I figured I would take the plunge and try out some of the new High Tek coated bullets. For those who never heard of them,they were developed in Australia as an inexpensive alternative to cast bullets.

I purchased 500 bullets from SNS Casting, and loaded up 200 of them. I don't have a chrono, so I can't furnish velocities. Two loads I made 100 using WW231 and 100 using Bullseye powder.
Both loads were very accurate,but the Bullseye load I managed a single ragged hole at 33 ft. Using my my Walther PPS.

The bullets are reported not to lead your barrel, so I couldn't wait to get home and clean the gun.
To my surprise after firing 100 rounds the bore was bright with absolutely no residue of the coating or leading. After only a few passes with brush and jag, the Barrel cleaned up bright with crisp rifling.

The only downside, and a rather big negative is the smell. The rounds emitted a very strong and noxious smell similar to rubber burning. In fact, I heard a guy three firing points away say "I keep smelling rubber burning"

I liked how the bullets performed, but I'm not certain Id by more because of the stink!

Were you shooting these at an indoor or an outdoor range?

Smells a bit like BURNT ELECTRICAL at times.

I shoot them indoors all the time,

3 1/2 hours worth just this morning.

Been shooting them for months,

My own coating, Bayou Bullets, & SNS Casting.

Clean guns, equipment, accurate, SURE WORKS FOR ME.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Been running full tilt boogie on the DIY end of powder coated.
Hy-tec or PC ends the same.
It's a true advancement.

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it just needs more voltage

I was shooting outdoors.

buckshotshorty,

Maybe YOUR sense of smell is just too acute.

I shoot them INDOORS very frequently, and people notice the BURNT ELECTRICAL smell at times .

NEVER had anyone complain, some even wanted info on how to aquire the projectiles. (I use HI-TEK coating from Australia Manufacture).

I acquired mine from Bayou Bullets, the same coatings that SNS Casting , Gateway Bullets and now BBI and LNL Casting are using.

My fellow CLUB MEMBERS like clean BARRELS, HANDS, & EQUIPMENT, with no messy waxy lubes on things

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Groohere
We got in some sns 41mag 215's for a class.
The load was 6gr trailboss [ 1/2 gr under max]
Out of 5 different guns the largest group was a half dollar at 7 yds.
Most were quarter size.
My friend and I decided to freeze the load as our light target/police level load.
Will only change if we can't find the powder.

Groo01,

Fin/Feather/Fur Grand opening in Boardman, Ohio last week had Trailboss

in 1 # containers and 5 LB Kegs.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

While coated bullets may truly be a better product, the time involved certainly isn't small. Coating, baking, coating, baking handling, etc. I can lube & size 1000 bullets in about 50min on my Star. Searching for the perfect lube is a challenge though. It isn't anything w/ Alox in it though, too smoky. If I am buying bullets, just as soon buy plated as coated, not much diff in price.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Depending upon need, you can coat and bake hundreds at a time,

using multiple trays, ovens, larger ovens,

baking whatever, with HI-TEK takes 10-12 minutes per bake.

Sizers can be automated to run fully automatically.

While you spend time changing LUBE or CLEANING DIES, and EQUIPMENT of

lube we coat and bake, we make up time with HAVING CLEAN BARRELS ALSO.

Finished projectiles can also just be purchased IF YOU WISH OR NEED.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

thats only because the current standard is powder coating via the shake and bake methods.
once they get past this, and upgrade to an electrostatic spray gun. PC is just about dead on your heels. figure multiple racks of 500 bullets. two spraying, two baking, and some sizing in between

the right tools makes the difference.

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it just needs more voltage

I've only sprayed 100 pistol bullets at a time (ES spray gun). I can set up and spray a tray of 100 in mebbe 10 minutes, bake for 20 minites and cool. I can "shake-'n-bake" 50 to 75 bullets in about the same time, with no equipment other than a used tub, some airsoft BBs and a tablespoon of powder. Not overly complicated and much cleaner than wax based lube, for me at least.

yes ... but we really shouldn't tell the whole truth just yet.
we still have piles of traditional lubes we might need to offload ... somehow

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it just needs more voltage

So with your current setup, 30min per 100 x 10 or 5hrs per 1000?!?! I am just not sold yet, the mess & time is out weighing the lack of some smoke & some fouling. Everything fouls a bore, everything. It just depends on what kind of fouling & how long it takes to remove. At handgun vel, I don't have issues with leading in my barrels, 9mm-44mag. I do appreciate technological advancement, I just think right now, it's too early to cry best.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

This burning smell is new to me. I've shot up my order of 1K SNS Hi-Tek coated bullets and didn't notice a burning rubber or electrical fire stink. One thing is for sure though it's vastly easier clean up, dies stay clean, never any leading, and you aren't exposed to any lead if that's a worry.

how about 500 at 20 min.
its just a matter of scale.
meanwhile ... I have a fair amount of traditional lube on hand if ya want any of it.
I was sold after 2000 + FPS without gas checks and Im starting to wonder if I'll ever use any of the stuff again

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it just needs more voltage

Maximumbob54,

I think the smell shows from curing that's OFF slightly, maybe a powder combination also.

I coat my own and purchase FINISHED ONES from SNS and Bayou.

I do not pick up the smell ALWAYS.

I've shot MINE, SNS and Bayou's for months now, I LOVE EM',

and so do many that I show them and the CLEAN RESULTS too.

I shoot 9 MM, 38's & 45's, DEWC, SWC, RN, RNFP, TC.


***** I too may be considering SELLING OFF the White Label Lubes I have. *****

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

yeah ... but the downside remains .. we all have old lube to figure out what to do with, thats just taking up powder space

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it just needs more voltage

Ha! Nice. I have a few sticks of BAC left that I don't know that I will do with it.

I dont know ... perhaps commit it to a candle mold to make gifts for the inlaws

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it just needs more voltage

Can always use it as flux and cast your own!

well that'll take care of about a pound of it over the remainder of my lifetime

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it just needs more voltage

Well today I bit the bullet ( bad pun intended ) and placed a second order for 1000 more SNS bullets.

At only $4 more per K over what I had been buying, I can live with the stink, because the benefits : clean handling, clean dies, easy gun cleanup, outweigh the disadvantage. I just hope the smell isn't toxic!

I wonder about that a little.
even if it is, we can metabolize it faster than lead.
it can't be any worse than putting 120V AC to a TL072 opamp

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it just needs more voltage

buckshotshorty,

You could have tried some Bayou's, he now does GREEN, RED COPPER, and the GOLD which I think SNS does, Mine were Gold, no choice.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I was going to try the Bayou bullets, but SNS has anew 125gr. Bullet with smooth sides, no lube groove and round nose. I wanted to try those.

Hmmmm. I don't have a quota so I don't count (nor need) 500 rounds per hour. I don't count RPH because I reload for fun. I don't count pennies per round because I reload because I like to.

I still have 800-900 cast lead bullets with conventional lube and I don't intend to remelt them any time soon as powder coating is just another aspect of my hobby. I don't have any major problems with leading with cast lead bullets, I don't shoot anywhere I need "lead free" ammo, so I don't "need" PCed bullets, but they are different and fun. My hobby is a "hobby", not meant for anyone's approval, nor do I put quotas or time restrictions on myself. I reload because I like to.

Powder coating is only as messy as you are. Same with alox. If you get alox or powder everywhere the problem ain't the alox or powder, it's a sloppy user...

mikld,

Alox is MESSY PERIOD!.
easy to use but messy on the equipment, your hands and SMOKY too.

HI-TEK coatings and TRADITIONAL Powder Coatings are similar BUT are
entirely DIFFERENT processes.

I happen to use the HI-TEK coatings invented in Australia, sold by
J M Specialties in Australia and distributed in the USA by Bayou Bullets and Gateway Bullets.



I believe other COMMERCIAL Casters ( SNS, BBI, LNL) get their HI-TEK Supplies from Bayou and Gateway.

My supplies along with FINISHED PROJECTILES generally come from Donnie at Bayou Bullets.

I have ordered from SNS Casting and Gateway Bullets.

I have been WELL SATISFIED with the HI-TEK PRODUCTS AND PROJECTILES that I've received from them.

This process JUST FLAT WORKS.



Many others are having great luck with the POWDER COATING of projectiles also.

This is NOT A FLASH IN THE PAN idea and process, competitive shooters have been using HI-TEK in Australia for over 20 years.

It's just relatively NEW to Americans in general.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN THE CONVENTIONAL LUBE BUSINESS CURRENTLY OR LOOKING TO GET INTO IT.

The HI-TEK sure works for me.

IMHO This IS the wave of the FUTURE.

To each his own however, it's your choice.

P.S.

I'm NOT CONNECTED to any of the firms mentioned, other than being a very satisfied customer.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

You sucked me in. I ordered 2,000 from Bayou on Thursday. will be here Monday ! Red and Green

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Still Running Against the Wind

Groo here
Word is the Auses are working on a rifle version of Hi-Tek.
More colors comming [ silver?]
Best for me is no cast ranges often allow these boolets
as they are "fully coated"

Groo01,

The Aussie development is being encouraged by AMERICAN DEMAND for a rifle product too.

The sufficient demand wasn't there, it is here though.


Rule3,

Donnie's (Bayou Bullets) customer service is RIGHT UP THERE WITH DILLON'S.

You'll be a HAPPY CAMPER I bet.

Progress is a wonderful thing.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

Groo01,

The Aussie development is being encouraged by AMERICAN DEMAND for a rifle product too.

The sufficient demand wasn't there, it is here though.


****NOTE****

Aussies can only or were only able to purchase FINISHED PROJECTILES,

HERE, you can purchase the PRODUCT to self coat or the finished projectiles.



Rule3,

Donnie's (Bayou Bullets) customer service is RIGHT UP THERE WITH DILLON'S.

You'll be a HAPPY CAMPER I bet.

Progress is a wonderful thing.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

I spoke with him. He sounds exactly like Jerry. The bullets I ordered are just for semi auto. I really need to get some for revolvers as they are the ones I shoot more lead out of.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Sounds like an early Christmas

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it just needs more voltage

After the results of the first batch, I ordered another 500 115 gr 30 cal coated bullets. I also ordered some 105 gr. 380s and 100 of their 38 cal 158 swc. I want to shoot the 38s in my snubbies.

Bad luck with the 158 gr 30 cal I ordered from another company. The did not shoot in my 308, when I put the bore rider nose in the end of the barrel, it wiggles around.

I have 1,000 Powder coated 141 gr BNWC for the 38 I have not even tried.

I ordered 500 356's for my 38 Super from Bayou. About half way through them I ordered another 3500.
I have two 38 Supers that have always had a problem consistently feeding. So far, after shooting about 800 of the coated I have not had a single feeding problem from either gun.
My biggest problem is that I have to be careful when picking up the bullets to load as they tend to slip right through my fingers.
Some smell, but not enough to get offended about.

Thus far with the powder coated variant, I have noticed a few "stinkers".
being the first run, and kinda shooting blind, I just added a few minutes of bake time, and the problem was not detected in the next outing.
Might be that SNS runs their bake a little short, or a little low.

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it just needs more voltage

YEP, not quite TOTALLY CURED resins can elevate an odor.

If self coating HI-TEK (as SNS uses), you would need to lengthen
your baking time or increase your ovens temp.

Venomballistics,

You need to make sure it's not THE PERSON IN THE STALL NEXT YOU ALSO. lol

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO