HiTek Coating
- Thread starter NeilMo
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fredj338
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Coated bullets have been around for almost 20y here & in Australia. Its a clean way to shoot lead bullets, so perfectly fine in poly bbls. Generally cheaper than plated & less finicky to reload than plated.
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I have used a fair number of them over the last two years. Zero complaints.
I have PCed my own cast and purchased Hi-Tek coated bullets. I've used maybe 1,000 Hi-Tek in my 45 ACP handloads, a bit less in my 9mm, and a few in my 38/357 loads. The do everything they are claimed to do; clean shooting, clean handling and as accurate as most lead loads. I got mine from Precision bullets; precisionbullets.com – The Difference is Precision!
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I like them also, only ones I use....38 158 gr.....Missouri Bullet Company...I think they're worth the extra!
The only thing keeping me from really diving in to Hi-Tek coated lead slugs is that I built myself a pretty hefty supply of plated over the preceding 5 or so years.
Right now, I am using a 180 grain Hi-Tek coated slug in .357 Magnum specifically for one gun -- my Ruger 77/357 bolt action rifle. I wanted a large, heavy slug and this one does extremely well. With a dose of AA#9 powder, I'm running this 180 grain coated truncated cone slug at an average of 1,500 fps from this rifle's 18-1/2" barrel and I get -zero- signs of lead deposits in the bore and it's accurate enough to ding steel plates at 200-300 yards.
Right now, I am using a 180 grain Hi-Tek coated slug in .357 Magnum specifically for one gun -- my Ruger 77/357 bolt action rifle. I wanted a large, heavy slug and this one does extremely well. With a dose of AA#9 powder, I'm running this 180 grain coated truncated cone slug at an average of 1,500 fps from this rifle's 18-1/2" barrel and I get -zero- signs of lead deposits in the bore and it's accurate enough to ding steel plates at 200-300 yards.
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I like Hytek....
...over power coatings. I shoot a LOT of Missouri Bullets and some Bayou.
...over power coatings. I shoot a LOT of Missouri Bullets and some Bayou.
I have shot a lot of 185 grain lead swc from Bayou Bullets in my 45 amp 1911. These are a hi-tech coated bullet and they don’t lead up the barrel and seem to be accurate despite my efforts. Give Bayou
Bullets a try.
Bullets a try.
I just recently "discovered" hi-tek coated bullets and bought 500 to try in my 9mm Glock. 124 grain at 1100 FPS and no leading. I'm convinced and I'm about to order 2000 more. They're a heck of a savings over jacketed costs.
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I have fired many thousands of Missouri Bullet Hy Tech coated bullets, mostly in .38 caliber 158 grain. But, also .44s and .45 Colt. They are great folks and run a very nice business.
Coated bullets are much cleaner to reload, cleaner to shoot, with virtually no lube smoke (great in indoor ranges) and easier to clean the gun. Frankly, in my experience, they are slightly less accurate than jacketed, or regular lubed lead. Not so much as to make a big deal at pistol ranges. It could very well be my reloading technique. I don't know. Not enough to keep me from buying them though. I just bought 4000 more of them in .38 and .44!
I have never seen a good, thorough comparative study of their accuracy and would like to see one.
I once shot three different guns, on three different range days, comparing 158 grain coated bullets against Federal 130 grain jacketed factory ammo, on a PPC type course shooting up to 25 yards. The coated bullets gave me a larger group and lower score than did the 130 grain ammo. It still could have been my shooting, and definitely not a scientific comparisoin. Still not enough to keep me from getting more.
Coated bullets are much cleaner to reload, cleaner to shoot, with virtually no lube smoke (great in indoor ranges) and easier to clean the gun. Frankly, in my experience, they are slightly less accurate than jacketed, or regular lubed lead. Not so much as to make a big deal at pistol ranges. It could very well be my reloading technique. I don't know. Not enough to keep me from buying them though. I just bought 4000 more of them in .38 and .44!
I have never seen a good, thorough comparative study of their accuracy and would like to see one.
I once shot three different guns, on three different range days, comparing 158 grain coated bullets against Federal 130 grain jacketed factory ammo, on a PPC type course shooting up to 25 yards. The coated bullets gave me a larger group and lower score than did the 130 grain ammo. It still could have been my shooting, and definitely not a scientific comparisoin. Still not enough to keep me from getting more.
I have been using them for years. Bayou Bullets has been my go to up until lately. A club member started producing most of what I need. A quick text and I am set for a few months. He delivers to our biweekly steel match.
I have shot thousands of Hytek coated bullets in 9mm, .357, 40S&W, and 45acp. Zero issues. Very little smoke and , as pointed out already, far less finicky to reload than plated. The pic below is a Hytek bullet from SNS. I smashed it flat with a hammer on a concrete floor and there is absolutely no coating loss.
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I'm 100% sold on HyTek Coated. I agree with all of the above and in most of my guns they are as accurate as any jacketed or plated I've ever tried. Most of mine have come from SNS and Missouri, but I just recently loaded up a couple thousand 148gr WC from Brazos Bullets. Their WC has the little button top that for some reason I really like. Doesn't do a thing for the accuracy, I just like the way it looks. Very impressed with the quality and cheaper than Hytek from other companies.
mushroom62
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I have shot them since Bayou started making them. Well worth the slight increase in price over cast,the clean up alone is worth it.Don't forget to use a slightly larger bell on the case so you don't scrape off the finish when seating them.
I haven't loaded pistol cartridges for a number of years now but I've started up again. Fortunately I have lots of primers and powder but few bullets. I ordered from Acme and Brazos, they seemed to be the only ones with the calibers/styles I wanted. Of the two, Brazos is cheaper but we'll see how both perform. I don't think I'll be buying plain lead anymore.
I have loaded HyTec and Bayou and find I needed to open up my neck sizing a little so as to not scrape the coating off the sides when seating, For bullseye accuracy, I still prefer lead.
frankw
Member
I started buying coated bullets right after bayou started making them. I have shot many thousands of them and find myself using more from Acme and SNS lately.
They smoke way less than lead but still smoke more than FMJ or plated. I use them for competition in .38 Spl but only for practice in 9mm anymore.
Shoot House, Night shoots or certain light conditions the smoke seems to really hang so I like to use plated or FMJ for competitions but coated are less expensive.
They smoke way less than lead but still smoke more than FMJ or plated. I use them for competition in .38 Spl but only for practice in 9mm anymore.
Shoot House, Night shoots or certain light conditions the smoke seems to really hang so I like to use plated or FMJ for competitions but coated are less expensive.
A lot of us don't shoot that many coated bullets, because................
we still have way too many LEAD bullets to use up !!!!!!!
Only 1,204 left before I am down to just a few 100ct boxes.
The use of Hope's should reduce by 70% ?
we still have way too many LEAD bullets to use up !!!!!!!
Only 1,204 left before I am down to just a few 100ct boxes.
The use of Hope's should reduce by 70% ?
I just ordered 2500 hi-tek 9mm bullets a few weeks ago. Talk about trying something new jumping in with both feet! They reloaded fine. Haven’t shot them yet but the coating looked uniform and even. Make sure you bell your mouth enough before seating.
I have resized many coated bullets .358dia to .355dia ! The only thing that happened to the coating is a little polishing on the sides. They ran thru the sizing die like they were lubed!
jcelect
jcelect
I seem to notice a bit of an odor from them. It is not offensive, just a smell.
typetwelve
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I've used them in 44, 38, and 9mm loads. 44 special is pretty solid, few issues. 44 magnum? I've had horrific luck with them and I've tried all kinds of different loads. Still lead on me and have bad accuracy. 38 special are perfect, great results from them. 9mm? Same thing as 44 mag, even in the 1100 fps range, big leading issues.
I've given up on them for 44 mag and 9mm.
I've given up on them for 44 mag and 9mm.
Boudiepitbull
Member
Been loading a variety of coated bullets almost exclusively since I started reloading, mostly bullets sourced from Acme, in .380, 9mm, .38/.357, and .44. I use plated or lead bullet data and rarely push it to max loads (except for 9). All good so far although I find I get a better result if I seat and crimp in separate operations, otherwise I noticed I would sometimes cut thru the coating at the crimp.
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