Cast Bullet Coatings

[WayneShaw]

thats because it was not allowed until recently if i am not mistaken.

Well, there was a push a couple years ago to ban PC in competition but it failed. There is no restriction for PC. There are those that are traditionalists that don't like it.

 

[PhilC]

Some I shoot with use PC. I've tried both methods and, TBH, lubed/checked seems to be more consistent for me.

Cast my first bullets Apr '21 and shot my first CBA match Mar 2022, I'm hooked.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Got a bunch of coated 9mm for a good deal the other day. The problem is the bases are not coated as though they were ES sprayed standing up. Anyone have leading issues with uncoated bases?

 

[dantiff2]

Got a bunch of coated 9mm for a good deal the other day. The problem is the bases are not coated as though they were ES sprayed standing up. Anyone have leading issues with uncoated bases?

Are you sure they are not coated? When I cure mine, I do it with bullets standing up on their bottom and it sure does appear different than the rest of the bullet but it is still in fact coated. Cut into one to be 100% sure. I find it hard to believe that someone would not coat the bottom unless they stood them up and spray coated the bullets with a powder spray gun. I've bought thousands before doing my own and never seen one with the bottom raw. But, there is a first for everything!
Dan

 

[brokeasajoke]

They are coated black so it's easy to see lol. I may post a pic when I get home. I don't push my cast 9 too hard. Some where in the middle of Hodgdons listed load for Titegroup and Berrys plated 124gr. I think it's 3.8gr Titegroup but thata may be wrong. I've never pulled one and looked, but they (Internet) say that particular powder doesn't play well with powder coat. I'm betting they were stood up on foil and sprayed with a gun.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Are you sure they are not coated? When I cure mine, I do it with bullets standing up on their bottom and it sure does appear different than the rest of the bullet but it is still in fact coated. Cut into one to be 100% sure. I find it hard to believe that someone would not coat the bottom unless they stood them up and spray coated the bullets with a powder spray gun. I've bought thousands before doing my own and never seen one with the bottom raw. But, there is a first for everything!
Dan

 

[Fire Dog]

View attachment 1713456

Certainly looks to be raw lead on the bottom and not coated.

 

[Pirate69]

The worst leading problem I ever had was in my S&W M29 8” barreled 44 magnum. This was with a 240gr lubed bullet pushed by 5gr of Unique. It was my 50ft indoor target load. I sized these to .429 because this was the size they were “supposed” to be, I was young, stupid and didn’t know any better. Got pretty good at clearing lead from the barrel. I haven’t tried it but I suspect a powder coated bullet sized to .429 would also lead the bore. I really don’t shoot this pistol anymore and shoot all my 44 magnum from a CVA Scout rifle. I size to .430 or .432 depending the on the bullet, powder coat them all, and none of them lead the barrel whether they are PB or GC.

These are all cast from pure wheel weights, so they aren’t all that hard. I’m sure the heat treating they get from powder coating hardens them some but not too concerned with it and have no way of testing them.

It is best to have a cast bullet measure 0.001"-0.002" or more greater than the slugged barrel measurement. This will give a good seal and leading is minimized; assuming you have either properly lubed the bullet or PCed it.

The antimony content, tin content and alloy temperature determines if the cast bullet receives any heat treatment. If the cast is pure lead, the cast will not receive any heat treatment.

 

[Pirate69]

Not 38 Special but I recently went through 500, 9mm 115 grain coated Acme. No problems at all. I used jacketed bullet load data. One point is, as I'm sure you know, 9mm uses a taper crimp whereas 38 Spl. is traditionally roll crimped. I've read that a mild roll crimp is needed because a heavy roll may strip some of the coating.

The 9mm headspaces off the rim of the case.

 

[Pirate69]

Got a bunch of coated 9mm for a good deal the other day. The problem is the bases are not coated as though they were ES sprayed standing up. Anyone have leading issues with uncoate

Got a bunch of coated 9mm for a good deal the other day. The problem is the bases are not coated as though they were ES sprayed standing up. Anyone have leading issues with uncoated bases?

A properly sized cast bullet will seal the bore so that there is minimal gas cutting around the bullet. I stand up most of the bullets that I PC.

Most commercial bullets have a hardness around 16 BHN. If mild loading is used, there will be little obturation to seal the bore. And, if they are not properly sized, gas cutting will occur.

 

[dantiff2]

View attachment 1713456

Holy smokes! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! See, there is a first for everything! HAHAHA
I'd burn those up in a pistol barrel (do not use with a suppressor) just to get rid of them and buy form another source! Don't let leading keep you up at night. It's easy to remove. All copper Chore Boy scrub pad (made for cast iron pans) wrapped around a nylon bore brush and a few passes back and forth takes it right out. Then follow up with Sharp Shooter R No Lead cleaner and you are golden. It's easier to remove than stubborn carbon in centerfire barrels.
Dan

 

[brokeasajoke]

Holy smokes! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! See, there is a first for everything! HAHAHA
I'd burn those up in a pistol barrel (do not use with a suppressor) just to get rid of them and buy form another source! Don't let leading keep you up at night. It's easy to remove. All copper Chore Boy scrub pad (made for cast iron pans) wrapped around a nylon bore brush and a few passes back and forth takes it right out. Then follow up with Sharp Shooter R No Lead cleaner and you are golden. It's easier to remove than stubborn carbon in centerfire barrels.
Dan

Yes pistol is the plan. 800 for $52 shipped so I couldn't really say no. Plinking is the plan for a Kahr edc and a Springfield XD elite. I can recoat then size them myself shake and bake style if I want to get anal about it.