Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture heavy)

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Ysabel Kid
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Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture heavy)

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Back in mid-February, awp101 posted for sale or trade a bunch of different types of ammunition.
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =2&t=46806
I was fortunate enough, especially given that I’ve been so busy I have barely been able to make it to the forum once a week in the past two months, to jump on his post early and I bought several of the items he posted, including some .45-120 Sharps rounds.

As luck would have it (and something I didn’t figure out until I was on the plane), I ended up spending the night less than 5 miles from his house the next day while on a business trip. I got a chance to drop by, unannounced, and caught Jason at home. It’s always great to meet a fellow levergunner, and it was nice to be able to pay him in person for my purchase – even if I couldn’t carry it home with me that day (airlines frown on loaded ammunition in carry-on’s!).

Jason recommended that I pull the bullets on these rounds, as he was not the original owner, and wasn’t sure who or how they had been loaded. Having damaged a gun using someone else’s reloads, that was my plan all along. No way I wanted to risk my Pedersoli Sharps 1874 reproduction! I figured, we were only talking 29 rounds, and I have a kinetic bullet puller, so no problem, right?

Right.

We’ll, here’s what they looked like to start.

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You can see some of the cases were a bit more corroded than others.

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Not damaged, just “crudded-up”.

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Apparently, someone (other than Jason) attempted to pull the bullets, and managed to mangle two cases and left half a bullet in one of the cases!

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Well, so I figured I’d use my Midway/Frankfort Arsenal kinetic bullet puller:

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No problem, right? Like I said, “right”..

After about 30 whacks, the bullet finally dropped free. But wait a minute – it didn’t look like that beforehand!

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Oh crud – the kinetic hammer (“puller”) isn’t long enough!

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Well, I figured I could just shine the brass by hand, and did so to prove they cleaned up fine. They did - but that doesn’t solve the issue about the loading and risking my Sharps.

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So, I figured I would just “get my Pitchy on”, and make myself a new kinetic bullet hammer/puller! Here are the parts, unassembled. ¾” galvanized steel piping.
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Putting the puller together:

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Using the shell holder from the other puller:

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Putting the shell in the new puller:

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2 good whacks and she’s out!

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Now, that was more like it!

Bullet pulled – no harm, no foul:

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A little friction tape, and she’s done:

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Took no time to pull them all. Glad I did too. Discovered that several of the cartridges had vastly different amounts of power in them. I am going to weigh some of these I saved in bags just to see what variation I was looking at. All of the rounds used a cardboard card between the powder and bullet – except for three, which used two felt wads per case. In about half the cases, the blackpowder charge was compressed so tightly that the charge wouldn’t drop out without me using a pick to knock it out.

In any case, I was after the brass, which I got. I’ll deprime them next weekend, and also clean them up in the vibratory cleaner. I will be able to reuse about 50% of the bullets, and will recast the rest. Y2K has never fired the Sharps reproduction, so I better get these loaded soon!
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JerryB
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by JerryB »

That is a fine example what a country boy can come up with. I'm sure uncle Pitchy is right proud of you son.
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Old Savage
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Old Savage »

That's Pitchin' it! :D When you got a problem you got to hang in there and keep on Pitchin'.
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M. M. Wright
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by M. M. Wright »

YK,
If you decide to load them with black; use a drop tube to put the powder in. That tightly packed powder is what you get with a drop tube even without compression and it makes it burn much more consistently thus better accuracy.
You can even get more "Pitchy" and make one from an old aluminum arrow shaft. For years I used one damaged by a deer but was able to cut a good 24" piece from it. Taped a powder funnel to one end and secured it to one of the presses on my bench with a bungee cord. Case under bottom, slowly pour black powder in the funnel and Voila, packed powder.
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Tycer
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Tycer »

Perfect!

Did you know that when that O-ring on the puller dies you can just use standard press shell holders instead of the collet?
Kind regards,
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Tom Richardson »

Never thought of that.
Thanks.
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Pitchy
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Pitchy »

:lol: You guys are funny, good job there pard 8)
This is how i pull bullets if i`m not trying to save the bullets.
I take the die out of the loading press, put shell in holder, raise it up through the hole where die was and clamp a vise grip or big pliers on bullet then lower the case.
Pulls bullet slick as snot with no damage to case. :)
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Shasta
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Shasta »

Good work! The solution you found for your problem has often been used for mechanical endeavors. If something isn't working.... get a bigger hammer!

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Bill in Oregon
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Bill in Oregon »

I'd be tempted to drill a vent hole or three on the side facing away, just in case you ever had a detonation. I have heard of this happening with a plastic puller, although I am not sure how it is possible. Dad always said I was a worrywart ....

:roll:
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

M. M. Wright wrote:YK,
If you decide to load them with black; use a drop tube to put the powder in. That tightly packed powder is what you get with a drop tube even without compression and it makes it burn much more consistently thus better accuracy.
You can even get more "Pitchy" and make one from an old aluminum arrow shaft. For years I used one damaged by a deer but was able to cut a good 24" piece from it. Taped a powder funnel to one end and secured it to one of the presses on my bench with a bungee cord. Case under bottom, slowly pour black powder in the funnel and Voila, packed powder.
I made a drop tube years ago. I'll snap a photo of it when I return. Didn't realize it packed it that tight!
Image
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Tycer wrote:Perfect!

Did you know that when that O-ring on the puller dies you can just use standard press shell holders instead of the collet?
Great idea! :D
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Pitchy wrote::lol: You guys are funny, good job there pard 8)
This is how i pull bullets if i`m not trying to save the bullets.
I take the die out of the loading press, put shell in holder, raise it up through the hole where die was and clamp a vise grip or big pliers on bullet then lower the case.
Pulls bullet slick as snot with no damage to case. :)
I was hoping to save a few of the bullets. That was my back-up plan if all else failed. Certainly wasn't going to take 20-30 whacks with the other kinetic puller. I'm sure I would have busted it before I got through the batch!
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Bill in Oregon wrote:I'd be tempted to drill a vent hole or three on the side facing away, just in case you ever had a detonation. I have heard of this happening with a plastic puller, although I am not sure how it is possible. Dad always said I was a worrywart ....

:roll:
GREAT idea! :shock:
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Ji in Hawaii
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ji in Hawaii »

You should call that thing "Mjölnir". :mrgreen:
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E holo nō lākou, ʻaʻole hoʻi e māloʻeloʻe,
E hele mua nō lākou, ʻaʻole hoʻi e maʻule.
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by AJMD429 »

You could probably pull 50 BMG rounds using that...!
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

Friends Call Me Ji wrote:You should call that thing "Mjölnir". :mrgreen:
Just about Ji - only I hope it doesn't attract lightning!!! :shock:
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Ysabel Kid
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by Ysabel Kid »

AJMD429 wrote:You could probably pull 50 BMG rounds using that...!
Was thinking the same thing. Now if I could only convince SWMBO to let me buy a .50 BMG, I'd be all set. I can often squirrel away guns here and there, and the funds to purchase them, but I doubt I could hide THAT! :lol:
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44-40 Willy
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by 44-40 Willy »

Bill in Oregon wrote:I'd be tempted to drill a vent hole or three on the side facing away, just in case you ever had a detonation. I have heard of this happening with a plastic puller, although I am not sure how it is possible. Dad always said I was a worrywart ....

:roll:
The one I saw pics of that detonated the guy replaced the collet that came with it with a shell holder.

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olyinaz
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Re: Problem... Solution! Getting my "Pitchy On" (picture he

Post by olyinaz »

Good job brother. That's how to do it! Nothing better than a home made (& well made) tool that does what you need.
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