How to increase the diameter of a Barnes .311" TTSX?

[BJung]

I received a box of Barnes .311 - 150gr TTSX bullets. My previous test loads using this bullet for my T99 was "fair".

My T99 Arisaka bore measures .3115" and I want to increase the diameter to improve accuracy. I'm thinking of dissolving powder paint into a solvent and painting bullets, then resizing to .312". Or, I could copper plate it. What would you suggest?

 

[DocRock]

Too small of an expansion for paper patching, so powder coating may be your best bet.

 

[BJung]

Have you heard of anyone trying this and improving accuracy? I was thinking of a .308-200gr Barnes or Hornady GMX and increasing the diameter of the bullet to improve accuracy. The T99 shoots heavier bullets better and I can't use cup and (lead) core bullets for hunting in CA.

 

[MEHavey]

I'm thinking of dissolving powder paint into a solvent...

any reason you don't powder coat?
(then resize?)





of course moving out of California... (where I lived off & on for 12 years and once
considered retiring until they went increasingly nuts starting 20+ years ago)
...might be your best long-run solution

 

[Dale Alan]

You can powder coat copper just fine . It needs to be scuffed up or etched first . I would think you would have to be concerned with too much powder coat in the open tip also .

 

[horsey300]

I received a box of Barnes .311 - 150gr TTSX bullets. My previous test loads using this bullet for my T99 was "fair".

My T99 Arisaka bore measures .3115" and I want to increase the diameter to improve accuracy. I'm thinking of dissolving powder paint into a solvent and painting bullets, then resizing to .312". Or, I could copper plate it. What would you suggest?

I do understand that you already have the ttsx, once they're used up, I'd go for the peregrine .312 bushmaster bullets.

 

[bullseye308]

Powder coating is quick, simple, and cheap. No reason not to go that route. Copper plating would work, and is cooler, and since you are limited to lead free is definitely an option. The best choice would be to order the correct diameter and makeup of your preferred bullet, but that may be more difficult in these “glorious” times.

 

[Swampman]

When using the "shake and bake" method for powder coating cast HP bullets, I've had good luck filling the HP cavities with High Temperature Red Silicone and letting it cure thoroughly before coating and baking. This keeps the powder paint from filling up my hollowpoint cavities.

I originally removed the RTV after baking, but later found that leaving it in didn't hurt expansion as long as I didn't leave any air bubbles in the silicone.

If I was going to try this with a very small HP cavity in an all copper bullet, I'd just put a thin skin of silicone to cover the HP opening, then remove it after baking.

 

[MEHavey]

Not pretty, but it did add 0.0025" to the diameter of a HNDY 150grSPBT (was 0.3075", now 0.310 ")
Eastwood Red Mirror, shake/bake. One just out of the box. One acetone-cleaned. (no real difference).
(Note brilliant red on exposed lead)