Cartridge sealant
- Thread starter venison
- Start date
ricciardelli
CGN Regular
- Location
- Montana, USA
The only cartridges I have ever found a need ot seal are the ones I loaded for my Bang-Stik for SCUBA diving. I used the cheapest fingernail polish on the shelf, and sealed around the primer and around the case mouth.
Never have seen the need for sealing any that were to be used above ground...
Never have seen the need for sealing any that were to be used above ground...
There is something to be said for the military asphalt sealant.
Not only is it impervious to immersion, it also prevents bullet set-back.
IMO, all high-performance - hunting, duty, defensive - ammunition should be so sealed.
Not only is it impervious to immersion, it also prevents bullet set-back.
IMO, all high-performance - hunting, duty, defensive - ammunition should be so sealed.
Because I hunt in a wet climate, I too was curious about sealing my hand loads. But about a year and a half ago, I submerged one of my 45-70 reloads in a glass of water for 2 weeks to see if it is needed. Guess what? It's not needed. That round grouped right where the rest of the 'dry' rounds went.
If you follow good reloading procedures, you should not need to seal your cartridges.
My $0.02.
James
If you follow good reloading procedures, you should not need to seal your cartridges.
My $0.02.
James
I agree with stanway , no need to seal , i have never had a prob with any loads be it factory or reloads , if you are worried about it tho , then just get some nail polish and give a dab around the primer, done deal!
Mike
Mike
The asphalt sealant to which I referred is not for handloading. It is for military specification ammunition that was produced in a factory.
FWIW, non-sealed reloads survive trips through the washing machine with no ill effects.
I still think all high-performance ammunition should be sealed with something like the military asphalt sealant.
FWIW, non-sealed reloads survive trips through the washing machine with no ill effects.
I still think all high-performance ammunition should be sealed with something like the military asphalt sealant.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
sealer
I have tried wax on primers,but it was time consuming and perhaps nail polish would work better.
I have tried wax on primers,but it was time consuming and perhaps nail polish would work better.
I dropped some in the snow, dried them off, and shot them. Made me curious, so I also dumped a couple of my hunting loads in a bucked of water, and like you say, they shot just fine on my next outing.
I just read an article about sealant in an old Handloaders Digest. The author used asphalt (roofing I guess) and mixed in acetone to make it pasty. Apply into case mouths and let sit until dry/tacky. Only apply as far down as the bullet will go and when bullets are seated, the friction will help warm up the asphalt and form a seal between case and bullet. It helps to stop bullet movement in magazines and revolver cylinders during recoil and apparently helps improve bullet tension or "pull" in taper crimped loads. He also wrote that after repeated loadings, straightwall cases will lose tension due to brass work-hardening and velocities will suffer. The sealant will bump up pressure and help get back those precious fps.
