pulling bullets in M2 .30 cal

[Ltdave]

how hard is it to do?

im going to get a Forster bullet puller to do this on my 550b...

ive got lots of rounds i want to use the primed cases for some other loads (better bullet)...

[Parashooter]

It's pretty tough because of the hardened asphalt sealant applied to the bullets during seating. It's usually easier if you can break the seal first by seating them about .010" deeper before trying to pull them down. Still, no picnic.

[psteinmayer]

Get a RCBS Inertia (hammer style) Bullet Puller. Inexpensive, and a few good hard whacks on a solid surface (work bench, floor, etc.) should do it. I've pulled several HXB M2, and a few US M2 Ball bullets with it... no problems.

[Hefights]

I have used both a Hornady or Forster collet type puller and an RCBS inertial puller. The latter might work, but I've never done a bunch of them, I can recall needing to use the collet puller and you may have to follow Parashooters prescription for the long haul.

[Ltdave]

ive got the inertia puller. it can be a real pain to do even .223 with no crimp or sealant...

ill have to give it a try. i hope i can find my .30 cal collar...

[PhillipM]

I'd use parashooter's method, but just to add that with the inertia puller I hit a 40 lb. dumbbell. I'd use an anvil if I had one close to my loading bench.

[joem]

I use the Hornady Cam-Loc bullet puller. I've pulled several thousands bullets and don't use the hammer type inertia puller any more. It isn't worth the effort. I'll wager I can pull three to five bullets while your knocking out just one. For the ammo sealed with pitch, just set the seater die down a bit to break the seal and on to the Cam -Loc puller.

[Maury Krupp]

I realize we're living in an unusual time when it comes to ammo and components, but the easiest and probably most productive in terms of improving your shooting, would be to shoot them out practicing Standing.

Between the crimp, the sealant, and 40 years of storage those bullets are likely going to be a cast-iron b!tch to pull. Then when you're all done you'll have a pile of bullets (maybe now with pull marks) that weren't much good for anything but Standing practice in the first place.

Mexican matching makes sense if you're shooting issue M72 or M118 and want to replace that mediocre USGI 173gr FMJ with a 168gr Sierra MatchKing. Otherwise not so much, at least not to me

Maury

[psteinmayer]

I usually hit my inertia puller on the concrete floor in my basement... and I agree that the military rounds DO take a few more whacks than others. I'm just not familiar with other types of pullers, and I never pull that many bullets anyway. I'd trust Parashooter's advice... I've always found him to be a pretty straight shooter (pun intended).

[Parashooter]

I like Maury's advice best.

[joem]

I have to disagree Maury. If used correctly there are no pull marks on the bullets using the collet type puller. The ones with pitch, after pulling, I soak outside in a bucket of gas then tumble. Very old bullets ( looking corroded) are soaked in viniger and salt soultion then run through the timbler. They come out like new and shoot as good as they did when made.

[Maury Krupp]

Well, I did say "...maybe with pull marks..." but my real point was more about the "...shoot as good as they did when made..." angle.

Those M2 Ball bullets will never be good for anything better than what they are now as loaded ammo. So what's the point in pulling them?

They aren't and were never intended to be more than 2-4MOA bullets to begin with. They're not really worth reloading for anything but can blasting or Standing practice. They can be used for that right now.

If better ammo is needed, instead of Mexican matching where you're left with a pile of semi-useless bullets, shoot 'em up then reload better ammo with the once-fired brass.

Maury

[Jim in Salt Lake]

You can shoot them quicker than pulling the bullets. You're probably not going to reuse the powder either. So you shoot them for the cost of new primers, get the offhand practice everybody needs, and reload the brass with better quality bullets and powder. I used up all my CMP Lake City and HXP shooting Springfield and Garand matches with help from the juniors. I'm prepping all that brass now and the thought of pulling all those bullets makes me glad we shot it all up. The Greek HXP was actually more accurate than the Lake City.

[Chris W.]

I vote for shooting them as well. You did say M2 ball ?? ( that is a 152gr. boolit, not the M1 ball 172 ) Second option would be the RCBS collet puller on a press. ( not your 550 ) You are never going to get much better than 2 MOA out of the 152 gr. why not just shoot them, get the trigger time. If you end up pulling them down you will also notice they weren't that fussy about the powder charge either. That M2 is old powder, old primer, old bullet in a great case. Easier to just fire and start fresh and get some great practice doing so.
Chris

[Ltdave]

didnt plan on reusing the powder without at least re-throwing for consistency...

large rifle primers, processing brass and dealing with the crimp is more than i wanted to play around with for Garand matches...

any reason not to use the bullet puller on my 550?

i dont have time to shoot my garand for trigger time because my trigger time (non-competition shooting) is devoted to my AR...