Polymer Coated Bullets and Handgun Barrels

I have a 686 that I have never cleaned. I have shoot a couple of thousand MBC coated bullets through it. It doesnt have any fouling like your pic.

I just started using coated lead bullets recently, Acme to be specific, in a couple of 45 caliber guns. Not sure what they are coated with, but they are definitely better than straight lead when it comes to leading/fouling, but Im still getting leading in the barrels.

Not as bad as before, but something I dont get when using plated bullets.

Pat Riot said:

MY QUESTION / CONCERN is “should I be concerned about polymer build up when shooting polymer coated bullets?”

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Hmmm ... very interesting ... sorry, don't have an answer, but thanks for posting and pics and bringing up the topic. I think it's a valid concern. I'm wondering if the fragment was due to some imperfection in the bullet coating or some imperfection in your bore that caused it to strip. Either way, maybe it's a good idea if one is shooting a lot of these bullets to occasionally clean the bore with something that will remove any such fouling.

I dont think something like that is really a problem, and would normally be removed with normal cleaning (assuming you clean your gun).

From what Ive seen, the leading is a good bit less with the coated bullets, but Im still having to work a little to get some lead out.

Using store-bought hard cast lead bullets has always been somewhat hit or miss as far as leading goes, but they all seem to lead my guns to some extent, and its just a PITA to brush it out.

Never had an issue with polymer bullets from MBC or from Acme. Cleans right out, but usually no build up.

Are you or have you beveled the inside of the case mouth? Would a little extra expanding of the case mouth when seating your bullet help?It looks to me more like your shaving a bit of the coating off when seating your bullet. Not fouling. I've never seen this before.

Looks like a shaving of polymer from either bullet seating ( hid under the crimp, ended up in the bore after firing) or from cylinder to barrel misalignment (not noticed with other bullet types).
I don't think it was imbedded, it wouldn't have come out whole, I think it's just a leftover in the bore.

Short answer, no I don't think it's a safety issue.

Load them up. They will handle the pressure up to magnum. I use them in .44magnum full power loads.

That’s a first for me, too. I went to coated or plated bullets almost exclusively because I shoot most of my shots at an indoor range. A couple of times the cloud of smoke from plain-lubed lead bullets caused those shooting next to me to start chittering about it so I went to the coated/plated to be a bit more neighborly. (I will say the Ibejiheads blue coating is as smoky as unlubed bullets, just an observation.)

None of my .38-.357, .41, .44 S-M or .45 C revolvers or rifles have had a coating sliver like that left in the bore after shooting.

I have shaved the coating from the side of a few bullets until I got the flare correct, but I’ll guess those left a lead smear in my barrels where the coating was rubbed off rather than a sliver of coating remnant like that one.

If they don’t leave lead smeared in the bore, it cleans easily and isnt a smoke-fest when you’re shooting them I’ll guess the coating is doing it’s job even if it’s leaving a bit of the coating behind.

Stay safe.

With more pressure the bullet might seal better and have reduced fouling. You might consider a larger bullet if your using .357.
We used to shoot Eggelston PC in our revolvers and 9MM without issue. I make my own now.

Hmm guess I need to load up some polymer and conduct a thorough experiment.

I get that in my 44 Mag shooting coated lead bullets. Not sure if it's the coating or actual lead. Regardless, it's pretty easy to clean out using the chore boy method. Or better yet, lately I've been shooting out this fouling by ending my range session with two cylinders of plated or FMJ. Works like a champ, provided the bbl isn't chock full of lead.

We used to use some factory nylon coated bullets decades ago for training and re-qualification in our revolvers. I think they were S&W Nyclads.

I don’t recall any remnants being left in the barrel. I would imagine the tiny piece you’re observing would be pliable enough not to cause any damage if a bullet was fired with it in the barrel.

In this day of hard to come by components, I've considered coated bullets as well. Food for thot'. Thanks.
Moon

Same as Speedo66, I have seen this many times with my nylon coated 38 specials. This was nothing to be worried about.

I started PC'ing maybe 6 months ago, found no fouling... accuracy and cleanliness compared to TMJ's made me convinced that they're equal to or better than TMJ, or FMJ if they're baked (I also quench them) properly.

So far I've tried these formulations: Urethane, TGIC, Epoxy, and polyester

Hi-Tek makes polymer and I've tried them as have others I read about and none have had issues like you reported. Have you called Hi-Tek or whatever the maker of your bullets was to get their take on what you found?

halfmoonclip said:

In this day of hard to come by components, I've considered coated bullets as well. Food for thot'. Thanks.
Moon

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If you already cast, starting up is inexpensive and fairly easy if you use the "shake and bake" method. Try scooting over to castboolits and see what they're doing over there.

I've shot several thousand coated bullets without problems. I really like them. The only time I've had remnants of polymer left something like that was if I had not expanded the case mouth enough and it cut the polymer coating while seating the bullet. I've come back from the range where my wife and I have run several hundred rounds through, and I look at the barrel and wonder why I'm bothering to clean it.

drband said:

Load them up. They will handle the pressure up to magnum. I use them in .44magnum full power loads.

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+1, been shooting them (Bayou Bullets) out of my 629 S&W at full load for a few years now. No problems. Same for 357 mag.

My only thought is perhaps this batch of bullets you got didn’t have the coating cured correctly. I’ve been powder coating cast bullets for a little while now shooting them in magnum revolvers and up to 2100fps in a 30-30 and haven’t seen this type of fouling. Thanks for sharing.

The only adverse thing I've noticed with shooting Acme bullets is the smell.