Master Blaster Bullets?

[perdurabo93]

I reload for one reason and one reason alone: value. In the case of pistol rounds, I reload 45 ACP and 9mm on a Dillon 550B. I have loaded cast bullets in the past but dealing with all the barrel leading and smoke is just a pain, but copper jacketed FMJs are just too expensive. So, I have been loading Rainier copper clad cast bullets for a few years now and really like them. I buy them in bulk from Midway with their "free freight" offers (which is just them shipping via USPS flat rate boxes instead of UPS) and my C&R discount. However, recently I have come across what could be an even better deal than Rainier copper clad: Master Blaster polymer coated cast bullets:

http://www.masterblastersbullets.com/

Anyone have any personal experience with these? They claim that their polymer coating prevents leading and that since they don't need any lube theres no smoke (oddly, many of them still have a lube groove, but its supposed to stay empty) and that that can even be shot in Glocks with polygonal rifling without any fear of leading. The very most important thing, however (since Im an admitted utter tightwad), is that they are even cheaper than Rainier plated bullets in bulk. Their website lists prices with shipping included and you can get very large bulk packs at deeper discounts.

If I buy at all, it will be a 9750rd case of 9mm 155gr and a 5100rd case of 230gr 45 ACP. I wont waste my time on a 100rd "sample pack", so I'd like some (free) personal anecdotes here. Very likely they work as advertised but as usual, if something looks too good to be true it probably is, so I'm curious what, if anything, the catch is here. Any caveats on these bullets? Any way to get deeper discounts than are advertised on their site (their ebay auctions are all at the same price as the website)?

Also, are there even cheaper options out there that don't involve traditional smoky and messy naked lead cast bullets? Casting and/or swaging my own is not an option at this point, BTW.

 

[Walkalong]

Moly/Polymer Plated Bullets

I have not shot any of the Master Blaster bullets. I have, however, shot some Precision(200 Gr. SWC .45) and some Bear Creek bullets(230 Gr. TrFP .45) which are basically in the same class of bullet. I thought the Bear Creek bullets were a bit slopily "plated" or "coated" or whatever. (they looked "tumblelubed", not plated and I could see lead in places) They did shoot ok. The Precision bullets had a nice even slick feeling "coating" on them and shot very well for me. (They looked plated) They impressed me as being a better product, although it was visual mostly and I did not test exstensively. I felt like I got more "smoke" with the Bear Creek bullets than the Precision bullets. If I were to buy 200 Gr. SWC's in this style bullet I would buy the Precision brand of bullet. I hope this helps some. Don't get in a big hurry to buy a bunch. I ended up with 500 .40 & 500 .45 Bear Creek bullets I don't want, which I will sell cheap.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have shot Bear Creek, Precision, and Masterblasters coated bullets.

They all do very well in .38 Special and .45 ACP, I would not ask for better.

But the higher pressure of 9mm seems to burn through - or burn up - the coating and they smoke about as bad as wax lubed cast. I bite the bullet, so to speak, and load 9mm with jacketed.

If you get along with Rainier plated (I don't), just as well to stay with them for 9mm P.

 

[Roadkill]

I've used them in .45, .40, and 9mm, no problem at all. Currently use Berry's plated bullets though. Like them better.

 

[8ring]

I've used several sample packs of Masterblasters in 9mm and .357 mag. I had good results with both, - no leading, little smoke, and reasonably accurate.

Do not use "hot' high-nitro powders like Titegroup with these moly-coated bullets.

I use 45acp Precision bullets in my SW 625. These work very well with powders like N-310, N320, Clays, and WST.

Chris

 

[perdurabo93]

Hmm, I use titegroup exclusively since less powder is required for each load and its cheaper per 8# jug. I shoot cast lead with titegroup and it seems to work just fine apart from the smoke... whats the issue with using it with the polymer coated bullets? More smoke?

I might just have to break down and buy a sample pack and see for myself.

 

[Walkalong]

Try American Select. Very low nitro content and has showed promise with these "Poly" bullets in my limited testing.

 

[Walkalong]

Try American Select. Very low nitro content and has showed promise with these "Poly" bullets in my limited testing.

like N-310, N320, Clays, and WST.

These should work well for the same reasons. I would try N320 for mid to upper loads and N310 for light loads as it is great for that, although it is not economical as you are looking for. WST is one I want to try. Clays did not do well for me. I know a bunch of people like it though.

 

[perdurabo93]

If I can't but my powder for <$100+sales tax per 8lb keg at either my local Sportsman's Whorehouse or the Cabela's in Buda, TX it just aint happening. Thats the main reason I use Titegroup, its simply the cheapest pistol powder available to me per average load.

The reloading dealers at the local gunshow are all massively overpriced on their powder and I don't know of any commercial powder dealers (as opposed to milsurp) that waive HAZMAT fees for shipping large powder/primer orders.

I told you I was cheap

 

[Walkalong]

AA # 2 then. I'm a cheap Bas**** to, but I'm mellowing a little.

 

[8ring]

The folks who make Masterblasters Bullets specifically recommend against using Titegroup (38% nitroglycerine) with their bullets. IIRC, they state that it burns hotter and causes more smoke and leading than other powders. I haven't used Titegroup with either Masterblasters or Precision Bullets, but Titegroup with hard-cast lead bullets causes much more smoke and somewhat more leading than similar loads with other powders.

In my view, the slightly lower cost of Titegroup isn't worth the trouble. I use N-310 which costs $21 per pound in my .45acp revolver loads. 3.9gr N-310 costs 1.17 cents per load.

Titegroup costs $14 per pound. 4.4 gr Titegroup costs 88/100 of a cent per load, a savings of 29/100 of a cent per load over N-310. At the end of a 150 round match or practice session, I've spent 43.5 cents more using N-310. For that I get less smoke and lead, a "softer" load, faster clean-up, and a cooler gun.

There are other medium and fast single-base powders that are cheaper than Vithvouri N-310 and which will work well with lead and moly-coated bullets. American Select is a double-base powder with, I believe, only 2% nitroglycerine so it also may be worth trying.

Bullets and primers are the most expensive components and I'll try to save my reloading money by buying them in bulk.

Just my 200/100 cents.

Chris