Coated Keith bullets?
- Thread starter SLT223
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Google 'coated keith bullet 240 grain .44
And you'll see that Missouri makes them along with Bayou.
Both good bullets, I buy a lot of Missouri's and some Bayou, too.
And you'll see that Missouri makes them along with Bayou.
Both good bullets, I buy a lot of Missouri's and some Bayou, too.
Well MBC calls them Elmer K bullets but they're not true Keith style.
I tried these a couple years ago & got inconsistent quality on the HT coating & had leading issues on two calibers. He told me they fixed that problem but the .500 bullets I ordered next had the same issue so I quit buying from them. Maybe they have fixed their coating issues now.
Acme Bullets has the same style 240 LSWC-HT bullet. I liked their quality better on the ones I tried.
Any 250gr bullets... I don't know though.
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Missouri Bullets 452-250HT & 430-240HT
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I tried these a couple years ago & got inconsistent quality on the HT coating & had leading issues on two calibers. He told me they fixed that problem but the .500 bullets I ordered next had the same issue so I quit buying from them. Maybe they have fixed their coating issues now.
Acme Bullets has the same style 240 LSWC-HT bullet. I liked their quality better on the ones I tried.
Any 250gr bullets... I don't know though.
.
Missouri Bullets 452-250HT & 430-240HT
.
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I've had some problem...
I've had some problems with other bullet casters, too. Especially 'powder' coatigs. I"ve had good luck with Missouri through, and Bayou too. And yeah, I haven't measured them to see if they are anywhere near actual Keith proportions. Maybe we can find some closer to the real thing. I'm not sure how close the OP needs, OP? Whatcha say?
PS I took a close look at the Missouries and yeah, there are two driving bands and a bevel base. And the groove is rounded instead of square. The large meplat is the closest thing to a Keith that it has.
I've had some problems with other bullet casters, too. Especially 'powder' coatigs. I"ve had good luck with Missouri through, and Bayou too. And yeah, I haven't measured them to see if they are anywhere near actual Keith proportions. Maybe we can find some closer to the real thing. I'm not sure how close the OP needs, OP? Whatcha say?
PS I took a close look at the Missouries and yeah, there are two driving bands and a bevel base. And the groove is rounded instead of square. The large meplat is the closest thing to a Keith that it has.
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Nemo288
Member
Anyone finds a coated TRUE Keith 44 bullet let us know.
All I have found have those stupid bevel bases.
Most also do not have a true Keith full width leading band in front of the crimp groove.
Or a square bottomed lube groove
ACME (which is kind of local to me) has an extreme bevel base.
There are true Keith bullets being made but none are coated I know of.
44 Mag, Lyman 429421, 255gr, SWC-K (Authentic Keith) - Montana Bullet Works
All I have found have those stupid bevel bases.
Most also do not have a true Keith full width leading band in front of the crimp groove.
Or a square bottomed lube groove
ACME (which is kind of local to me) has an extreme bevel base.
There are true Keith bullets being made but none are coated I know of.
44 Mag, Lyman 429421, 255gr, SWC-K (Authentic Keith) - Montana Bullet Works
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BruceM
Member
Even many of the Lyman 429421 molds are not true Keith type bullets because the have a round grease groove instead of a square one. My mold manufactured in the 1980's does have the square bottom grease groove. So, at least some of the later production is correct relative to Keith's design.
As far as the pictured Missouri Bullets .44 SWC being a true Keith design, it's not even close. They can say what they want but folks who know what they're looking at......
Bruce
As far as the pictured Missouri Bullets .44 SWC being a true Keith design, it's not even close. They can say what they want but folks who know what they're looking at......
Bruce
Montana Bullets....
Montana Bullets has a genuine looking Keith, but they aren't coated. And I'm not sure the double ogive is there. If nothing better turns up maybe you can get them to supply them unlubed and coat them yourself.
They MAY be able to supply them coated if you ask.
Beartooth has lubed and gas checked but the proportions look really good.
Penn Bullets WAS getting into coated (I bought some) but I don't see any sign of it on their site.
Chey cast makes one but it does't look like an authentic Keith either.
Montana Bullets has a genuine looking Keith, but they aren't coated. And I'm not sure the double ogive is there. If nothing better turns up maybe you can get them to supply them unlubed and coat them yourself.
They MAY be able to supply them coated if you ask.
Beartooth has lubed and gas checked but the proportions look really good.
Penn Bullets WAS getting into coated (I bought some) but I don't see any sign of it on their site.
Chey cast makes one but it does't look like an authentic Keith either.
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ontargetagain
Member
Take a look at Badman bullets, any questions you have regarding the quality or use call them, good people and I have had their 38's and 45's and they have been excellent.
Karl
Karl
Nemo288
Member
Looks like they (Badman) are using the same "Keith" mould as ACME:
Thin leading band and a heavy bevel base.
If you are coating it, the lube groove design is irrelevant.
Thin leading band and a heavy bevel base.
If you are coating it, the lube groove design is irrelevant.
"Kieth" bullets will be difficult to find from commercial casters; 2 reasons, a square bottomed lube groove bullet won't normally drop out of a mod as easily as a rounded or tapered lube groove. Same with the base, a beveled base is easier to cast than a square base. Besides, in real life there isn't that much difference between a "true" Kieth and say a 429421...
OP
SLT223
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Thank you to everyone for responding thus far. Has any tried the Keith bullets by these folks:
https://beartoothbullets.com/images/bullets/BTB-44-250K2.jpg
You can select some sizing...
I think I may give up on finding coated ones, and just deal with the lube smoke.
https://beartoothbullets.com/images/bullets/BTB-44-250K2.jpg
You can select some sizing...
I think I may give up on finding coated ones, and just deal with the lube smoke.
Nemo288
Member
Beartooth makes excellent bullets.
I have shot several of their 44 slugs but never that one.
It looks pretty close to the original design with the possible exception of the nose profile.
Their heavy gas checked bullets are popular with the 444 crowd.
I have shot several of their 44 slugs but never that one.
It looks pretty close to the original design with the possible exception of the nose profile.
Their heavy gas checked bullets are popular with the 444 crowd.
Confederate Tyrant
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Magnus Bullets sells 250gr Keith bullets. I've loaded up quite a few but haven't shot them yet.
If leading is an issue for me I plan to strip the bullet lube and powder coat the ones I have left.
If leading is an issue for me I plan to strip the bullet lube and powder coat the ones I have left.
Bakebfr480
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What a thing to do to the "perfect" bullet.
OP
SLT223
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Keith was more than a little innovative for his time. If coatings were available, he would have messed with them. He messed with everything else. I doubt a person as perceptive as Elmer Keith would have been blind to the benefits of coated lead. All speculation of course. I was merely hoping someone was making a good bullet better on a commercial scale.
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BruceM
Member
True Keith designs, regardless of caliber will never have round grease grooves, bevel bases or gas checks. Hensley & Gibbs' molds are generally true to Keith's concepts. They are:
H&G #43 in .38 caliber
H&G #258 in .41 caliber
H&G #503 in .44 caliber
H&G #501 in .45 (Colt)caliber
Bruce
I haven't tried this particuler bullet but I have bought their 41Mag & 44Mag flat base SWCs & they make a pretty good product, if you're not going the coated route now.
Rim Rock .45 LC 270 gr. SWC-FB Keith
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Toss the "Kieth" name, they are just lead semi-wadcutters. The original true Kieth bullet has been changed by everyone that has made molds for it, a slight change in angle here a bit smaller/larger there, some even added gaschecks. All are good...
BTW; Beartooth Bullets is an excellent company with excellent products. I buy bullets that I don't have a mold for, some just to try out, some because I don't use enough to justify buying a mold...
BTW; Beartooth Bullets is an excellent company with excellent products. I buy bullets that I don't have a mold for, some just to try out, some because I don't use enough to justify buying a mold...
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BruceM
Member
Not hardly. It is true that there are other excellent SWC designs such as a couple of those designed by Ray Thompson but to say one SWC is just as good as another is nonsense.
Bruce
Nine hundred ninety-nine reloaders/shooters/hunters out of 1,000 cannot tell the difference between a "true Kieth" bullet or any of the many copies/variations either in accuracy, effects on game, or shooting qualities. Maybe during a close inspection with measuring tools and blueprints of each bullet some could find differences. Perhaps Keith himself could tell the difference from his original design and a Lyman 429421, but I am sure no one reading this forum could...
Perhaps someone could preform a test, side by side between a "true Kieth" and say a 429421 or any of the clones. A few hundred rounds of each then a "blind test" where the shooter did not know hat is chambered. I don't have that much interest in this subject as my Lyman 429421, my "Thompson design" 44 cal w/gascheck and my RCBS LSWC are very accurate in my 4, .44 Magnum handguns...
Perhaps someone could preform a test, side by side between a "true Kieth" and say a 429421 or any of the clones. A few hundred rounds of each then a "blind test" where the shooter did not know hat is chambered. I don't have that much interest in this subject as my Lyman 429421, my "Thompson design" 44 cal w/gascheck and my RCBS LSWC are very accurate in my 4, .44 Magnum handguns...
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