Powder Coated Bullets Instead of Plated

[kbm6893]

I used to load lead bullets but switched to plated for cleaner barrels plus I just think they look better. I get my bullets from Xtreme Bullets. But the price is going up, and they used to offer free shipping all the time and now they never do. What is the price difference between plated and powder coated? And I assume the loading data for powder coated and lead would be the same?

 

[VAPA]

I have used Great Lakes poly coated with good results, just found SNS Casting, they also are working good and they are half the price, 5% coupons available which covers shipping. SNS recommends not using fast powder (above 15 on burn charts).
Plated are cast lead tumbled in a vat with copper ingots, the copper is transferred to the lead via electrolysis, the others are poly coated.
SNS says you can use either cast or jacketed data, cast data will be slightly slower, jacketed data slightly faster.
Two things I like about SNS is that they have a nice crimping groove with simplifies setting COL and a good base bevel so you don't need much of a mouth flare.

 

[LostintheOzone]

The price of coated bullets is also going up. I've been using them for years and just discover that they are within a cent or two of being just as expensive as FMJ for 9mm and 45acp, the two most popular auto cartridges.

I slowly migrating back to Speer FMJ.

 

[just plain joe]

You might want to check the prices of "BadMan Bullets". They offer poly-coated bullets. The shipping is free when you order the thousand count package. I have been using them for a little over a year in .38 (158 SWC) & 9 mm (124 RN). No problems, and especially NO leading. No malfunctions with my 9 mm Glock 19-5 and Sig P320.

I too used X-Treme bullets. They are great but I have moved away from them for the reasons you mention.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[littleriver1]

I tried coated bullets and was not impressed at all. The 38’s didn’t shoot well and the 9mm were so oversized I couldn’t load them. For the difference in price why bother. How much is enough when saving money while having a good day at the range. I’ll stay with what works best, not what cost less.

 

[ontargetagain]

All I shoot is Hy-Tek coated, shoot great for me. Bayou Bullets, Missouri Bullets, Summers Bullets, Badman Bullets etc great to do business with. Some nice offerings to choose from, I shoot indoors, lead won't work for me too much smoke, coated shoot clean for me.
Karl

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Not all coated bullets are the same. Some are no more than painted and then there are Hi-Tek coated bullets which are very good.

I use mostly lead bullets but for the 9mm I like coated bullets or jacketed bullets, not plated bullets. You can push the coated bullets hard in the 9mm with no leading or coating failure. I tried to make them fail and could not. I loaded up some 124gr coated 9mm bullets with a full charge of Longshot to over 1200fps and all was good.

 

[Eddietruett]

All I shoot is Hy-Tek coated, shoot great for me. Bayou Bullets, Missouri Bullets, Summers Bullets, Badman Bullets etc great to do business with. Some nice offerings to choose from, I shoot indoors, lead won't work for me too much smoke, coated shoot clean for me.
Karl

I agree 100%. I use Summers, SNS and Missouri and have had nothing but great success with all. Much cheaper than plated and in my experience more accurate especially at longer ranges. You will also get more velocity with HyTek Coated than you will with plated. They won't lead in my .357 or .44 pushed up to 1500fps either. I'm converted and will never go back to plated. I do still use Lead HBWC from Zero strict target shooting up to 25 yards, but everything else except my deer hunting loads are HyTek Coated.

 

[prairieviper]

Most everything I shoot at the range nowadays are coated bullets from Missouri. No barrel leading and no smoke are my main reasons to like the coated bullets. I still have some plated and just plain lead bullets for a few calibers but one they are gone, they will be replaced with coated bullets.

 

[TjB101]

Look at Everglades Ammo ... good prices and most all items ship free ... no tax if you are not in FL.

 

[oddshooter]

I've started powder coating my own and I really enjoy the process. I have many colors and have even gotten into the 2 or 3 color streaks. No leading as the coating is the lube. PC also allows for softer bullets.
My barrels look like mirrors after one pass of a patch. Clean as a whistle.

My hands stay cleaner.
My lady says "cute bullets, Stud" .
What's not to like?

I think this is a paradigm shift for handloading. It's the biggest change in 50 years. It may take awhile for the "set in my ways" crowd, but this transition is happening.

Prescut

 

[S&WIowegan]

Switching entirely...

...to coated bullets from both lead and jacketed. Two reasons; no smoke and crud accumulation, and lower cost than jacketed. I was an early adopter of Bayou Bullets partly because Donnie Miculek owned the co.(now sold).

For those commenting on prices at Extreme, know that they couldn't lose money fast enough to pay their creditors and went bankrupt. Now they will try to make money at higher prices. But losing customers is a part of the equation. Only time will tell.

 

[hyena]

I have used SNS coated bullets exclusively since I resumed reloading last year after a 40 year hiatus. I buy them at a LGS. .45 ACP, 230gr RN, 52.99 for 500. .38 special, 158gr RNFP, 42.99 for 500. I'm happy with their performance.

 

[fredj338]

Coated bullets are an economical choice for shooting a bunch. I do my own, but if buying; DG, Summers, Bayou, several others, all good for most handgun shooting. Cheaper than plated & easier to get good results with imo. Yes use lead bullet data, very little diff between coated & lubed except the coated are cleaner to shoot, less smoke.

 

[Funflyer]

I usually get my coated bullets from Bayou or SNS. About twice a month I get an email with their sale or free shipping with $200 spent so, with a little help from my friends we order enough to last a while. Postal lady hates us with a passion.

 

[LostintheOzone]

All I shoot is Hy-Tek coated, shoot great for me. Bayou Bullets, Missouri Bullets, Summers Bullets, Badman Bullets etc great to do business with. Some nice offerings to choose from, I shoot indoors, lead won't work for me too much smoke, coated shoot clean for me.
Karl

The indoor ranges around here don't allow coated bullets. One doesn't even allow reloads. Of course they have reman ammo available but they make it on site with slave labor. My reloads look better than theirs.

I like to shoot outdoors and do that unless the temp drops below freezing which it rarely does. Not a big fan of indoor ranges but I realize not everyone has a reasonable choice. I belong to a private outdoor range and light my cigars with 5 dollar bills. Humor. Actually it's cheaper than shooting anywhere else but it's hell trying to get a membership.

 

[buckshotshorty]

I've used many thousands of poly coated bullets. I like Black Bullets international. The prices shown on the website INCLUDES shipping. I have also used S&S casting and they are good as well. I just wish these bullets smelled better. When you shoot them it smells like an electrical fire.

 

[kbm6893]

I'll check them out. Would I have to re-adjust my dies? I have them locked in for the plated. So a 124 RN 9MM plated would seat to the same depth as a coated 9MM round nose? The 158 grain SWC plated that I currently use look different than the coated lead ones.

 

[VAPA]

I'll check them out. Would I have to re-adjust my dies? I have them locked in for the plated. So a 124 RN 9MM plated would seat to the same depth as a coated 9MM round nose? The 158 grain SWC plated that I currently use look different than the coated lead ones.

The 38 cal SNS bullets that I use have a crimping ring which I set the COL to.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The coated bullets in 9mm work just fine if they are the right Dia. for your case and die set up.

My chamber, brass and die's would not let me "Plop" a .358" dia. coated bullet into my barrel.

All of my loads were just target loads but I did get HS-6 up to 1173fps.
No w231, Unique or Blue used for maximum speeds.

Great bullet for indoor work......... and you can get accuracy if
you tinker with your loads.