Powder Coated .30 Cal Bullets - Gas Check or Not?

[TigerCreek]

I started powder coating my cast pistol bullets and have been pleased with the results.
I'm about to start casting for a 30/30 and a 30-06.
Is it possible (or even advisable) to eliminate the gas checks when powder coating cast rifle bullets?
Pros? Cons?

 

[Curator]

TigerCreek,

You could try rifle bullets without gas checks, but I think you'll find accuracy is MUCH better with them. Plain base cast bullets are usually accurate up to about 1200 fps and about 14,000 psi. They can work quite well up to this point. The higher pressure and velocity in rifles like .30-30 and .30-06 require a much harder base than lead alloy can provide. The gas check does more than seal off power gas, but also helps to prevent the lead bullet from stripping in the rifling.

 

[clearcut]

If you powder coat then gas check you will be able to use them almost like FMJ.
CC

 

[TigerCreek]

I'll be using my lubrisizer to size them once coated so the gas checks would not really involve an addition step in the process.
Gas checks are probably still the safe way to go and will prevent me from trying to perfect new ways to reinvent the wheel.

 

[res45]

Think of PC as being a different type of lube as well as a barrier between the lead and the rifling of your firearm. All the basic principles as in proper bullet fit,BHN vs. velocity/ pressure an the use of a gas check when needed all still apply with cast lead bullets.

Powder coating is a nice addition to the casters or cast bullet shooters tool box but it doesn't create a single magic bullet that will work for all occasions.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Stick with jacketed bullets for your High Powers!
BUT, I shoot 100/200 rounds / month using cast stuff in my .30- 30's !

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're going toi use gas checks there is no reason to powder coat. I am fairly sure powder coating negates the need for gas checked. I am using a powder coated 30-30 bullet from the MBC and they are accurate with no leading.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

To ArchAngel---I am loading the MBC 32 caliber bullet in my 32 Rem. How fast are you pushing the bullets? After shooting them, I used bore cleaner, and the patches came out really black. I am using Trail Boss loads within 1 to .5 grains from the maximum of a fully filled case ( 10.5 grains ) per the loading instructions. Next Sun I plan on doing another try with 8.5- 9- 9.5-and 10 grains. After each rounds of 5 shots I will shine a light down the bore and see if there is any leading.

The lowest loadings with IMR3031, IMR4198, and Win748 were way too fast. The bullet count was about 1 out of five shots on the target at 100 yards. It was like shooting a shotgun at 100 yards with fine shot. It was not much better at 50 yards . Trail Boss was much better, but I am still worried about leading.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

To ArchAngel---I am loading the MBC 32 caliber bullet in my 32 Rem. How fast are you pushing the bullets? After shooting them, I used bore cleaner, and the patches came out really black. I am using Trail Boss loads within 1 to .5 grains from the maximum of a fully filled case ( 10.5 grains ) per the loading instructions. Next Sun I plan on doing another try with 8.5- 9- 9.5-and 10 grains. After each rounds of 5 shots I will shine a light down the bore and see if there is any leading.

The lowest loadings with IMR3031, IMR4198, and Win748 were way too fast. The bullet count was about 1 out of five shots on the target at 100 yards. It was like shooting a shotgun at 100 yards with fine shot. It was not much better at 50 yards . Trail Boss was much better, but I am still worried about leading.

I have not sent the coated bullets over the Chrono yet but I did test the plain base lead bullets with no leading @1440fps. The coated bullets were pushed harder with 4 higher loads of H4895 and again no leading. Sorry don't have exact velocity numbers.