Experiences with Missouri Coated Bullets?

[Cole440]

I was wondering what the general thoughts on MBC is around here?

For reference, I have some of their offerings in various calibers. All coated with Hi-tek.

Initially everything seemed great, no leading, clean to load and shoot. However, as I loaded more varieties and shot them in more firearms, I have started to run into issues. A friend of mine has run into some similar issues.

So far the offerings in 40 Cal have been fine in my Glock 20 10mm at full power 10mm loads.

I have had SIGNIFICANT leading with their 32 cal bullets in 32 S&W long however. No matter what I do, slow them down, speed them up, the barrel looks like a smoothbore after about 100 of them. (for reference, I am running those at 32 S&W speeds like I said which are very mild). We have also seen leading in 9MM (specifically in traditionally rifled handguns). Their 44 Cal bullets have also left a decent amount of lead at mild speeds (44 special levels).

Notably the 32 cal bullets and the 44 cal bullets are both 12 brinnel and almost all of the others are 18 brinell, though it should't matter for what we are doing.

For reference, I have shot plenty of my own cast bullets in the past, both lubed and coated, so I am not new to the quirks of loading cast. Heck I have pushed 11 BHN plain-base bullets at over 1350 FPS in 44 magnum! So I don't know what gives!

[dannyd]

Loaded 9,110 of their Hi-Tek 38 swc's with no leading or any problems

[ohen cepel]

I have shot 1000's of their bullets without issues as have my Brother and a good friend. They are my go to when I buy bullets.

However, maybe, you got a bad batch. Do they weigh/measure right? May be worth sending a few back to them to check?

[Wheelguns 1961]

Check the diameters are correct. I have gotten undersized bullets from them before.

[Pereira]

I've been shooting their bullets off and on for a few years, 357, 44 and 45's, never had any issues.
I recently bought some for the Winchester 25-20, and I've got a few different loads ready to try out, but I haven't got around to it yet.

RP

[Tall]

I have their 45 Colt bullets in 250 grain SWC. No issues.

[Cole440]

I’ll check all those suggestions. Like I said the 10mm has been fine. 9mm fine in most barrels.

The only real issues are the 32 and 44.

[black mamba]

They're either too hard or too small. I have used coated bullets from at least 6 different casters, and MBC's coating is as good as it gets.

[Froogal]

Just my opinion, but a BHN of 18 is simply TOO hard. They will not obturate to fit the bore.

[Cole440]

What’s interesting is the bullets that have been problematic so far are the 12bhn ones.

[B1GB1RD]

only issue I have had is there weights are at times way off , ive seen up to 7 grains difference in a box, I use their 225gr 45 colt TC boolit

[dla]

Next time you order, get a larger diameter bullet. Also, HiTek is not magic, you can get leading at the muzzle because the coating was exhausted.
I've confirmed the shortcomings of HiTek by tumble lubing Hitek coated bullets with LLA - which subsequently shot great.

[farmerjim]

Try the smash test. The coating should not come off.
I have never had leading with hi-Tek, but I have had batches fail the smash test, so they were remelted.

[Cole440]

Good idea on the smash test. I previously slugged the barrel and found the bullets to be properly sized. Even then, in my experience costed bullets seem to be pretty forgiving in size. I haven’t tried the smash test yet though.

[atfsux]

I don't know if this may or may not actually have anything to do with anything, but bear in mind that founders Brad and JoAnn Alpert who started MBC back in 2006 were the steering guides throughout their radical climb to success. Brad, in particular, was hands on with everything, and was the tyrant enforcing quality control. Unfortunately the Covid claimed Brad in 2020, and JoAnn passed away last year. So now the company is in the custody of JoAnn's relatives. I'd like to think they have and are maintaining the standards and control and supervision Brad and JoAnn enforced while they built and ran it. But it isn't uncommon for a company to be inherited by family members previously uninvolved and not do as well with it. I hope that's not the case here.

[DougGuy]

Check to see if your 32 boolits will push through the cylinder throats from the front of the cylinder. With leading like that, it sounds as if the throats are on the tight side, maybe .309" or so. In any event, a LOT of powder gas is escaping along the sides of the boolit. I wouldn't think the softer alloy would be a factor in leading, usually the softer the alloy, in a revolver, would mean it seals better in the bore than a hard alloy, but again it could depend on throat diameters fostering the leading.

[Cole440]

I believe I checked the throats, but now that we have all these ideas floating around again I should get the tools back out and check it all again. I will do so this weekend and update you all with what I learn.

[Divil]

I generally just buy bullet casting alloy from them, which works great in my molds. The only bullet of theirs I am currently using is the Hi-tek coated 140 grain .357 Zinger. I am fond of the bullet snd have had no leading problems with that bullet and mild to moderate charges of W572 powder. When I finally get set up for Makarov handloading, I may buy their coated 93 grain RN.

[Cole440]

Here are the numbers.

Pistol barrel slug: Max dia = .312"
Pistol Cylinder throats: all 6 measure .314"

New bullet: .313"

Bullet pulled from loaded cartridge: .3125 or so (measured with calipers)

The bullets passed the smash test just fine. The load is 2.5 grains of Red Dot in a 32 S&W Long (out of a ruger LCR I estimate the velocity to be around 800).



Based on what I am seeing here I think two things: First, I think the revolver and cylinder are just fine. I think that I need larger diameter bullets. Second, I think that the carbide sizing ring in my Lee Factory Crimp die needs to go. I believe it is squishing the bullets down to .312" or so and that is only making the problem worse. I'm going to bounce this off the folks at MBC and see what they think also.

[black mamba]

. . . the carbide sizing ring in my Lee Factory Crimp die needs to go.

For such a light recoiling cartridge the roll crimp on the bullet seating die will be more than sufficient.