Cast Bullets coated or lubed?

[rockquarry]

Powder coating is work, but since you don't have to let the lube dry (at least with ALOX) overnight, you can cast, PC, size all in the same day.

Rosewood

I've never heard of a bullet lube that required drying. Can you provide some details?

 

[venomballistics]

I've never heard of a bullet lube that required drying. Can you provide some details?

Liquid Alox.
The stuff has a bit of solvent to it and does require some dry time.
I've used it ... Never really liked it

 

[rockquarry]

Liquid Alox.
The stuff has a bit of solvent to it and does require some dry time.
I've used it ... Never really liked it

I forgot about Liquid Alox. Tried it once thirty or more years ago before going back to regular lube. While it may work to some degree, it's messy and looks unprofessional. I've found conventional lube to be much better even if it requires a lube/sizer and dies.

 

[venomballistics]

I forgot about Liquid Alox. Tried it once thirty or more years ago before going back to regular lube. While it may work to some degree, it's messy and looks unprofessional. I've found conventional lube to be much better even if it requires a lube/sizer and dies.

I found it over promised and under delivered.
Probably does alright with a 38 wad cutter of typical loading, but try to get some heat to it. It wouldn't hold up.

 

[pantannojack]

I wasted many primers (2000 or more) and 231 powder trying to shoot copper coated big box store bullets from a 39-2 to satisfaction. I could not do it. I won't try it again. I like lead and lube.

 

[venomballistics]

I wasted many primers (2000 or more) and 231 powder trying to shoot copper coated big box store bullets from a 39-2 to satisfaction. I could not do it. I won't try it again. I like lead and lube.

plated isn't the same as coated.
Copper plating tends to be a bit delicate. The crimp can make or break the load, and if you have a tight chamber, you may have to over crimp to get them to go into battery.
The coatings are polymer. They can handle being crimped

 

[3rdgeargrndrr]

Coated- shoot anywhere.
Lubed - outdoor ranges only.

 

[Waldo]

Many thanks to all who replied.

 

[RevKAB]

Powder coated bullets

I have been powder coating cast bullets for my pistol caliber bullets for about 5 years now. I use the Eastwood powder coating system, and find i can easily produce evenly coated high quality bullets that produce little to no leading.

Ion .38 and 9mm sizes, I run the coated bullets through the sizer - they glide through easily. Hence no case bulging. Same with .45acp. I DO like to run my 320 gr. .44mag bullets through the sizer both before and after powder coating.

Accuracy must be really good - I gave some of the 320s to a friend of mine who shoots 250 yard silhouette and frequently wins first or second.

 

[tygar]

29/629s just shoot good

No real experience with coated. A friend gave me some to try once & they were ok, but I make my own & have 5 or 6K lbs of lino/mono etc & believe me I have no problems with leading. Cleaning bores is quick & easy & as others have said, I like "gunsmoke". I will admit I am tired of lube getting on cases, dies, me, etc. But just wipe them off & they are good to go. In regards to the cheap 629 guy, I have found Smith 44 mags to almost universally shoot good. My first 29(8 3/8) in the 60s would shoot my 240 Keiths with, 11gr Unique & shoot out the X at 50yds & 4" at 100. Have probably had 50 or so over the years & still have 6+ & "really" can't remember a bad shooter. FWIW

 

[Manley-AK]

Hy-Tek Coated work fine

Hy-Tek Coated work fine...in my revolvers, but I've had some issues with 9 mm in my CZ. I allowed a 'neighbor' at the range to try a magazine load of my 9 mm rounds and he had no issues at all.

I'm in transition to move across the country and haven't reloaded (or shot) anything in a while. Have had no problems with the 125/140/158 gr .38/.357 loads I've made. I've been very happy with accuracy and consistency. And these bullets were relatively inexpensive. I'll eventually get back into this game and figure out the 'shtick' with my 9 mm rounds, but for now, I say, Hy-Tek is okay.

 

[Autonomous]

The coated rounds your CZ has issues with, have you tried the same bullet with just lube?

 

[rwsmith]

I think I read somewhere.....

....that Missouri Bullets sizes their bullets before coating and sizes them again afterward. Does anybody remember this?

Anyway, Missouri is my go to.

 

[pasound]

A few years back, a member was offering cast coated 38/357 146gr wadcutters and 170gr semi wadcutter hollow points for sale. Bought a few hundred from him, and they worked well in my GP100 and my j frames (no 170's in the j frames). Can't seem to find him now. Found Missouri coated, and bought both 38/357 and 44 in bulk, and love them. Shooting jacketed in 38 and 44 tends to leave more dirt than the coated bullets. And no leading with the hot loads (44 Skeeter), and no real difference in accuracy with the classic loads and my own historic load data. I used to shoot lubed 429421's in my 44's, and spent a long time brush scrubbing the lead out. With the Missouri coated Keith bullet, no lead, good accuracy. The coated 38/357 146gr wadcutters are equal in accuracy with all classic loads, and also don't leave a clogged barrel.

 

[rosewood]

I too have used the Missouri boolits, sometimes I am too lazy to make my own and I made my brother buy them... they have shot well. The 230 coated 45acp have been more accurate than jacketed in 1911s.

 

[max503]

I shoot a lot of bench rested 25 yard groups with my revolvers. I find traditional lubes cast bullets usually produce better accuracy that the coated bullets. The coated ones are fine for plinking and most will not notice a difference in that application. I strive for 6 shot bench rested 25 yard groups under 2 inches . Even when plinking, that level of accuracy inspires confidence. I prefer traditional lube overall but load some of both.

Now you've got me to thinking. The accuracy of coated boolits in my Rossi 357 rifle has been...uninspiring.
I'm gonna try lubing some.
Good thing I've hung on to the Lubrisizer.