AJ
US Veteran
What are the con's to powder coating? Wear to barrels? Dirtier to shoot? Anything?
Con's to Powder Coating?
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
gwpercle
Member
Not many , just another way to do something. No wear to barrels and not dirty or smokey to shoot...these are pluses.
You do have to size bullet..before or after powder coating. Some folks size before coating and after coating.... Sizing twice !
You have to get the powder application process down , get an even coating on all . You have to bake the powdered bullets in an oven...standing up and not touching is best. Then get them out the oven and cooled without burning any body parts .
I have a conventional lube -sizer , paid for in 1973 , one cycle of the handle , in then out and the bullet is sized, lubed and ready to load . Even though the lube is smokier than powder ... I like the speed and I don't want to buy a oven .
Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, like skinning cats...more than one way.
Gary
You do have to size bullet..before or after powder coating. Some folks size before coating and after coating.... Sizing twice !
You have to get the powder application process down , get an even coating on all . You have to bake the powdered bullets in an oven...standing up and not touching is best. Then get them out the oven and cooled without burning any body parts .
I have a conventional lube -sizer , paid for in 1973 , one cycle of the handle , in then out and the bullet is sized, lubed and ready to load . Even though the lube is smokier than powder ... I like the speed and I don't want to buy a oven .
Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, like skinning cats...more than one way.
Gary
bigggbbruce
Member
I load 45acp.. you need to flair a lot more than copper coated..
If not it removes the coating and pulls up lead..
Not my favorite coating..
If not it removes the coating and pulls up lead..
Not my favorite coating..
292
Member
The way I see it, it's another tool in the toolbox.
To me too much time involved. My cast/lubed and fitted bullets shoot just as well in my handguns and rifles. With no leading. I see no advantage.
I've thought about trying them, but I have no problems with nekkid, lubed lead bullets.
I seem to recall the idea took off in Australia due to strict environmental regulations on lead pollution and spread from there. I've seen people on videos trying to use a wide variety of coatings, including spray paint, trying to make the process cheaper and easier. If you decide to try it make sure you do your homework and ask questions from those that know what they are doing.
I seem to recall the idea took off in Australia due to strict environmental regulations on lead pollution and spread from there. I've seen people on videos trying to use a wide variety of coatings, including spray paint, trying to make the process cheaper and easier. If you decide to try it make sure you do your homework and ask questions from those that know what they are doing.
So, you set them on their base while baking? Do you then have a raw lead base? if a bare raw lead base won't you still get vaporized lead? Are PC bullets good in factory Glock barrels?
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for the replies.
Powder coating
I assume you are referring to "polymer" coated bullets?
Have been using exclusively for several years.
Very satisfied. Very much.
Only one very small objection:
There is a trace smell similar to burning electrical if you shoot indoors.
I assume you are referring to "polymer" coated bullets?
Have been using exclusively for several years.
Very satisfied. Very much.
Only one very small objection:
There is a trace smell similar to burning electrical if you shoot indoors.
Just the perspective of an old hand here, but it sounds like just another gimmick.
-Do any of you remember moly coated lead bullets (before we found out the moly fouling trapped moisture)?
-Do any of you remember "soft gas checks" (that supposedly prevented leading)?
-Do any of you remember the swaging dies that worked in your reloading presses (and supposedly didn't damage your press)?
-Do any of you remember Zinc washer based lead bullets?
Don't feel bad if you don't remember or never tried them.
You didn't miss anything....
Jim
-Do any of you remember moly coated lead bullets (before we found out the moly fouling trapped moisture)?
-Do any of you remember "soft gas checks" (that supposedly prevented leading)?
-Do any of you remember the swaging dies that worked in your reloading presses (and supposedly didn't damage your press)?
-Do any of you remember Zinc washer based lead bullets?
Don't feel bad if you don't remember or never tried them.
You didn't miss anything....
Jim
Excellent Sir: I too remember all those gimicks too. Powder coating doesn't work any better than a properly lubed cast bullet. It too shall pass.
And too the coating is an abrasive........Very fine but an abrasive.
I've powder coated many thousands of bullets as PC'ing was becoming popular as I was starting to cast. The biggest drawback is the time involved to do the powder coat process. As mentioned above the bullets should be sized after powder coating for consistency. Compared the lubersizer this step adds a couple minutes per every hundred bullets processed.
The setup for powder coating costs less than the setup for a lubsizer, however many people who have been casting for years already own the necessary equipment switching to powder coating isn't as attractive.
One of the biggest benefits in my mind is the reduced lead exposure when reloading and also when shooting.
If you are asking about buying commercial bullets than the small extra cost for PC bullets is the biggest drawback
The setup for powder coating costs less than the setup for a lubsizer, however many people who have been casting for years already own the necessary equipment switching to powder coating isn't as attractive.
One of the biggest benefits in my mind is the reduced lead exposure when reloading and also when shooting.
If you are asking about buying commercial bullets than the small extra cost for PC bullets is the biggest drawback
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 9,232
- Reaction score
- 11,450
Moly was a snake oil treatment, but it took a long time for some to figure that out, sort of like freezing barrels.
I can't comment on soft gas checks; never tried them.
I tried swaging handgun bullets for a while, first time about 1971, second time about thirty-five years later. It was possible to make some very accurate bullets. The process worked well, but... it was a tremendous amount of work, not to mention the cost of materials. In the end, home swaged jacketed bullets were probably more expensive than factory jacketed bullets.
The zinc washers worked very well and made for accurate bullets... but, like regular cast bullets, fit had to be just right to see good accuracy and to avoid leading. There was also an added step in the process where the washer was inserted in the groove in the hot mould.
As for powder coating, I see no advantage for my purposes. Conventional sizing and lubing works very well. When the Cast Bullet Association competitors convert over to powder coating because of enhanced accuracy benefits, I'll consider retiring my conventional equipment and start powder coating.
^^^ Hahahhaaaa! I had forgotten about the frozen barrel scam! Ranks right up there with "Global Climate Change"!
jwk
Member
I've got limited time and already have a lubrisizer. For me that works. My cast bullets work for my purposes. Until that changes for me I don't see an advantage to me. Your needs may be different. For instance I don't shoot at an indoor range so smoke and ventilation aren't issues to me.
Heck some of my loads use Lee as cast tumble lubed bullets. Those are for my volume shoot a bunch for fun ammo which is actually one of the reasons I started casting when the commercial caster that showed up at my local gunshows got out of the busiiness.
Heck some of my loads use Lee as cast tumble lubed bullets. Those are for my volume shoot a bunch for fun ammo which is actually one of the reasons I started casting when the commercial caster that showed up at my local gunshows got out of the busiiness.
cowboy4evr
Member
I have and do both , cast / size / lube vs powder coating . I have seen no difference in accuracy . They do shoot with less smoke , reduce leading and some say increase velocity . Some say that is because they shoot at higher pressure . I'm not sure about increased velocity / pressure as I don't have test equipment to verify . I still lube / size many bullets and I will also continue to powder coat . I don't place mine , one at a time on a tray with some separation . I dump them in a pile in a bread pan , heat them / dump in a bucket of water afterward , done . I've seen no problems . Regards, Paul
That's been the thing that's kept me from trying it in the first place, I thought I heard a couple of places that it might be abrasive and hurt barrels, but i could never find the sources that said this when I tried to re-reference them. Beyond saving a whole pile of cash, I felt that lead bullets were also a way to train with a rifle without decreasing its accuracy life. I can run hundreds of bullets for cheap through my good hunting rifle without every worrying about it impacting its jacketed bullet lifespan, but if its going to change and degrade the barrel I have no interest in it.
The reason I do have interest in it is the claims that it will handle higher pressure/velocity with softer lead alloys. This means not worrying about specific alloys to a certain extent, also softer bullets for hunting. If it would work well, I might consider it for hunting rounds and continued higher velocity practice with my general scrap alloy stockpile, but not if its going to abrade my barrel.
fredj338
Member
Less smoke & crud is an advantage??? Get the process down it isnt that much more time really.
Btw, do you load on a progressive? If not, their is your time suck.
No real negatives but their is some addl time involved. I look at coated as cheap diy plated.
Last edited:
fredj338
Member
Such a gimmick that Federal now makes coated bullets/ammo?
I was slow to it but after doing about 6-7k. I doubt i go back to lubed.
