Lead and coated bullets ?

I reference lead load data for coated bullets (Powder coated and Hi-Tek coated) with good results. I think one of many reasons is the same larger sizing.

And IIRC, I believe "properly and evenly" coated bullets have been tested to 1800 fps before coating failed and leaded the barrel.

Like said, Hi-Tek coated bullets can be pushed at harder than uncoated bullets BUT, you have to be aware of the pressure limits of the 9mm Mak. I would go to the top of the cast bullet data but very little more If at all more. If you already have an accurate cast bullet load it will probably also shoot well with the coated bullets too.

I only reloaded and shot about 1,000 PCed bullets. I was loading/shooting to see what the process was all about (I PCed my own). I used lead bullet data to start, and lead bullet methods for loading (sizing, case prep., etc.). On a couple hand gun cartridges I increased the loads to mid-level lead bullet charges...

You can use the same load.

This year I've shot right at 10k rounds of PC and Hi-Tek bullets. I went through almost a thousand this last week.

Load data for lead works just fine with coated bullets. If you have a chronograph you might see a slight increase in velocity.

bds said:

I reference lead load data for coated bullets (Powder coated and Hi-Tek coated) with good results. I think one of many reasons is the same larger sizing.

And IIRC, I believe "properly and evenly" coated bullets have been tested to 1800 fps before coating failed and leaded the barrel.

Click to expand...

What is a properly & evenly coated bullet????

FWIW:
I've ran coated bullets 2650fps+ with no leading.

forrest r said:

What is a properly & evenly coated bullet????

Click to expand...

You know, bullet that is evenly coated without bald spots.

forrest r said:

I've ran coated bullets 2650fps+ with no leading.

Click to expand...

Wow, what kind of coating?

And what load?

bds said:

You know, bullet that is evenly coated without bald spots.


Wow, what kind of coating?

And what load?

Click to expand...

Thank you, now that you said no bald spots. I get it!!!

Haven't really had the time this year to get out and do more testing. Ordered a custom shilen bbl for a 308w puma rifle. It's a 30" 1 in 14 twist with a match chamber. Wanted it for the 155gr bullets & the extra bbl length ='s more velocity/carries supersonic further/wider range of loads that stay supersonic longer. Anyway a side bonus of the long bbl/slow twist is that it holds it's own with cast/coated bullets.

Interesting experiment:
One on the issues with cast bullets/high velocity is the design of the bullet itself. These are old school cast bullets with the long pointed nose and a "wiper" groove at the bullet's body/nose intersection. As the long bodied bullets is fired the nose enters the throat/riflings and starts to twist. The back of the bullet is still being pushed forward in the case mouth/ball throat. That wiper groove is the weak spot at that point due to rotational torque. Too much short start pressure and bad things happen. The long bullet nose will also slump with high pressure/high velocity.The test bullets cast from a cramer 2 cavity mold, 1 standard sp bullet/1 hp bullet.

Didn't matter what load I tested anything over 2000fps the hp bullet was always more accurate, no nose slump. I tested 8 or 9 different powders with those bullets. RL-19 a slow powder with a soft push/low short start pressure got me into the 2400fps+ range with the weakened bullet design (wiper groove). Anything over 2500fps and those bullets would fail.


The lee 312-160tl-2r bullet. No wiper groove & a short nose that resist slumping.


While 10-shot 1 1/2" groups @ 100yds are nothing to right home about. It's a place to start. Those bullets pictured above coated with "smokes pc" john deere green powder coat. Dry powder coating is a type of polyester. The Hi-teck coating is a type of polyurethane. I use the dry powder/poleyester bases pc.

Same bullet but using traditional lubes, note it's 50fps slower than it's pc'd counterpart.


Same lee pc'd bullet doing +/- 2000fps 10-shot @ 100yds moa accuracy.


I can't say enough good about the polyester bases pc'd bullets.

3 parts pure lead/ 1 part monotype + 2% tin

The end result is a +/- 16bhn alloy with 5% tin which is important for the elasticity of the bullet. There's huge amounts of torque that a bullets body has to withstand when they engage the riflings of the bbl. While the back of the bullet is bumping up filling the freebore/cylinders/chambers. The nose/front of the bullet is twisting in the riflings.