Powder coating

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
I cast Lee 158 grain tumble lube in .358" and Lee 200 grain in .452". I tumble lube them in a 45 45 10 lube mix. the 45 acp bullets are loaded to about 780 fps for target shooting. The 158 grain are fired from my Henry Big Boy rifle. I just purchased 50lbs of Lyman #2 and want to know if I can push them to 1300 fps? Will powder coating allow this speed (the pressure generated to push bullets to that speed)?

What are your thoughts on 45 45 10 tumble lube - vs - Powder Coating?

My 45 ACP bullets will only get powder coated if I think that the colors look cool but I want the .358" to be loaded to the low end of 357 mag.

Thanks
Francis
 

Ian

Notorious member
Recluse lube is not as good as conventional lube in most instances and powder coating is a lit better than conventional lube, in most instances (if you make the necessary adjustments to your loading techniques to accommodate the coating's needs).

You don't need #2 alloy for what you're thinking of doing, in fact I would mix it 1:1 with pure lead if it were me, coating or not.

#2 alloy casts large and you're already going to add another .002" to the diameter if you coat, so #2 works against you there as well when it comes to sizing. I've found that powder coated bullets in automatics seem to prefer being pretty close to groove size or a half thousandth larger, so if your 45 200 casts .453-4" and you coat it to over .455" and then size them back to .4515" so the coating doesn't scraped off going into the throat, that's a LOT of metal to move and can cause base cupping and the nose to be eccentric from the bands.

Revolvers seem to prefer powder coated bullets that are a snug slip-fit in the cylinder throats, same as with conventional bullets.
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I wouldn’t even hesitate to go 2:1 pure to #2.
I agree on the PC, a snug slip fit thru the cylinder throats is what you want. PC will handle anything the 357 Mag can throw at it.
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Recluse lube makes my sinuses go bonkers! PC will be fine for 357 at ANY fps! Bullet design for rifle may have a nose dia problem, if using pistol bullets, prob. no problem. 2:1 sounds right, you can heat treat after PC to harden them a bit - adding some chilled shot for As (0.1%) will help.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
there is a trick to putting the lube on.

heat the lube and add more mineral spirits you want it to run about like water.
heat the bullets [hair dryer works just fine]
put about 50 bullets in a little cup or bowl with a lid.
add in 3-4 fork's full of lube and just swirl/roll everything around.
dump the bullets out on some waxed paper in a cookie sheet, and do the next batch making sure the bullets are still warm-hot to the touch.
then size them and re-lube [using the above directions] only this time just use 1 fork full of lube.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have gone nearly 100% to PC bullets. Zero issues for me only “problem” I have experienced is some bore rider designed no longer are bore riders and some simply cannot be used powder coated.

But I love them love the colors and ability to color code loadings and calibers.

Softer bullets are able to be used at higher velocities with zero fouling! I also have shot thousands upon thousands of them thru factory Glocks. Zero fouling. ZERO!
My new 327 RUGER has been fed nearly a 100% diet of PC bullets. It’s at about three to three fifty shots to date. It’s been cleaned three times and all I have ever gotten out of the barrel was lightly tinged appearance to the cotton patches.
My G35 gets 300 or so in every match I shoot plus hundred or so @ Practice. Matches @ my Maine club are 6 preseason of Steel and 4 more 3 Gun then we shoot about four more matches at other locations. Each is 2-400 rounds. NEVER any leading or bitty ness cause by the PC.
I’m sold!

CW
 
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Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I will repeat the thought that #2 can be cut 50% or more and still work at mid range 357 pressure. I'm not up on that bullet, but other PB examples do it without much fuss.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I shoot most my pistol cast @ under 10bhn rifle I like to see 15 bun. But even then I have shot both 35&45 at less than 15bhn to 1800 FPS with good results (WITH PC)

Just last weekend I was shooting three 357’s with my cast 170g Keith and 158 LEE using 8, 9&10g Blue Dot. NOT LIGHT loads! ZERO LEADING and single hole accuracy @ 20’ and under 1” out at 25 yards.

A good friend is doing expansion testing with my 270 G 35 now. I sent him cast pure lead cast 20:1 Bullets and BHN 10 Bullets.
He is shooting them at under 1800 into wet paper @ 50 and ZERO fouling even in pure lead at this velocity Last weekend he fired with 20:1

96F4C1F0-96A0-4631-AEB9-14A50AB75DB8.jpeg46518318-7BCF-4311-8670-8A1819055D50.jpegF124993A-0FED-4A2F-B138-AB8DDBEF8B77.jpeg5D2423F5-06E1-4D36-B691-581431C4D904.jpeg
These RED bullets are MiHec 359-220 as a HO they are closer to 205g. The 270’s where PCd “clear” But I do see more of the PC was removed from the media than usual. Probably and I assume cause it’s so much softer.

CW
 
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waco

Springfield, Oregon
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
That is where nose size dies work on the PC bore riders
Been there tried that... Nope it’s not a option for me.

What I could do but haven’t tried is to only PC the driving bands and base. But frankly as much as I liked these few bullets It’s easier to use them conventionally or not use them at all. Biggest contender both cause it was cause it shot/ worked so well the 358009 280g 35.

CW
 
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Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
45/45/10. 45% each liquid Alex and Johnson paste was. Heat the paste was over low heat for a bit to drive off the solvents. Once mixed well you add roughly 10% mineral spirits.
Heat the bullets a little, add a very small amount, and swirl. Dump on waxed paper to dry. Done right it dries overnight and can hardly be noticed on the bullets.

I believe fiver had a hand in helping Recluse get the formula right.
 

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
Ian said
"You don't need #2 alloy for what you're thinking of doing, in fact I would mix it 1:1 with pure lead if it were me, coating or not.
#2 alloy casts large and you're already going to add another .002" to the diameter if you coat, so #2 works against you there as well when it comes to sizing. I've found that powder coated bullets in automatics seem to prefer being pretty close to groove size or a half thousandth larger, so if your 45 200 casts .453-4" and you coat it to over .455" and then size them back to .4515" so the coating doesn't scraped off going into the throat, that's a LOT of metal to move and can cause base cupping and the nose to be eccentric from the bands."

I just sent in an order for 50Lbs of Lyman #2 should I call the vendor and ask him to swap my order for his 2% tin and 4% antimony @ 11BHN?
I like my 45ACPs at 800fps and 357mags just below 1400fps out of my Henry rifle

Thanks
Francis
 

ChestnutLouie

Active Member
Recluse lube makes my sinuses go bonkers! PC will be fine for 357 at ANY fps! Bullet design for rifle may have a nose dia problem, if using pistol bullets, prob. no problem. 2:1 sounds right, you can heat treat after PC to harden them a bit - adding some chilled shot for As (0.1%) will help.

Popper I made a batch of this and I like it but the last bit has become thick and gloppy and the last batch of bullets that I coated feel syicky even after three days? maybe add a tiny bit of mineral spirits?
 

popper

Well-Known Member
Yes, add some mineral spirits to thin it. I definitely like BLL better. 45 acp is pretty low pressure so 2% Sb should work fine - probably in the 357 also, maybe WD. I originally got some #2 for 308, found high Sb from Roto works fine WD (in 40sw & 9mm also). I don't use any tin so yes I'd just get the Sb & pure alloy. You could get some pure tin to add when needed (expansion for hunting?).
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I shoot mostly range scrap in all handguns. Mine runs 1.75% Sb and maybe .5% Sn. No leading in 45 ACP or 357 mag.