packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
Many of the bullets in a batch of hi-tek coated that I just got look like this. Are these ok to load or will all the extra malformed lead on the bottom greatly reduce accuracy and cause leading?
These bullets ok to load?
- Thread starter packetloss
- Start date
- Status
edwardware
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 4,426
I'd ring the manufacturer. . . that's not acceptable on a commercial cast bullet.
As for effect on accuracy, that'll depend on you; are you a good enough shooter to see a 2MOA difference? 4MOA? They're probably perfectly good for banging 20 yard plates!
It will almost certainly NOT effect leading.
As for effect on accuracy, that'll depend on you; are you a good enough shooter to see a 2MOA difference? 4MOA? They're probably perfectly good for banging 20 yard plates!
It will almost certainly NOT effect leading.
1KPerDay
Member
Send them back
Allen One1
Member
I'd call the manufacturer and ask them that question. If you have a lot of them I would be asking for a return shipping label. Makes me question the entire lot anyway.
packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
Sadly, this was the new batch they sent me after I complained about the first one......
Just wanted to make sure it wasn't me being a pain and that these were close enough to normal.
Just wanted to make sure it wasn't me being a pain and that these were close enough to normal.
.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,388
Those look like you just picked them up from a civil war battlefield.
The best I can say for them is that they probably aren't dangerous. I personally would not use them, and if this is what they sent to replace a previous batch of defective bullets, I wouldn't have anything else to do with that company.
The best I can say for them is that they probably aren't dangerous. I personally would not use them, and if this is what they sent to replace a previous batch of defective bullets, I wouldn't have anything else to do with that company.
Patocazador
Member
Of course you can load them. The problems show up if/when you shoot them.
mcb
Member
If that is the case I would shoot them up and go to another supplier. You gave them two tries to send you a quality product, they failed, move on.
I don't think there would be a safety issue, but accuracy might suffer. Shoot'em up.
Allen One1
Member
How many of these are you stuck with?
1KPerDay
Member
Let us know who the supplier is please. Might save someone some dough.
Ohen Cepel
Member
Yes, please let us know who the supplier is.
Were these 10 from a 1000 like that or are all of them like that? I can take a small % of errors but if they are all like that then I would be bent. Some you can't load, even if you wanted to do so.
frankmako
Member
this is your second time with them with bad bullets. shoot up what you got and never buy from them again. you can load them, and use them for can shooting. i would not use them in a match.
packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
I'm hesitant to list them just yet. I'm still communicating with them, but I will say it's not from a vendor in Texas.
Can someone post a picture of what a proper hi-tek coated one should look like (side and bottom)? I have always gone FMJ but had problems finding any in stock so tried these. It's really turned me off from trying any from even another vendor.
I should also add that they don't all look like this, however, at least 1/4 per box were like this to some degree with the extra ring on the bottom. The place I got them from is pretty much back ordered about a month. I'm betting they are cutting corners on QC and maintenance to try to keep up with demand. Not going to get many return customers doing that.
Can someone post a picture of what a proper hi-tek coated one should look like (side and bottom)? I have always gone FMJ but had problems finding any in stock so tried these. It's really turned me off from trying any from even another vendor.
I should also add that they don't all look like this, however, at least 1/4 per box were like this to some degree with the extra ring on the bottom. The place I got them from is pretty much back ordered about a month. I'm betting they are cutting corners on QC and maintenance to try to keep up with demand. Not going to get many return customers doing that.
Last edited:
Load up a magazine with the ugly bullets and load up a magazine with the best looking bullets from the bunch. At the range grab a magazine without knowing whether it’s the good one or bad one and shoot a target. Load the next magazine without looking to see if which bullet it is and shoot another target. Can you tell any difference on the targets?
packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
The main issue I noticed was some of them weren't dropping through my mr bullet feeder die. Even actuated by hand all the way up they would not drop. I had to manually actuate it by hand and tap it a bunch of times to get them to drop.
packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
Thanks. Just needed to confirm they really all be smooth and uniform. I figured the rings on the bottom were bad, but even many of the ones without the rings on the bottom were not quite smooth or uniform. With any FMJ I have used, every bullet was exactly the same shape with no extra material or anything.
whughett
Member
One of my cheaper 6 cavity 45 cal molds won’t cut a clean sprue on the first three cavities and leaves a bit of “ flash” on the base of the bullet. When sized this flash gets formed back into a bit of a tail on the bullet. I’m simply not a good enough pistol shot shooting off hand at 25 yards to see any difference so I don’t cull those out when casting.
Were they purchased I might be a little more picky.
no.5enfield
Member
Have they been having QC issues? I just bought some .44 and .45 colt bullets from them. Haven't had a chance to look yet though.
A couple thoughts; The base of the bullet, the last part to exit the muzzle is the most important part of a cast bullet. A bullet with an uneven, skewed base will be much less accurate than a bullet with a good square base. Rounded bases may lead to more leading in many cases but with the High-Tec coating probably not. I haven't seen any commercial bullets from a mold like that with a groove just up from the base which leads me to believe maybe the mold used is worn out, broken, or just not right. If you just want "banging" ammo load them and shoot them but don't expect much in the accuracy dept. Personally, I think I'd send them back for a refund as they can't get it right in two tries...
LiveLife
Member
Wow.
You would think the bullet caster would send out the replacement package that is much better ... A commercial bullet caster that is willing to send out bullets looking like that (Whether original shipping or replacement) won't get repeat business from me.
You would think the bullet caster would send out the replacement package that is much better ... A commercial bullet caster that is willing to send out bullets looking like that (Whether original shipping or replacement) won't get repeat business from me.
These are MBC Hi-Tek coated 9mm 124 gr RN and 40S&W 180 gr TCFP and they ship millions of bullets every month, just about the highest volume bullet caster in the country.
Attachments
Last edited:
packetloss
Member
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2020
- Messages
- 450
Thanks for that close up. None of mine (even the better ones) looked like that.
I heard back from them and apparently they are having a problem with their 115 grain 9mm moulds and had to order new ones. They are going to replace my order once they get the new moulds in. If you do order any 115 9mm hi-tek coated from a large commercial producer, you might want to check a few boxes.
I heard back from them and apparently they are having a problem with their 115 grain 9mm moulds and had to order new ones. They are going to replace my order once they get the new moulds in. If you do order any 115 9mm hi-tek coated from a large commercial producer, you might want to check a few boxes.
- Status
