palmetto99
Member
Any one using any of what I call "coated" bullets? Lead bullets with some kind of coating (not plated). Any issues? Thanks.
"coated" bullets?
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roscoepc
Member
I use Berrys Plated bullets for target practice with my 500. No problems with them as yet and they are rated to 2000fps if I want to go that hot with them....
BERRY 50 (.500) 350gr RS BULLET w/CANN. 500/box | Shooter Supply USA
BERRY 50 (.500) 350gr RS BULLET w/CANN. 500/box | Shooter Supply USA
Collo Rosso
Member
I am about to enter the coated zone...
I've used plated bullets for years for my semi-autos but thought I'd try coated and see what it's about. These (230gr. RN's) are from Luck13 bullets, delivered to my door for $53 even. The price of plated bullets has crept up and the last best deal for the same bullet plated was $60 from Xtreme on a free ship weekend. If these work as I believe they will I may have loaded my last plated bullet.
I REALLY like....
I REALLY like coated bullets. They feel and shoot cleaner. They don't have leading problems. They are cheaper than plated and in my opinion, better and you can surely push the coated ones faster. To do that with a plated bullet, you have to get the 'heavy' plated ones, which of course translates to more expense. I've shot lead bullets with the 'lube in groove' conventionally lubed and they are smokey and stinky. Not so with coated.
My advice. Get some. Get a lot. You won't have to test them, you will like them immediately and be glad you bought them.
I REALLY like coated bullets. They feel and shoot cleaner. They don't have leading problems. They are cheaper than plated and in my opinion, better and you can surely push the coated ones faster. To do that with a plated bullet, you have to get the 'heavy' plated ones, which of course translates to more expense. I've shot lead bullets with the 'lube in groove' conventionally lubed and they are smokey and stinky. Not so with coated.
My advice. Get some. Get a lot. You won't have to test them, you will like them immediately and be glad you bought them.
Black_Sheep
Member
Several guys in our pistol league suggested Precision brand bullets so I ordered up 1000 200gr SWC for my .45 ACP loads. So far I have been very pleased, they are very clean shooting compared to traditional cast lead bullets and as accurate as my previous loads if not more so...
Welcome to Precision Bullets in Kemp, Texas.
Welcome to Precision Bullets in Kemp, Texas.
Calliope
Member
I use Blue bullets in .45 and .357. They use a polymer coating (Hy Tek?), not a powder coat. Very happy with the results.
The Blue Bullets
The Blue Bullets
I have used a few hundred coated bullets recently to see how they work. IMHO they are no worse than plated bullets at reasonable velocities and are significantly cheaper. If you are planning on pushing them fast, stick with the thick plated bullets, like Berry's or Xtreme. I still shoot a lot of those too, mostly in .38 super or .40.
venomballistics
Member
Been casting and coating for quite some time.
You will like this technology.
There are 2 predominant coatings, hy tek ,and electrostatic powder coating.
In pistols, they are largely interchangeable, given that there is no special case, such as repairing under sizes, or building up a bullet as one might have to for a 38 S&W when only .357 can be found.
Try them with confidence.
You will not break the back of either system, though you are welcome to try.
You will like this technology.
There are 2 predominant coatings, hy tek ,and electrostatic powder coating.
In pistols, they are largely interchangeable, given that there is no special case, such as repairing under sizes, or building up a bullet as one might have to for a 38 S&W when only .357 can be found.
Try them with confidence.
You will not break the back of either system, though you are welcome to try.
venomballistics
Member
Nah, that's what powder coated is for.
I drive them well past 2000 fps in rifles routinely, and without drama.
SLT223
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Bayou and Missouri coated hard cast = A+. They can be driven at full magnun velocity, dont lead up the bore, no copper fouling, no Alox cloud, AND they're cheaper than plated. That's a done deal for me. I'd call it a magic bullet, but it's real.
SLT223
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x2
I routinely launch 215 and 240gr .430's out of a 20" Winchester 1892 with a full charge of 296...that's about 2000fps.
Xtreme slugs are only rated for 1200fps. I tried pushing that envelope with 8" 29-2. Bullets keyholed at 10 yards!!!
Murphy's Law
Member
+1 for Bayou bullets. That's all I use now with "zero" leading!
gaijin
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I've been using 200 gr SWC (H&G knock offs with flat base) "Blue Bullets" in .45 ACP for USPSA shooting.
250 .45 200 Gr SWC
Accuracy to 50 yds. is good enough to not feel handicapped.
I still use JHP's in 9 mm and .38 Super.
My handgun hunting bullets are (still) cast; either Keith type or WFN (Wide Flat Nose) with gas checks.
250 .45 200 Gr SWC
Accuracy to 50 yds. is good enough to not feel handicapped.
I still use JHP's in 9 mm and .38 Super.
My handgun hunting bullets are (still) cast; either Keith type or WFN (Wide Flat Nose) with gas checks.
Magload
US Veteran
I switched from Blue Bullets to Missouri just because of shipping time. I do like X-treme plated and still buy them. I think only because they got a traditional bullet look with the copper plating. Don
elpac3
Member
Have shot Bayou Bullets with great success.
Used the 240 grain .44 for the fall hunting league with great accuracy and really clean burning.
Used the 200 grain .45 in both the 1955 / 45 and the 1911 for target league.
Shoot the 115, 124 and 147 grainer's in the model 39 with no issues at all.
Was totally shocked the other day when I ordered from Bayou (well, maybe I shouldn't be shocked), had a note back with in the hour that my bullets had shipped.
Super clean bullets, super fast service.
Used the 240 grain .44 for the fall hunting league with great accuracy and really clean burning.
Used the 200 grain .45 in both the 1955 / 45 and the 1911 for target league.
Shoot the 115, 124 and 147 grainer's in the model 39 with no issues at all.
Was totally shocked the other day when I ordered from Bayou (well, maybe I shouldn't be shocked), had a note back with in the hour that my bullets had shipped.
Super clean bullets, super fast service.
venomballistics
Member
Have to love it
it just does what it says.
I brutally whipped the minions up past 3000 FPS.
We do eventually run into issues to where we cannot totally replace jackets, but it does deliver a great deal of overlap between cast and jacketed.
It can make a seriously viable field load from a cast 30-06 target / plinking load. And it's DIY friendly.
fomcco
Member
+2. Very little smoke, too.
With all due respect to all the above posters, my view of these coated bullets is that they are an answer to a non-existent problem. The issue with commercial cast projectiles is they are too hard, and the lube used on them doesn't work as it should: it is too hard, it falls out of the grease grooves instead of staying there, and so forth. And atop that, a lot of the bullets we buy are not sized properly. If you don't believe that, take a zero to 1" micrometer, and measure the projectiles at the proper points. It is sometimes amazing how far off they are. I know, because I used to buy commercial, but I soon decided I could pour a better bullet than I could buy. I still can...
But we buy, and then we cry. If consumers got hold of the commercial casters and voiced their displeasure, all this would be fixed. Instead, we come up with these pretty little bullets of blue, pink, red, and green, coat them with some space aged powder that is a misapplication of what it was designed for in the first place, and scream "Eureka! I found it!!!"
I will unequivocally state that I have shot my own cast out of both rifles and handguns, and all this smoke and leading I keep hearing about is non-existent, even in gas guns like my ARs. All that is required is to size the projectile properly, use a suitable alloy, and gas check the bullet if necessary. Traditional lube is still pretty cheap, and gas checks only add about three to three and a half cents to the cost of a bullet if you roll your own, and that is for the bigger checks like 44 and 45. Typically rifle checks are somewhat cheaper.
But I am used to being told I am wrong... although it doesn't happen as much as when I was married...
But we buy, and then we cry. If consumers got hold of the commercial casters and voiced their displeasure, all this would be fixed. Instead, we come up with these pretty little bullets of blue, pink, red, and green, coat them with some space aged powder that is a misapplication of what it was designed for in the first place, and scream "Eureka! I found it!!!"
I will unequivocally state that I have shot my own cast out of both rifles and handguns, and all this smoke and leading I keep hearing about is non-existent, even in gas guns like my ARs. All that is required is to size the projectile properly, use a suitable alloy, and gas check the bullet if necessary. Traditional lube is still pretty cheap, and gas checks only add about three to three and a half cents to the cost of a bullet if you roll your own, and that is for the bigger checks like 44 and 45. Typically rifle checks are somewhat cheaper.
But I am used to being told I am wrong... although it doesn't happen as much as when I was married...
OP
palmetto99
Member
Wow! Thanks for the input. I'm loading for a Glock 34 and thinking of moving to 124 grn bullets for competition.
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venomballistics
Member
With all due respect to all the above posters, my view of these coated bullets is that they are an answer to a non-existent problem. The issue with commercial cast projectiles is they are too hard, and the lube used on them doesn't work as it should: it is too hard, it falls out of the grease grooves instead of staying there, and so forth. And atop that, a lot of the bullets we buy are not sized properly. If you don't believe that, take a zero to 1" micrometer, and measure the projectiles at the proper points. It is sometimes amazing how far off they are. I know, because I used to buy commercial, but I soon decided I could pour a better bullet than I could buy. I still can...
But we buy, and then we cry. If consumers got hold of the commercial casters and voiced their displeasure, all this would be fixed. Instead, we come up with these pretty little bullets of blue, pink, red, and green, coat them with some space aged powder that is a misapplication of what it was designed for in the first place, and scream "Eureka! I found it!!!"
I will unequivocally state that I have shot my own cast out of both rifles and handguns, and all this smoke and leading I keep hearing about is non-existent, even in gas guns like my ARs. All that is required is to size the projectile properly, use a suitable alloy, and gas check the bullet if necessary. Traditional lube is still pretty cheap, and gas checks only add about three to three and a half cents to the cost of a bullet if you roll your own, and that is for the bigger checks like 44 and 45. Typically rifle checks are somewhat cheaper.
But I am used to being told I am wrong... although it doesn't happen as much as when I was married...
With all due respect, coatings are an answer to a whole lot of problems you just listed.
they eliminate much of the need for sizing to a level of precision to be envied by the jet propulsion laboratories.
they eliminate the need to have a degree in metallurgy.
they eliminate the need for faffing about with various lubes by eliminating said lubes.
they eliminate the issues of using lead in polygonal rifled barrels such as those used by Glock, HK, and a few others.
they eliminate the need for gas checks.
they eliminate the need for lube grooves, which will allow a mold to rain bullets at rates no traditional design would ever allow.
Why put up with having to be so exacting to make it work, when you can use lead of nearly any hardness and expect excellent results?
If you don't like it, don't use it.
but don't look down at us for it. We have something that finally actually lives up to the claims and promises oh so many traditional products advertised through the decades, and never delivered.
This never made the claims ... but it delivers.
FINALLY, someone makes a coated bullet that doesn't make the loaded cartridge look like a tube of lipstick!
Blue, green, red, orange, they all just look weird to me. Black or dark grey I can deal with...
fredj338
Member
That is just one type. I like the hi-trek coating, what Missouri uses, but if runs out of gas about 1500fos, accuracy starts to go. PC will get you at least 2000fps with decent accuracy.
I am just getting going doing both. Both are good, PC is a better bet for rifle vel. Both are easy to apply. I shake & bake both, pretty simple.
venomballistics
Member
I've observed much the same.
At pistol velocities, it offers so much latitude that cast can be thought of as born again new.
you can still run your super hard alloys or, go to pure soft lead.
That's not a small gain.
pure soft lead at full magnum velocities is perfectly fine, and offers expansion previously lost to the need for harder alloys needed for those magnum velocities.
In fact, hardness does not even start to enter the equation till we get up past about 1600 where resistance to deformation during firing can help with accuracy.
At pistol velocities, it offers so much latitude that cast can be thought of as born again new.
you can still run your super hard alloys or, go to pure soft lead.
That's not a small gain.
pure soft lead at full magnum velocities is perfectly fine, and offers expansion previously lost to the need for harder alloys needed for those magnum velocities.
In fact, hardness does not even start to enter the equation till we get up past about 1600 where resistance to deformation during firing can help with accuracy.
venomballistics
Member
some colors might not be particularly dignified, but they do bring along a handy feature.
if we look at a 44 magnum's 240 grain Kieth type SWC, we have a sort of Swiss Army Knife bullet.
loaded with unique, its a fine all day shooter and reasonably capable load. Same with 2400 H110 or AA#9 behind it is a solidly capable full house dose of heavy metal medicine.
both side by side look identical ... unless you used different colors to tell em apart at a glance
fredj338
Member
If the loud colors bother you, get some hi-tek gold. The bullets come out almost brass colored.
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Geo. T.
Member
Precision Bullets
I have used thousands of their 200 grain SWC's in the 45 ACP and they are great! Barrel clean up is a snap and the pistol stays cleaner than with any other bullet. They are very fairly priced and right now shipping is free!
I have used thousands of their 200 grain SWC's in the 45 ACP and they are great! Barrel clean up is a snap and the pistol stays cleaner than with any other bullet. They are very fairly priced and right now shipping is free!
Been using Hi-Tek coated bullets by several manufacturers for a couple years. Bayou, BBI, The Blue Bullets, ACME, SNS, & Precision have all worked well, but I have favorite bullets among these. Cleaner dies, cleaner barrels, no double tap smokescreen with acrid aftertaste. All that at not much more cost than lubed lead. They work great!
I've been using Bayou 9mm, both 125 and 147 as well as a 45 225 TC. I am very impressed by the performance of the bullets, and the fast service from Bayou. Also, Donnie will answer any questions regarding loading. Never any leading, minimal clean up and accurate. What more do you want.
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