lead bullets coated with polymer paint

[Hi-Performance Bullet Coatings]

Thanks for the comments. One more question, when sizing the bullets should I go closer to the size of the jacket bullets or how we do we cast bullets and normal lube grooves?
With 9mm and jacket bullets you typically are .355 or .356, with cast bullets we typically run .357 or .358.

Gary,
Treat as you would a standard cast bullet in regards to sizing. Typically you gain a few fps with the coated bullets as well.
Donnie

[bmiller]

I chronographed a few loads today in my 223. The bullets were 55 grain NOE coated with the copper colored hi-tek coating. My highest velocity was over 2700 fps. That load has been averaging about 2 moa at 100 yards. I have more load development to do, but I must say I am impressed with this material! There has been no leading between 1900 and 2700 fps.

[HI-TEK]

I chronographed a few loads today in my 223. The bullets were 55 grain NOE coated with the copper colored hi-tek coating. My highest velocity was over 2700 fps. That load has been averaging about 2 moa at 100 yards. I have more load development to do, but I must say I am impressed with this material! There has been no leading between 1900 and 2700 fps.

Hi,
Thanks much for your testing and report.
I am glad it worked well for you.
From what little I have been fed back with shooters results here, through manufacturers of cast projectiles, if the coating is applied correctly, there is no problems. Testing and reporting such results, even if good or bad, provides readers with some idea of what is possible with the coatings.
Genrally, as the coating does not get damaged by friction & heat, it should provide ideal surfaces for alloy to slip on and separate metals during firing.
Please keep on posting, as it is much appreciated.
Joe

[Ausglock]

G'day All.
I have been shooting coated cast bullets here in Australia for over 15 years. I have shot them through Glock factory barrels in 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 357Sig. Also through Para 9mm, 40SW, 45ACP, SVI open gun in 38 Super Major power factor with 4 port compensator. Kimber 38 super. Storm lake barrels, EFK barrels, Barsto barrels, Lonewolf barrels, Lissner barrels etc.
I have never (yes... never) had leading with any of these coated cast bullets.
I currently have a Glock35 with a Lissner 357Sig barrel running Major power factor loads for IPSC. The only barrel cleaning needed is a boresnake pulled through every month or so.
The product I use are Topscore projectiles. Ther are Aussie made, and coated with HI-TEK's coating. They are the best on the market.
There are shooters in OZ now using Berry's plated and frontier plated bullets at a higher cost. I feel these plated bullets are not worth the extra cost against the coated bullets.

I cast my own 45 boolits and would love to coat them myself. However, HI-TEK only sell large commercial quantities here in OZ and I can't justify the cost, So I will continue to cast and lube my 45 boolits with a Lyman 450.

[HI-TEK]

G'day All.
I have been shooting coated cast bullets here in Australia for over 15 years. I have shot them through Glock factory barrels in 9mm, 40S&W, 45ACP, 357Sig. Also through Para 9mm, 40SW, 45ACP, SVI open gun in 38 Super Major power factor with 4 port compensator. Kimber 38 super. Storm lake barrels, EFK barrels, Barsto barrels, Lonewolf barrels, Lissner barrels etc.
I have never (yes... never) had leading with any of these coated cast bullets.
I currently have a Glock35 with a Lissner 357Sig barrel running Major power factor loads for IPSC. The only barrel cleaning needed is a boresnake pulled through every month or so.
The product I use are Topscore projectiles. Ther are Aussie made, and coated with HI-TEK's coating. They are the best on the market.
There are shooters in OZ now using Berry's plated and frontier plated bullets at a higher cost. I feel these plated bullets are not worth the extra cost against the coated bullets.

I cast my own 45 boolits and would love to coat them myself. However, HI-TEK only sell large commercial quantities here in OZ and I can't justify the cost, So I will continue to cast and lube my 45 boolits with a Lyman 450.

Hi,
I am glad you have had such good experience with the Top Score products and the HI-TEK coatings and posted your findings you have experienced over years of use..
I am just wondering why you are not getting Top Score to coat the other stuff you cast?
I am sure they will oblige if you ask, as you seem to be a regular and long standing customer with them.
Surely, they can include your cast stuf during their coating runs. It should be no problem at all.
May be you should contact owner and discuss your needs,
Joe

[Ausglock]

G'day Joe. Problem is that I am about 7 hours north of Robert. 3 1/2 hours north of you.

I shoot the 45 only for sillywets once every 2 months, so don't go throw large amounts of bullets. I was casting for the other calibres, but I shoot too many per week and Topscore is more cost effective.

[Wal']

LOL..........I would think it would be a little presumptuous for us home casters to just turn up & ask a man who's business & livelihood is producing & selling cast boolits to the public, to coat our home casts instead of buying his product.

Much the same as asking you to sell to us Australian home casters with smaller usable quantities as they're doing in the USA.

[HI-TEK]

LOL..........I would think it would be a little presumptuous for us home casters to just turn up & ask a man who's business & livelihood is producing & selling cast boolits to the public, to coat our home casts instead of buying his product.

Much the same as asking you to sell to us Australian home casters with smaller usable quantities as they're doing in the USA.

I agree to an extent about arriving to have some coated by manufacturer being presumptuous. I do not think that any one would just arrive without first asking, if a company would coat some for a user, especiallly if the company does not manufacture a specific calibre.
You have touched on an important aspect, about home packs.
In Australia, home users dont appear to cast thousands of projectiles like in US, and supply of coatings in small quantities is not practical nor economical for a few hundred projectiles at a time. By the time coating, solvents are purchased, and products coated and securing equipment to bake, it is cheaper to simply buy a pre-coated product from commercial manufacturer.
I believe that there was several companies who offered a service of just coating for customers.
As you indicated, distances are a problem when trying to coat small batches.
I dont know how small users can be supported with coatings in small quantities?
Would not that activity eat into the commercial manufacturers output?
From what I have experienced, it seems that despite manufacturers being in every state, suply of coated projectiles, commercial manufacturers still cannot keep up with demand. Most using coatings are backed up for weeks with back orders.
It seems that local alloy manufacturers are also playing power games with manufacturers and are holding them to ransom with supply prices for alloys which is causing sever cash flow problems for manufacturers..
I really do not know the right answers to many such problems.
It would be nice to supply every person with coatings who needs it, but how is all such going to be productive and practical with all concerned, and, such activity then not hurting many commercial manufacturers as well, who reply on sales?
It is a problem, and if any one can provide an answer I would be happy to look at it.

[Glock Junkie]

Sorry for the Noob question but I have looked through the thread but cant find out how to order a kit? Maybe I have over looked it lol!

[olaf455]

Bayou bullets sells 1 liter kits.

[Glock Junkie]

Thanx for the info! Checked and Bayou is sold out of the kits,I picked a bad time to get into casting and reloading lol! Everywhere I look all products are sold out.

[Whizzer]

Thanx for the info! Checked and Bayou is sold out of the kits,I picked a bad time to get into casting and reloading lol! Everywhere I look all products are sold out.

Isn't that the truth! I know that demand is FAR outpacing supply, but some of this is simply put, panic hoarding and it is inbred....HARDwired in the human psyche. It is understandable.

If Donnie reads this, how long do you expect to be out of product?

Stan

[garym1a2]

I will have to watch this, I have two Milhec .223 4 cavity molds waiting for way to work it. Any chance this can work in an AR with out a gas check?

I chronographed a few loads today in my 223. The bullets were 55 grain NOE coated with the copper colored hi-tek coating. My highest velocity was over 2700 fps. That load has been averaging about 2 moa at 100 yards. I have more load development to do, but I must say I am impressed with this material! There has been no leading between 1900 and 2700 fps.

[bmiller]

I am thinking about trying it. Would a bullet missing a gas check act the same as a flat plain base bullet? I hope some more experienced guys will chime in. Putting on those little checks stinks on ice!

[felix]

Square based boolits shoot best when time and money are important. Yes, you can make boat tails shoot good with load development. Some loads meant for 50 yards maximum can be very good using minor boat tails. ... felix

[Ausglock]

I would love to be able to buy smaller lots of the coating. Hell, I'd even drive to Taree to get it. I know a caster in Casino that wants small lots as well.

When I cast, I do 5,000 to 10,000 then setup the Lyman450 and lube as needed. Mainly do this in winter. between the Casino bloke and myself, the quantity available to Aussie casters is still too large and too costly for just the 2 of us.
So...How about it Joe?
Any chance of doing smaller quantities for OZ casters???

[Hi-Performance Bullet Coatings]

Isn't that the truth! I know that demand is FAR outpacing supply, but some of this is simply put, panic hoarding and it is inbred....HARDwired in the human psyche. It is understandable.

If Donnie reads this, how long do you expect to be out of product?

Stan

Stan,
I hope to have some stateside in 8-10 weeks.
This run on ammo and supplies had caught everyone off guard.
Donnie

[bmiller]

First attempt at using the metallic hi-tek coating. Did I get enough on?

[HI-TEK]

First attempt at using the metallic hi-tek coating. Did I get enough on?

The coating looks a little uneven and blotchy. Dont worry, as long as alloy is covered it should work. Even a single coat will work as long as it is covering the majority of the alloy. Looks are only mainly cosmetic, but a more even colour is pleasing to look at but not that important.
Multi coats with diluted catalysed coating will provide best appearance finish, and it ensures that maximum alloy coverage has been achieved, as each coat will tend to cover areas where there are imperfections left from previous coat.
Please provide details of what you mixed together, how you coated, what conditions of cooking and for how long?
I can the advise you on more specifics.
Joe

[bmiller]

I applied three coats. I used it sparingly. (Probably too much). I used a non-contact thermometer, heated them to 375 degrees for 3 minutes or so. (Took about 15 minutes in my toaster oven). I did a smash test and the coating held up. Should I have used more product for each coating? I did not have any left over in the container that I shook them in. Do you think I need another coat? I used the 5:1:5 ratio described in the directions.
Thanks for your help.

P.s. I have played with powder coating, it has its merits, but I like this system much better!