Best Bullet Pullers On The Market: Do You Even Need One?
If you’re a reloader trying to assemble all the necessary tools needed for a reloading bench, you’ve come to the right place! A high-quality bullet puller is vital if you want to save lost materials from a bullet malfunction.
I’ve been doing reloading for over 6 years now – thank goodness I got into it before 2020. And through all those years, I’ve gone through a bunch of bullet pullers – some failed, others were useless and some overpriced.
I’ve thrown many away, returned them and even posted on forums some to stay away from. So, when I got the chance to write this article, I was all for it.
Generally bullet pullers are simple, and if you’re just looking for something that works, then click on my #1 below. Otherwise, here is my personal list of best bullet pullers.
Also, if you’re new to reloading, then be sure to check out my full guide on how to reload ammo.
List of the Best Bullet Puller
- RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit
- Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller
- Grip-N-Pull Bullet Puller
- Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller 050095
- Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller
Best Bullet Puller
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Reviews of the Best Bullet Pullers Reviews
Okay, so above, I listed my favorites. Below is where I get to explain my ranking, and perhaps defend some of the ones on this list and why there are where they are. Also, another thing that I love about this website is that I get to list my “critics” score. But readers can also grade them as well. So, below you can even see what others thing. Also, if you know one of these products, then please leave your review to help others.
RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit Review
Out of all the years working on reloading, I think the best overall bullet puller is the RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit, especially for the value. It is affordable, yet it comes from RCBS, a brand that prides itself on high-quality reloading equipment.
This RCBS bullet puller comes with these materials:
- Kinetic bullet puller, with an ergonomic handle
- 3-case shell holder that can fit 5.7x28mm and .22 hornet through WSM and RUM size caliber of cartridges
- Compatibility only with rimless cartridges
Some argue this kinetic bullet puller from RCBS features less durability than others. Others prefer the RCBS collet puller.
However, I find that owners of this hammer-style reloading tool speak nothing but high praise for RCBS, a bona fide master of reloading equipment for rifles, pistols, and guns of all types. My only issue with it is that it is only capable with rimless cartridges.
But for me, that isn’t really a problem.
RCBS Pow’r Pull Kit Pros and Cons
- Great value for money
- Reputable brand
- Compatibility only with rimless cartridges
Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller Review
The Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller is very similar in design to RCBS’s puller. With just a couple of heavy-duty whacks against your reloading bench, you will have your measured powder and bullet extracted from your cartridge in no time.
Noteworthy features of Lyman’s kinetic bullet puller:
- Includes a universal shell holder meant for a wide variety of popular calibers
- Features an ergonomic rubber handle
- Made from plastic and aluminum
One problem that I have with these, and why they aren’t my #1 is that they do not work with all calibers of bullets. So, keep that in mind and ensure you have the right one for the caliber you’re working with.
Lyman Magnum Inertia Bullet Puller Pros and Cons
- Universal shell holder
- Easy to use
- Not compatible with all calibers of bullets
Grip-N-Pull Bullet Puller Review
What is the best bullet puller for rifles? The Grip-N-Pull Bullet Puller is the best puller for rifle ammunition — but also works with smaller calibers. We recommend you use this plier-style puller from Grip-N-Pull mainly for larger rifle-sized calibers.
Some of these larger sizes are simply too large for the Universal shell holders on other kinetic bullet pullers.
Components that make this heavy-duty design from Grip-N-Pull so appealing include:
- Ability to pull the following sizes: 8mm, 338, 375, 416, and 458
- Collets are not required with this simplistic design
- ¼” heavy-duty #304 stainless steel
- Lifetime warranty included, so you never worry about wasting your money
- Designs available for different calibers
My only issue with these is that I can’t seem to get a good grip on the bullet with these. Try as I might, I always struggled with this. Now granted, maybe that’s just me, but still that’s a reason why I won’t list this higher on my list.
Grip-N-Pull Bullet Puller Pros and Cons
- Made of durable materials that will last for years
- Lifetime Warranty
- Can be difficult to grip the bullet firmly
Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Review
The Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller 050095 is a collet bullet puller with a twist. It’s the only Cam-Lock bullet puller on the market. The Cam-Lock feature is specific to Hornady collets only.
Features that make this Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller noteworthy:
- Mounts to any reloading kit with ⅞- to 14-inch threads
- Only accepts Hornady collets
- Designed for rifle cartridges only
- Includes 13 collets that accept 17-caliber through 458-caliber ammo
- Features a large ergonomic lever
To be honest, these are actually the ones I prefer and use the most. HOWEVER, this is not the best for a novice or something just getting into it. It actually takes a lot to get used to over time and so I don’t immediately recommend them.
Hornady Cam-Lock Bullet Puller Pros and Cons
- Cam-lock design provides a secure grip on the bullet
- Durable and well-made
- Can be difficult to use if you are not experienced in using it.
Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller Review
The Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Impact Bullet Puller is another hammer-style bullet puller. Its simplistic design allows the reloader to reuse ammo from almost any caliber, regardless if it’s rimmed or rimless.
Frankford’s hammer-style bullet puller features:
- 3 different-sized collets and 4 O-rings
- Ability to pull almost any rimmed or rimless caliber ammo, ranging from .22 Hornet to .45-70
- Aluminum and heavy-duty plastic construction
- Compatibility with cast bullets
- Versatility to work with rifle or pistol cartridges.
This bullet puller is last on my list though because they aren’t nearly as good as the ones above, and I’ve heard rumblings from some of my buddies who do PRS that they will not use these. Okay, well only two buddies…but that’s a lot from PRS.
Frankford Arsenal Quick-N-EZ Pros and Cons
- Versatile
- Easy to use and does not require any special skills or knowledge
- May not be ideal for use with precision shooters
Bullet Puller – Buyers Guide
What is a bullet puller? A bullet puller disassembles a cartridge when any reloading mistakes occur. A bullet puller allows you, the reloader, to reuse bullets and other materials in the case of a reloading error.
Can you pull a bullet out of its casing? Yes, a bullet can be manually pulled out of its casing with a bullet puller, like RCBS’s Pow’r Pull Kit.
What can you do with a bullet puller? With a bullet puller, you can remove a bullet from its casing. Many wrongly believe the bullet puller works to remove the primer from the cartridge, but actually it is the bullet itself.
There are 2 main types of bullet pullers: collet bullet pullers and kinetic bullet pullers. Each has its own advantages, and each works better with different calibers.
Here’s how the different types of bullet pullers work:
Collet Bullet Pullers
- Requires a reloading press
- Grabs the bullet and pulls it out of its casing
- Uses caliber-specific collets to grab ammo
- More efficient than inertia bullet pullers
- Compatible with all 3 types of reloading presses: single-stage presses, turret presses, and progressive presses
- Ensures all the powder remains in the case after the bullet is removed
- Is heavy-duty
- Is not recommended for softer lead bullets since the collet can damage the bullet itself
Inertia/Kinetic Bullet Pullers
- Represents the hammer-style bullet pullers
- Called inertia bullet pullers or kinetic bullet pullers
- Features an adjustable collar to hold the cartridge in place
- Boasts versatility in terms of caliber sizes
- Requires a hard surface upon which the reloader whacks the inertia puller against the ammo cartridge until the bullet falls into the tube
- Can be difficult to use if disassembling very large or very small caliber sizes
- Powder falls out with the bullet
- May sometimes damage the point of the bullet, unless cushioning is applied
Do you really need a bullet puller?
Should you use a bullet puller? I recommend that every reloader have at least one bullet puller at their reloading equipment bench. In the case of a reloading error, you can safely disassemble and preserve your ammo materials to save a little money.
Are bullet pullers safe? Yes, bullet pullers are a completely safe way to preserve your ammo. Attempting to separate a bullet from its casing without a bullet puller — or simply ignoring an error in reloading — is much more dangerous.
Although it’s often debated which style of puller is safer and more effective, there are high-quality bullet pullers in both styles. Either should reduce the risk of an ignited primer or any safety-related mishap involving your press.
The Final Word on Bullet Pullers and Reloading
Is there a better alternative to pulling a bullet out of the casing? No, there is no better alternative to pulling a bullet out of the casing than utilizing a high-quality bullet puller. A puller minimizes the possibility of discharging a primer and can save you a little money as well.
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About Tom Moore
Tom is one of our content writers at Gun University. When Tom isn't behind the keyboard, he participates regularly in NRL22 and IPSC. You'll often find him out hunting with his mates or camping with his family.
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