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How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

SigTauJohn

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Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 5, 2011
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KC, MO
I want to make a bullet necklace as a gift for someone. I need to pull a 17HMR bullet, dump powder, inert primer, drill hole, and replace bullet. I have an inertia puller but had no luck. Tried pliers but it destroyed the bullet.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Jusa brain storm.
Pull a bullet out with pliers leaving u with a good case. Then use a pipe cutter to cut a case and push the bullet out with something leaving you with a good bullet.

Now I'm not sure how to disable the primer.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

I have heard oil will inert primer. maybe some solvent can clean it out entirely.

fastbs- I though about that too. just dont know how to cut it open without maybe setting it off.

just had an idea... maybe a copper pipe cutter? I can cut through it slow...
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

I would like to avoid the dent in the case. Otherwise I would just take a spent brass to use.

Maybe a flame to an empty case will spend the primer?
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Your best bet is to probable soak the primer instead of flame it. That will leave discoloring marks on the case I would think. But the black may wipe off. There isn't much shoulder bullet sticking out, but it you have some sort of collet puller that should work. I may have to give it a go and see what works best.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

well... not as good as I hoped.

used pipe cutter to cut case in half. dumped powder. used some penetrating oil on bullet neck. used punch to drive out bullet. those things are really in there!

I could not remove a bullet from case without fuckn up the case. The bullet would fall apart far before moving. Ended up putting bullet back into a spent case and using a punch to "crimp" case into bullet. it would slide into it if pushed too hard.

it looks good just has the firing pin dent I didnt want. Thanks for the help.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Do not try this at home
smile.gif
I'm not suggesting doing this by any means. I had a truck burn up years ago in a fire and had a box of ammo in it. When ammo catches fire it doesn't sling bullets like it shows in western movies. The bullet is usually heavier than the brass, so the casing separates from the bullet vs the bullet seperating from the casing.

I think placing a live bullet .17 in a metal coffee can inside a cast iron gas grill and turning up the heat would cause the casing and bullet to separate. My guess, the brass would hit the wall of the can with little energy and the bullet would stay stationary. For added safety, place a small C clamp on the bullet insuring the bullet will stay stationary causing the direction of the brass to be of least resistance. You should get little to no damage on the brass casing. You should get some dis-coloring, but it will shine back up.

The only possible issue, is the ballistic tip. Will it reach meltdown before the powder ignites?

Hypnotically you should try this, I would take the gas grill out in a safe place away from a populated area and you yourself exit the area.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Buy some 17 V-Max projectiles, drill them for the necklace lace. Fill fired cases with epoxy and push bullets into them, wiping off any excess.

If it really bothers you, you can reset the primer dent with an L-tip punch before filling the case with epoxy.

FYI, .17 cal Z-Max bullets go for about $80-$85/500 and come with a neato Zombie Green polymer tip. I think can see a cottage industry rising here...
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

If you get one pulled out tell me what the total length of the bullet is. From tip of poly to base. Please.
smile.gif
I can not find this info any where. Plenty of people have measured the diameter before and after the crimp, but not total length.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Go Hogs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When ammo catches fire it doesn't sling bullets like it shows in western movies.
</div></div>
I can't speak for catching fire, but we shoot live rounds we find on the ground at the range on the time (as in they are the target). Whenever somebody sees me do this for the first time they think I am an retarded redneck (which I am but not in this case). Without the chamber pressure the bullets don't go anywhere. We often find the bullets laying on the ground next to the box we put them in. You get a cool bang..pop. The primer of the round (which you need to hit to set it off, is a pretty challenging and fun target from 100 yards.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: GotCox</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you get one pulled out tell me what the total length of the bullet is. From tip of poly to base. Please.
smile.gif
I can not find this info any where. Plenty of people have measured the diameter before and after the crimp, but not total length. </div></div>

Its longer than I thought it would be. I already have it back together or I would tell ya. Do what I did to cut a case and drive bullet out and find out!
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Put the nose of the bullet in a drill chuck, tighten the chuck, and start working the case like you are pulling a tooth! You will want a new smooth chuck without a lot of nicks and scratches!
And do not plug the drill in!!!!
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Just in case anyone else wondered i thought i would share. The length ended up being .540 ish for the 17gr vmax. Mine got a little disformed so it might be a little off, but not by much.

425838_3234583945367_1289730199_33331340_1879766550_n.jpg
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Try packing a few bullets in fiberglass and put the wad in a coffee can and heat the can. The fiberglass should catch the bullets and cases without damage. oil soak the primers, drill holes, and seat the bullets.

You could always cut the front off like you did and then use a dremel to cut the case away from the bullet. This would give you a good bullet.
To get a good case, just grab a bullet with a vise grip and work it loose.

If the bullets are loose in the cases when all said and done, use JB weld.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

SigTauJohn: I've got a .17HMR bullet you can have if you like. It's a little tarnished from handling & sitting on my desk for a couple months, but there are no pull-marks on it. I retrieved it from a defective 17HMR round that had the bullet set back into the case.

Just PM or email me your address and I can mail it to you.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

ya loaded cartridges do little to nothing in fire when they go-off . Throw a handful of .45acp into the cast-iron wood stove & close the door . the ones that do go-off the bullets just make a small 'Bonk' noise when they hit the inside wall of the wood Stove .
it's Small entertainment in the middle of boring cold winter day .
.
 
Re: How to pull a 17HMR bullet?

Try this...Take one .17 hmr and clamp down on the bullet with a vise. Twist the head off and empty all the powder out. Then put a few drops of gun oil inside the shell or even cook it to kill the primer. Take another one and use a pipe cutters to cut the bullet in half. then you can tap the bullet out from the rear with a punch. Then take the case and bullet and lock them back together.