Polymer coated vs Lubed? Which is better?

[johnhenry57]

I have recently picked up some RNFP 405 gr bullets that are polymer coated. So....no lube required. Supposed to eliminate fouling too. Anyone else have any input on these?

[farmerjim]

The one that works for you is the best one.
PC and Hi-Tek are cleaner and don't smoke as much.
Lube is faster in most cases.
All work fine.

[runfiverun]

I do both methods.
not so much of the PC stuff, since it slows my process to a crawl.
my molds are geared to proper fitment,,,, not being added on to.
so I look at PC as another trick in the bag that can be utilized as necessary.

[johnhenry57]

So, take a cast. Then get the proper size mold. Lube or PC as desired?

[Harter66]

Pretty much .

I lube but as a rule I don't shoot for.the stars , the moon in some cases but not the stars .

[w5pv]

I have about 300 pc 45 colt that I am starting to shoot the jury is still out.

[runfiverun]

an undersized lyman mold or one designed for adding .002 coating would be your best bet.
slick sided is okay but IMO doesn't really make things best.

I'm assuming you have a 45-70.
it might like 459 or 462 depending on the particular maker.
but it's the nose that needs to fit your particular throat.
anything cut to saami has a very short lead in area and hardly any taper to it.
so buying a regular mold and then adding more diameter to that area causes more problems elsewhere than the coating will cure.

measuring is the only way to know what you have and what you need.
especially when your going to be adding .002 or so to the diameter.

[rsrocket1]

I PC my 40 and 9 bullets. The post casting effort cost is about 2 hours for 1000 bullets. 1 hour for the powder coat step and another hour to size them using the Lee push through sizer. I've actually found that I can skip the sizing process because I use TC bullets and seat to the edge of the cone or use TL RN bullets and seat to the top of the TL ridges. No "fat" part of the bullet sits above the rim. I only PC because otherwise, my 9 and 40 barrels get light leading no matter what size they are cast to and no matter what type of lube I used.

For my 38/357 and 45ACP, I tumble lube with 45/45/10 because those guns do not lead with LLA. I can coat the 1000 bullets in 5 minutes using a gallon sized Ziplock bag and a couple of wax paper lined boxes to let them dry overnight. Again, no sizing needed so there is very little post cast processing I need with these bullets.

You have to test for yourself to see what works best for you.

[OuchHot!]

I do not, as yet PC, but hope to get there. I have a great respect for paper patching as I found it allowed softer alloys at higher velocity in rifles. The terminal performance of paper patching matched many j-types. Is this also a possibility with PC?

[Geezer in NH]

Use black powder? I would forget PC