Not impressed with Hy-Tec coated bullets

[rockquarry]

There's still nothing wrong with conventionally sized and lubed cast bullets. They may give off a bit of smoke, but you won't notice this if you shoot outdoors. Any lube residue, etc., is easily wiped off fingers. A regular cast bullet that fits a gun and is of the proper alloy will likely shoot more accurately than anything else, including a jacketed bullet. It won't lead the bore or leave any residue other than mild powder fouling, something easily cleaned up.

 

[GypsmJim]

I've been casting and lubing my own for 45 years with excellent success. Due to my dwindling lead supply and the high cost of lead I decided to buy some Hi-Tek coated bullets. haven't loaded them yet.

This thread piqued my interest. The bullets I bought online are oversized (what I wanted - its for a 41 mag). I can't remove the coating with a finger nail no matter how hard I try. However, a box cutter razor blade will remove the coating. What's next to the bare lead cannot be removed with my finger nail.

Does it sound like these are properly coated?

 

[Eddietruett]

I've probably shot at least 20k rounds of HyTek coated bullets from Missouri, SNS, Summers, Brazos and Hoosier in 9mm, 38/357 and 44mag/spl. I've never encountered anything like the OP with any of the companies I've tried. Every now and then with all suppliers I have found a round or two that the coating is not uniform, but never had one peel. I've tried the smash test will all I've tried and the coating is really tough. As someone else pointed out, when we shoot steel, the bullets we find are really deformed, but the coating is intact. Its worth the little difference in cost to me for the reduced smoke, clean bores and cleaner loading as well. Even though most of my loads are light target loads, I've pushed them every bit as fast as jacketed bullets with no hint of leading or loss of accuracy.

 

[rwsmith]

I shoot a LOT of Missouri Bullets...

The coating is very consistent, applied correctly and holds up under loading and shooting very well.

I've also bought some powder coated bullets that were poorly applied. I prefer the Hy Tek.

 

[Oracle]

I don't reload, yet, I follow this forum for reloading information. So, please enlighten me, what is smash test, PC and HT? Do lead bullets usually have a coating? Do lead bullets require a different technique for reloading as compared to FMJ or MJHP?

Don

 

[stansdds]

I don't reload, yet, I follow this forum for reloading information. So, please enlighten me, what is smash test, PC and HT? Do lead bullets usually have a coating? Do lead bullets require a different technique for reloading as compared to FMJ or MJHP?

Don

Smash test=bash a bullet with a hammer and see if the coating comes off.

HT=Hy-Tek powder coating, I guess. Hy-Tek is the name of the company that provides the powder coating material specifically for lead bullets, it is up to the bullet manufacturer or DIY user to properly apply and bake the coating.

PC=Powder Coating, I guess.

Lead bullets generally cannot be driven to velocities as high as jacketed bullets. Swaged lead are the softest, cast lead bullets can be alloyed to make them harder and can be driven to higher velocity than swaged lead before significant barrel leading is encountered. Powder coated bullets are less expensive than jacketed bullets, but are supposed to prevent leading even when driven to velocities that equal those of jacketed bullets. Lead bullets and coated lead bullets require a little less powder charge than jacketed due to their lower coefficient of friction.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

COATED BULLETS

Still does not answer the question of who manufactured these bullets.
Powder coating is a process, done correctly, it is very difficult to separate the coating from the underlying metal. Done incorrectly and the coating will easily separate from the metal. Some cast lead bullet manufacturers do a great job with coatings, some do not.

My experience is somewhat different than the OP. I use these in several calibers, including the elusive .'correct' bullet for .38 S&W, that being 145/142gn .360, my choice for this one. If you want a flawless product, give PENN BULLETS a try. You wont be disappointed in any way. Do however, be prepared for somewhat of a wait in this day and age. JMHO

 

[Forrest r]

Your issues with reloading the pc'd bullets is two fold. The case expanders in both sets of dies that you are using are designed for the shorter/skinnier jacketed bullets. M-dies are by design loner bodied expanding the cases deeper and have a "step" in them that the bullet sits in and starts strait when seating.

Your expanders are expanding the cases deep enough or wide enough. The bullets were being scrapped when seated. After you opened the cases more the bullet is goes to the point of least resistance/tilting to 1 side when being seated. The lee's nose rod is a better fit to the bullet profile your using then the rcbs dies.

Hence 2 different issues that start with the expander die.

 

[yeti]

Good advice above from Forrest r. The Lyman M-Die is good to have, but you can load "coated" with most dies with some extra care.

Bell a touch more than you ever would for jacketed. The coated bullet sits just barely inside the brass, so as not to scrap off any coating during seating. Properly done Hi-Tek is durable, but a sharp edge will slice off some of the coating. The M-die is great because it really helps square up the bullet ready to be seated, but extra care with a standard die set will also work. Just like plated bullets, do not over crimp them and damage the coating. Just remove the bell. Proper coated bullets are slightly oversize, neck tension should not be an issue unless there is something seriously wrong with your brass. Cranking down the crimp is not the way to go.

The two main coatings used are polyurethane (Hi-Tek branded) and commercially available powder coatings (polyester...mostly) both of which work well.
I am a big fan of Hi-Tek coated, done properly. Try some out if you haven't already.

 

[pistolpete10]

I recently bought some Hi Tech from Brazos. I've shot a few and haven't had any problems loading them, they shot without leading so if they prove to be accurate I'll like them. They are more blunt nosed than the plated bullets I normally use, have to be seated deeper.