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View Full Version : Can hard cast boolits be copper plated?



jmden
02-12-2018, 07:06 PM
Could you put an .008 or so copper plate on a hard cast boolit?

jdfoxinc
02-12-2018, 09:01 PM
Yes. Several threads on here. Also Youtube.com.

bangerjim
02-13-2018, 01:39 AM
With the right equipment and knowledge, you can Cu plate ANYTHING.......even plastic and baby shoes!!!!!!

jmden
02-13-2018, 11:48 PM
Thanks, guys. If I started out with some .501 boolits and wanted a .008 thickness plating (Just referencing this plating thickness because Berry's Bullets uses .008 plating on their 2000fps rated bullets... Very open to other thoughts on this.), what's going to happen when I put the copper plated bullet back in my .501 sizer? Not gonna work...?

jdfoxinc
02-14-2018, 10:41 AM
Lightly lube and push through.

bangerjim
02-14-2018, 12:28 PM
Thanks, guys. If I started out with some .501 boolits and wanted a .008 thickness plating (Just referencing this plating thickness because Berry's Bullets uses .008 plating on their 2000fps rated bullets... Very open to other thoughts on this.), what's going to happen when I put the copper plated bullet back in my .501 sizer? Not gonna work...?

Have you ever Cu plated anything B4? Not as easy as it sounds.

And that 008 thickness may be hard to control in the electroplating bath, depending on what equipment and methods you employ.

You will have to lube when sizing as said. Cu is harder than Pb and it will be tougher on your sizing dies and your arm!

jmden
02-14-2018, 03:09 PM
Have you ever Cu plated anything B4? Not as easy as it sounds.

And that 008 thickness may be hard to control in the electroplating bath, depending on what equipment and methods you employ.

You will have to lube when sizing as said. Cu is harder than Pb and it will be tougher on your sizing dies and your arm!

No. Just read a bit and watched some vids. Not sure it's worth it for me to even try, but curious. I guess I'd have to keep pulling it out of the bath and when it got to .517 or a smidge more, I'd know that it would have approximately at .008 thickness plating. The .501 bullets in question were some commercially made ones I had, but might be best to cast some that start out at .484 or .485 or so that they end up with .008 plating at .502 or so and then the sizer (with lube, of course) would size it ok. Are there molds made to your spec (.485) at about 350g?

dondiego
02-14-2018, 03:59 PM
Might be easier to powder coat.

bangerjim
02-14-2018, 06:06 PM
I agree^^^^^^^^^^^!

I PC everything from 223 to 45 cal and love the results. Plating takes too long and is a real mess from what I have seen & done in the past. I never push PC much beyond 1600, but some on here claim well over 2000 with excellent results.