Powder coated bullets with black powder

Reeferman

Reeferman

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Anyone using powder coated cast bullets with lube using black powder? I’m looking at doing it in a 45/70 Springfield trapdoor?
 
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With bp cartridges, the bullet lube is helping to keep the powder fouling soft. Pc bullets are great for keeping leading down, but wouldn't aid with powder fouling. I have never had big issues with leading in bp shooting so I just lube the bullets normally. Pc all my smokeless stuff tho...
 
hometownhero said:
This came up on the cast boolits forum a few days ago. Was recommended to use a lube cookie or lube the bullets.
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I should have been more specific. I am going to powder coat some 405 grain bullets which are coming out at around .460 from mould. I want to powder coat then size to .460 using smokeless powder. My question is when using the same bullets will it work with a black powder lube on them when using black powder to keep the fouling soft?
 
Reeferman said:
I should have been more specific. I am going to powder coat some 405 grain bullets which are coming out at around .460 from mould. I want to powder coat then size to .460 using smokeless powder. My question is when using the same bullets will it work with a black powder lube on them when using black powder to keep the fouling soft?
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The makeup of the actual bullet (lead vs. PC) should have no bearing on whether the fouling is soft or not as that should be a function of the lube. If lube keeps the fouling soft on a lead bullet it should do the same on a PC bullet.

What MIGHT be different is the amount of obturation of a lead vs. a PC bullet. Because the PC coating is hard I'm theorizing that the PC bullet might obturate slightly less which hypothetically might affect accuracy. Lots of 'ifs', 'mights' and 'maybes' here and only experimentation would give a definitive answer.
 
M
ted_dent said:
The makeup of the actual bullet (lead vs. PC) should have no bearing on whether the fouling is soft or not as that should be a function of the lube. If lube keeps the fouling soft on a lead bullet it should do the same on a PC bullet.

What MIGHT be different is the amount of obturation of a lead vs. a PC bullet. Because the PC coating is hard I'm theorizing that the PC bullet might obturate slightly less which hypothetically might affect accuracy. Lots of 'ifs', 'mights' and 'maybes' here and only experimentation would give a definitive answer.
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I’m casting a Lee 405 hollow base at 20 to 1 lead tin content. The bore is .460 and I am going to do some powder coated and some not. The powder coat was originally was only going to be with the smokeless loads but I thought they might work with Goex with a black powder lube. Interesting about the powder coating might cause obturation issues.
 
I doubt if it will change the obturation of a hollow base slug...18,000 lbs force will overcome the plasticity of the PC by a long shot ...but what may be effected is the "cracking" of the PC when the slug does obturate may facilitate a bit of gas leak, weather it is enough to cause a lead erosion or accuracy issue only accuracy testing will tell. My own feeling that is with the BP lube used as well there wont be any problem with the hollow based slugs with a PC coating.

Let us know how they work out, I have a bunch of PC'd Hollow base slugs (coww) the same as you are using but don't plan on using them with BP and they fit the bore (.459 ).
 
fingers284 said:
I doubt if it will change the obturation of a hollow base slug...18,000 lbs force will overcome the plasticity of the PC by a long shot ...but what may be effected is the "cracking" of the PC when the slug does obturate may facilitate a bit of gas leak, weather it is enough to cause a lead erosion or accuracy issue only accuracy testing will tell. My own feeling that is with the BP lube used as well there wont be any problem with the hollow based slugs with a PC coating.

Let us know how they work out, I have a bunch of PC'd Hollow base slugs (coww) the same as you are using but don't plan on using them with BP and they fit the bore (.459 ).
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I finally got the bullets dropping decent now as these were the first that I have every cast. Next will be powder coating for the first time so it may be a week or two before I get that figured out. I would think that if they pass a sledge hammer test then they shouldn’t crack the coating when fired.
 
fingers284 said:
I doubt if it will change the obturation of a hollow base slug...18,000 lbs force will overcome the plasticity of the PC by a long shot ...but what may be effected is the "cracking" of the PC when the slug does obturate may facilitate a bit of gas leak, weather it is enough to cause a lead erosion or accuracy issue only accuracy testing will tell. My own feeling that is with the BP lube used as well there wont be any problem with the hollow based slugs with a PC coating.

Let us know how they work out, I have a bunch of PC'd Hollow base slugs (coww) the same as you are using but don't plan on using them with BP and they fit the bore (.459 ).
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If your pc us cracking it wasn’t applied properly.
 
You boys are missing the point. The PC is very rigid & smooth after cooking and fits the slug like a glove...now when a hollow base slug obturates to fit the groove dia of a barrel, it has to change shape, as in get bigger, The PC ,as rigid as it is. has to crack a slight amount to increase in size equivalent to the slug. The cracking may be very small fissures but 18000 lbs of pressure can eat the side of a cast slug if it only has a 1/2 thou gap from slug dia to bore dia. exists.

Sorry Hometown but if your PC isn't cracking with the hammer test then I want some. I will agree that flaking PC from a hammer test shows a failure but cracking sure doesn't.
 
Reeferman said:
I should have been more specific. I am going to powder coat some 405 grain bullets which are coming out at around .460 from mould. I want to powder coat then size to .460 using smokeless powder. My question is when using the same bullets will it work with a black powder lube on them when using black powder to keep the fouling soft?
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Try it. Personally, I use a grease cookie to soften the powder fouling.
 
jethunter said:
That's incredible. Need pictures.
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This a 9mm I smacked down. Some flaking at the base but didn't crack. Left no trace on the hammer I used.

HTEST.JPG

I was impressed to say the least.

I imagine one could hammer the thing down until the lead cracked though.

M
 

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gnmontey said:
This a 9mm I smacked down. Some flaking at the base but didn't crack. Left no trace on the hammer I used.

View attachment 224244

I was impressed to say the least.

I imagine one could hammer the thing down until the lead cracked though.

M
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Mine do the same. I pounded one flat and the paint flakes off of the edges I used Eastwood Hotcoat Red. I would post pictures but since the photobucket crap I can’t.
 
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