Why powder coat?

[fredj338]

I saw an assertion early on on the thread that if we have a higher velocity for a given powder charge that we MUST have had more pressure. When we compare cast bullet loads and jacketed loads with same bullet weight/length/shape the lead bullets typically exhibit a higher muzzle velocity with a given powder charge. This has often been attributed to lower bore friction from the cast bullet. If you have ever tried to load really light "cats sneeze" loads you no doubt noticed it is a LOT easier to stick a jacketed bullet than it is a cast bullet same weight .

To clarify I am referring to pistol stuff here, rifle stuff gets way more complex .

Bill

The slicker bullet theory doesnt really apply imo. Softer lead or coated lead bullets are more malleable than jacketed. That is why they more easily push down a bbl. Since vel is a product of pressures, if you reduce the pressures with a "slicker" bullet, vel will drop. This is 100% true with moly coated jacketed. I see no reason it is diff with lead or coated lead. Better gas seal from a softer bullet that is slightly over sized. My theory anyway, basec on load data & chron results. Easily verified by testing undersized lead bullets & seeing the reduced vel.

[Willbird]

The slicker bullet theory doesnt really apply imo. Softer lead or coated lead bullets are more malleable than jacketed. That is why they more easily push down a bbl. Since vel is a product of pressures, if you reduce the pressures with a "slicker" bullet, vel will drop. This is 100% true with moly coated jacketed. I see no reason it is diff with lead or coated lead. Better gas seal from a softer bullet that is slightly over sized. My theory anyway, basec on load data & chron results. Easily verified by testing undersized lead bullets & seeing the reduced vel.

It is a complex system...the powders are designed to work with some pressure buildup before the case releases the bullet.

Resistance to the bullet by bore friction wastes energy...again easily demonstrated by trying to shoot jacketed bullets really slow until you stick one.

Agreed the dynamics of the whole system are complex and isolating effects without creating others is difficult.

Bill

[Dragonheart]

It is a complex system...the powders are designed to work with some pressure buildup before the case releases the bullet.

Resistance to the bullet by bore friction wastes energy...again easily demonstrated by trying to shoot jacketed bullets really slow until you stick one.

Agreed the dynamics of the whole system are complex and isolating effects without creating others is difficult.

Bill

Bill, I guess you can see the reason for Redfir's post and how this post went south in the first place.

[Willbird]

Bill, I guess you can see the reason for Redfir's post and how this post went south in the first place.

it is what it is ...........I have heard and read plenty of wild theories, a guy who does not understand how the 1911 works wrote a book on how they work with some strange ideas in it, and he is help up as an "expert"...people love his books .

Bill

[redfir]

RP moderator thanks for the clean up. I appreciate it. Redfir.

[Oldbrowngun]

In reguards to lubricity, all one has to do to put this to bed is to handle a pc boolit. I lose half a dozen of them slick buggers everytime im resizing.

[Tom_et]

Dragonheart
I’m a reader not a writer (poster)

Thanks for a great Post

[Dragonheart]

Dragonheart
I’m a reader not a writer (poster)

Thanks for a great Post

Thanks Tom. I just hope the post encourages more casters to give PC a try. i know if it were not for PC I would have been back to buying bullets a long time ago. Now I have a hobby I enjoy as much as the actual shooting, maybe more, because of the mechanics involved.

[Conditor22]

You forgot another big bonus, -- girls like pretty boolits
It's boring loading the same colored boolits when you don't have to

[Dragonheart]

Absolutely! Have you ever tried the line of walking over to a young lady on the firing line and inquire, "what color bullets do you shoot?" now you have got a long conversation going, of course being a grey haired old fart like me helps, but some of you young guys might want to give it a try. But for this you really need to get into powder coating because strolling over and asking, "What kind of lube do you use?" is probably not going to get the same reaction.

[popper]

IIRC stated PC ~ 7 yrs ago. It works, why do anything else. MOA @ 200 from AR10 carbine, cast at Amax fps? Why not?

[StuBach]

You forgot another big bonus, -- girls like pretty boolits
It's boring loading the same colored boolits when you don't have to

What color and brand PC are you using? Those red ones look perfect but the gold ones are great too. Those MP 359-93s?

[Big Boomer]

Really appreciate the original post and the additional posts that were informative. But just to illustrate how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, regarding the colors of powder coating … I've always been partial to the looks of plain lead boolits (but then, I'm nearly color blind). The reds, blues, browns and various color mixes don't do a thing for me. But to each his own, whatever floats your boat. When I got into powder coating, I chose Smoke's clear and never looked back. My boolits look just like plain old lead only shinier and slicker. And when I send a round downrange, there's no smoke. Most other shooters probably think I'm using jacketed stuff. Big Boomer

[MrHarmless]

But for this you really need to get into powder coating because strolling over and asking, "What kind of lube do you use?" is probably not going to get the same reaction.

My sides are in orbit.

[Dragonheart]

My sides are in orbit.

Years ago when I was scuba diving in Australia one of the local divers came up to me and said, "You guys may not know it, but Aussies love Texans, because your sense of humor is as warped as ours is". Well I guess you found us out too.

[Dragonheart]

Really appreciate the original post and the additional posts that were informative. But just to illustrate how beauty is in the eye of the beholder, regarding the colors of powder coating … I've always been partial to the looks of plain lead boolits (but then, I'm nearly color blind). The reds, blues, browns and various color mixes don't do a thing for me. But to each his own, whatever floats your boat. When I got into powder coating, I chose Smoke's clear and never looked back. My boolits look just like plain old lead only shinier and slicker. And when I send a round downrange, there's no smoke. Most other shooters probably think I'm using jacketed stuff. Big Boomer

If you like the looks of lead you might give one of the chrome powders a try, looks great, but it may need to be sprayed as I have never tried a tumble coat. I will do a test and let you know.

[Gamsek]

High chrome that I got from UK supplier works great with shake and bake aka dry tumble. It also can be added to basic colours to make them look more metallic. Idea shamelessly stolen from Conditor22. High chrome is a bit more costlier in my case.

[Dragonheart]

High chrome that I got from UK supplier works great with shake and bake aka dry tumble. It also can be added to basic colours to make them look more metallic. Idea shamelessly stolen from Conditor22. High chrome is a bit more costlier in my case.

Thanks for the post, now I know and will give chrome a try. BTW: they look great!

[white eagle]

I pc because it works and I aint afraid of a wee bit of extra work
to get MY boolits better than any factory made boolit

[Tripplebeards]

Never tried any non PC’d boolits yet. All I know is I’ve never had any leading pushing my Ruger American 450 bushmaster past it’s limits all the way up to 40 grains of H110 with a PC and GC 300 grain lee. Never chronied above the tightest grouping load of 35.5 grains which averaged 2075 FPS. My 40 grains of H110 had to be cruising! The accuracy just wasn’t great after about 38 grains not to mention the wallop! The gun never leaded but rattled apart due to a non bedded, lock tighten down factory picatinny rail rattling my scope, trigger, and bolt release loose. In my short testing I’ve found you can push PC to the limits and then some with no leading. I’m sure in a 4,000 FPS varmint caliber there would be issues. Wonder how it dose close to over the 3,000 FPS mark?