Test for Hi Tek?

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

I got some Hi-Tek coated bullets the other day, and when I opened the bag, they had a funny smell. Not an electrical smell like everyone describes, but a strong smell nonetheless. Is there a test (or tests) that I can do to check if these are properly cured? I don't want to go down the road of having to clean Hi Tek out of my barrels.

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

Put some acetone on a rag, rub the bullet on the rag for 1/2 minute. Shouldn't be any staining. Lay a bullet on a hard smooth surface. Whack it with a hammer. Coating shouldn't flake off.

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

kcofohio said:
Put some acetone on a rag, rub the bullet on the rag for 1/2 minute. Shouldn't be any staining. Lay a bullet on a hard smooth surface. Whack it with a hammer. Coating shouldn't flake off.

Thanks.

griff383 · Mar 18, 2021

Learn something new every day. I knew about the hammer test but never thought to check with acetone.

AJC1 · Mar 18, 2021

The smash test is a physical test and checks bonding. I'm guessing the acetone test is to see if the coating will react to the stabilizer in the powder.

mdi · Mar 18, 2021

I have tested PCed bullets, like kcofohio suggested, but the Hi-Tek bullets I've purchased all had a thin hard coating and I didn't bother testing any (couldn't scratch any with my thumbnail), and there was a distinct aroma...

Poorly cured PC will react to acetone, and smash test checks adhesion. Poor coating and poor curing often causes flaking...

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

OK, so I tested a couple of the bullets I picked up, and all of the Hi Tek came off with acetone. Can I re-bake these in a toaster oven to set the coating, or will that not work?

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

Mr_Flintstone said:
OK, so I tested a couple of the bullets I picked up, and all of the Hi Tek came off with acetone. Can I re-bake these in a toaster oven to set the coating, or will that not work?

I doubt it, they either didn't allow the coating to fully dry before heating. Or they failed at temp or length of bake time. Or they didn't follow the proper mixture.

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

kcofohio said:
I doubt it, they either didn't allow the coating to fully dry before heating. Or they failed at temp or length of bake time. Or they didn't follow the proper mixture.

Well crap. What do I do now with 500 improperly coated bullets?

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

I'd contact whomever the supplier is and let them know of your results. Hopefully they'll make it right.

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

If you reload and shoot them, I can only see you get leading plus Hi-Tek deposited along your barrel.

If a caster screwed up on coating, they'd throw them back in the pot. I doubt lubing them will get positive results. And stripping the coating off would seem like a long process.

PO2Hammer · Mar 18, 2021

Or let them vent for a couple weeks then try loading and shooting a few.

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

I thought about putting them in my tumbler with acetone to see if it would strip them. If it does, I guess I could use liquid Alox on them.

AJC1 · Mar 18, 2021

If you get no joy from the distributor. I would bake them again just because it may work and you have nothing else to loose. After that you have pot lead if it doesn't work.

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

Mr_Flintstone said:
I thought about putting them in my tumbler with acetone to see if it would strip them. If it does, I guess I could use liquid Alox on them.

You could try a handful or so and see how it turns out.

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

AJC1 said:
If you get no joy from the distributor. I would bake them again just because it may work and you have nothing else to loose. After that you have pot lead if it doesn't work.

Except I don’t cast. I’ll try baking them and see.

kcofohio said:
You could try a handful or so and see how it turns out.

That’s probably what I’ll do if the oven doesn't work.

AJC1 · Mar 18, 2021

I think a tumble would beat them up. An ultrasonic bath may be easier on them if you have one.

Mr_Flintstone · Mar 18, 2021

I put three bullets in a jelly jar with acetone, and sloshed them around lightly for about a minute. Two came out completely bare, and the third had about half the Hi Tek gone, and was sticky when I rinsed them off. I think if I just give them a good soak in acetone, they’ll clean right up, then I’ll just lube them and use them in 38 Special instead of .357.

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

AJC1 said:
I think a tumble would beat them up. An ultrasonic bath may be easier on them if you have one.

You could be right. If they're hard cast, it may be okay. Softer cast would probably look like crap.

kcofohio · Mar 18, 2021

Mr_Flintstone said:
I put three bullets in a jelly jar with acetone, and sloshed them around lightly for about a minute. Two came out completely bare, and the third had about half the Hi Tek gone, and was sticky when I rinsed them off. I think if I just give them a good soak in acetone, they’ll clean right up, then I’ll just lube them and use them in 38 Special instead of .357.

Just keep in mind that since the coating was crappy. It's only a wild guess about the alloys (hardness) and sizing of the bullets.

AJC1 · Mar 18, 2021

kcofohio said:
Just keep in mind that since the coating was crappy. It's only a wild guess about the alloys (hardness) and sizing of the bullets.

PC and a pass through a sizing die would be money

jmorris · Mar 18, 2021

If you have a way to recover fired bullets, you can just shoot one and take a look at it.

Another decent indicator is to smash one with a sledgehammer. The diameter will grow significantly and the nose will be quite deformed but if the coating hangs on, it should be good for the ride down the barrel.

AJC1 · Mar 18, 2021

jmorris said:
If you have a way to recover fired bullets, you can just shoot one and take a look at it.

View attachment 985775

Another decent indicator is to smash one with a sledgehammer. The diameter will grow significantly and the nose will be quite deformed but if the coating hangs on, it should be good for the ride down the barrel.

View attachment 985774

The smash test is my sons favorite.

GBExpat · Mar 19, 2021

Mr_Flintstone said:
Well crap. What do I do now with 500 improperly coated bullets?

*I* would contact the vendor and insist (in a very respectful fashion) that they make this right ... including all shipping costs.

I would expect nothing less from a reputable organization.

FWIW ...

garandsrus · Mar 19, 2021

I would bake a couple to see if that corrects the problem. The supplier may have just missed that step somehow. Not much to lose...

Test for Hi Tek?

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