whacking the tip of the ketchup bottle firmly into your other hand.
It’s just that you may need a really hard surface like concrete instead of wood so that the impact isn’t absorbed. Also, you may need several whacks to get the bullet out.
When you get the bullet out, you can then pick out the bullet. You should have no problem with rounded bullets.
One potential problem is when you have a pointy bullet or a soft point which may leave marks on the tip when the bullet flies out of the casing and hits your plastic container. This is why some people put in a foam earplug or a cotton ball at the bottom of the bullet puller, to cushion the blow.
The powder will also get dumped along with the bullet. You can collect the powder if you’re working on your own bullets, but dump the powder if these are unknown bullets.
Using the Bullet Puller with the Reloading Press
This is much easier, though the setup is more involved. You first have to set this device onto your reloading press and make sure that everything’s secure.
Once that’s done, set the round into the station and pull the handle. The collet then clamps on the bullet and you pull the bullet out with the cycle of the handle.
One main problem here is that having the collet grasp the bullet may leave marks behind. That may affect your soft lead bullets.
Top Bullet Puller Brands
As you may have noticed, our list includes the most famous brands in the reloading industry. We have RCBS, Frankford Arsenal, Lyman, and Hornady.
RCBS
This brand is so famous because it has consistently produced reliable tools for reloading. It’s part of a larger group of companies that’s known to deal with military weaponry.
Hornady
This is another brand known for the high quality of its reloading equipment. It rivals the RCBS brand, which is why you may find quite a few RCBS vs Hornady bullet puller arguments online.
Hornady offers a wide variety of reloading tools, from presses to manuals. It’s actually possible to just stay with the brand for all your reloading needs.
Lyman
This is one of the oldest brands in the industry, with its history starting way back in the 1800s.
You know how the latest Hornady reloading manual is now in its 10th edition? That just doesn’t compare to the Lyman reloading manual’s history, since that manual is now in its 50th edition.
Frankford Arsenal
This is another manufacturer of a wide range of reloading tools and accessories. Its history dates back to 1816, and the fact that they’re still around attests to its commitment to quality.
Who Makes the Best Bullet Puller?
That’s for you to decide, as it’s a matter of opinion. It’s safe to safe, however, that it would likely be one of the more famous brands in the reloading industry.
In fact, for lots of people it’s a toss-up between the Hornady and the RCBS brands. Both brands offer different types of bullet pullers, and they’re all reliable, durable, and definitely worth your money.
Final Verdicts
You may want to go with 2 different bullet pullers, so you can get one of each type.
Go with the RCBS Pow’r Kit if you’re undecided, as it works splendidly. It has a long handle for greater inertia, and the head is even transparent so you know what’s happening inside.
For high-volume work, try the RCBS 9440 Bullet Puller Without Collet. You need to get the collet to work on the caliber you’re working on, but may be the best and easiest bullet puller for reloading a large number of cartridges.
You can use this for highly efficient bullet pulling, and the bullet and the casing remain undamaged afterwards. You don’t even spill the powder inside the case.
These 2 are the best bullet pullers around, but the others are still terrific options.