Thread: Read if you have Hornady Camlock Bullet Puller

Originally Posted by blip

Done properly it leaves 4 minute knicks in the bullet. To date it hasnt affected accuracy and no animals have complained

Sounds like a workable solution if you're loading with light neck tension, no final crimp. If the latter, which I tried before getting a kinetic hammer, distorting the neck with the necessary twisting to release the bullet is not something I cared for. Further, I have had over the years a bunch of old 303 rounds to deconstruct in order to re use the bullet and brass. If you risk distorting good young brass you risk splitting old brittle brass with any kind of pliers action. Once its annealed of course and reloaded with mild neck tension, no crimp, then perhaps a diff story. I also load a lot for lever guns that require a decent crimp. Would personally not use pliers to release those either.

I am of course referring to using pliers free hand..it occurs to me that perhaps you are instead clamping the bullet above the press head and then using the down stroke to pull the bullet. That would of course remove any neck damage issue. And if the deer don't mind the marks on the projectile then why not.

I guess the point is that in the wide world of reloading there are many different strokes that suit many different folks. I find a use if not a need for a decent collet bullet puller. Others may never need more than a kinetic or indeed be happy with the crimping pliers (correct?), that you like. Horses for courses and all that.

Being a bit of a gear hound having started with the RCBS, which sounds similar to the Forster tool, I read all the excited reviews and plugs for the Hornady Cam action tool when it first appeared, and eventually got one. They both do the job well but I find the Hornady is that little bit faster and easier to use. I never got around to quitting the RCBS and likely never will. How it goes...