any ruger
Blackhawk
How fast can you push coated bullet compared to a uncoated.
Powder coated
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contender
Ruger Guru
Powder coating is a replacement for lubing a cast bullet. Most of us use loading data for our lubed cast bullets when loading the PC ones. I will say some folks are pushing PC bullets about 10% faster than cast in some cases.
But,,, a hard cast bullet,,, gets a bit of annealing (softening) when it's paint is baked on.
If you try & push too fast,,, you will have problems.
But,,, a hard cast bullet,,, gets a bit of annealing (softening) when it's paint is baked on.
If you try & push too fast,,, you will have problems.
I'm just starting with a 30'06 and a 166gr bullet at 2436fps.
I tried to recover those bullets in a sand trap at 100 yards to see how they performed but there was nothing appreciable left.
My unknown alloy lead is about a BH11 hardness.
This is the same bullet from a 300AAC at 100 yards shooting into a sand trap, muzzle velocity 1492fps, impact velocity about 1275fps.
I tried to recover those bullets in a sand trap at 100 yards to see how they performed but there was nothing appreciable left.
My unknown alloy lead is about a BH11 hardness.
This is the same bullet from a 300AAC at 100 yards shooting into a sand trap, muzzle velocity 1492fps, impact velocity about 1275fps.
It appears the powder coating is a little "slicker" than jacketed bullets but I have no positive basis for this assumption other than a couple of 45colt loads in a few firearms.
Each had 18.0gr of 2400 and CCI350 primers.
250gr Hornady #45200 XTP and powder coated Lee 452-255-RF (262gr actual).
2 1/2" barrel - jacketed 890fps - pc cast 900fps
6 1/2" barrel - jacketed 1100fps - pc cast 1130fps
24" barrel - jacketed 1440fps- pc cast 1510fps.
I'm pretty sure what is actually going on is the pc cast is sealing the cylinder and barrel better than the jacketed bullet can and producing better velocities, even with the heavier bullets.
However, a 44mag load of 20.0gr of 2400 with a pc Lee TL430-240SWC (243gr actual) is producing 1410fps in a 7 1/2" barrel. The usual published load data reflects a little under 1300fps when using most 240gr cast.
Each had 18.0gr of 2400 and CCI350 primers.
250gr Hornady #45200 XTP and powder coated Lee 452-255-RF (262gr actual).
2 1/2" barrel - jacketed 890fps - pc cast 900fps
6 1/2" barrel - jacketed 1100fps - pc cast 1130fps
24" barrel - jacketed 1440fps- pc cast 1510fps.
I'm pretty sure what is actually going on is the pc cast is sealing the cylinder and barrel better than the jacketed bullet can and producing better velocities, even with the heavier bullets.
However, a 44mag load of 20.0gr of 2400 with a pc Lee TL430-240SWC (243gr actual) is producing 1410fps in a 7 1/2" barrel. The usual published load data reflects a little under 1300fps when using most 240gr cast.
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
Probably has a lot to do with how hard the bullet is to begin with. In handguns hard cast bullets can sometimes be pushed as fast as jacketed bullets or a little more. In rifles hard cast bullets can be pushed up to around 2,000 fps.
contender
Ruger Guru
Jimbo,,, in theory you are correct. However,,, read my response. When baking on the powder,,, you are actually annealing the bullet some.
woodperson
Blackhawk
I am think the powder coated bullets I have bought on the market are swaged, not hard cast. Acme mentioned hardness 16-17. I have no idea about pushing them for maximum velocity. My use for lead bullets is going the other way.
In my experience Powder Coating is a protective coating much like jackets or plating, more than a "lube". I haven't run any over my chrony lately but have pushed my bullets (most run 12-14 BHN air cooled) to higher than cast velocities (in bot my handguns and a few in my MN 7.62x54r). For some good accurate info go here. There are folks that have vast experience with coatings and know their stuff; http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?184-Coatings-and-Alternatives
sixshot
Buckeye
It also depends on the use of a GC or not, but you can push a non gas checked bullet quite fast. Also, remember that as Contender mentioned you are annealing the bullet after baking the powder coating so that somewhat softens the bullet but you can overcome that by water quenching right out of the toaster oven if you want to increase bullet hardness. It will take a few days to reach full BHN hardness after quenching.
Dick
Dick
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
Lead hardness is determined more by alloy than temperature. Water dropping the bullets when they come out of the powder coat oven should negate any anealing
That happened cooking the powder on. Also many alloys continue to harden for days to weeks after casting. I oven harden cast bullets at about 450 deg. for an hour and drop into ice water. Those bullets get very hard and after several days are too hard to run through a lubrasizer without fear of damage to the tool.I have fired them at well over 2K fps without leading.
That happened cooking the powder on. Also many alloys continue to harden for days to weeks after casting. I oven harden cast bullets at about 450 deg. for an hour and drop into ice water. Those bullets get very hard and after several days are too hard to run through a lubrasizer without fear of damage to the tool.I have fired them at well over 2K fps without leading.
daveg.inkc
Hunter
I toured Missouri Bullet Co. The Hi Tec coated bullets are put into ovens twice. 400 degrees for 20 mins. And air cooled. Pretty interesting. The finish is slick. I drop a few every time I load them. I asked about increasing velocity and was told to use cast data.
sixshot
Buckeye
It's best to size them right after they are cooled so you don't bend the handle on your lube sizer, especially if you use a Star sizer like I do. I spray my bullets with Hornady One Shot Case Lube, let it dry 3-4 minutes & they will go right through. If you don't you can end up with a bent handle, especially on some of the bullets with a long bearing surface.
Dick
Dick
daveg.inkc
Hunter
What magazine? I saw an article about the Missouri Bullet Company somewhere. Handloader Magazine?any ruger said:
I've pushed these 150 grain plain based powder coated to 2000 ft/sec out of my marlin with no leading. WW+enough tin for fill out. Baked powder coat at 425 for an hour and quenched only the base into ice water only deep enough to reach the lower crimp groove. The powder coating makes the bullets stay upright on the wire mesh basket I use for the baking, therefore the base is hardened and the hollow point is annealed.
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
Baked powder coat at 425 for an hour and quenched only the base into ice water only deep enough to reach the lower crimp groove. ...the base is hardened and the hollow point is annealed.
WOW, now that is a custom bullet.
WOW, now that is a custom bullet.
