Sizing before or after powder coating?

[mallardsx2]

I have cast several thousand 9mm bullets. I then powder coated them and put them through my sizing die (Lee). Some of the powder coating is chipping or cracking.

Should I be sizing these then powder coating?

Should I be powder coating then sizing?

OR

Should I size, powder coat , then resize?

I know the damage is done with the bullets I have cast and coated and they do work ok and I plan to shoot them out but for next time what advice would you give me?

[gregtu]

I know some will say not to size first, but I had the same issue you had as I'm likely sizing too far. I've now been sizing pre and post PC with great result. I clean the boolits really well before applying the PC because I lube them before the initial sizing.

[jcren]

Unless the mold is just too big, I just size after. I haven't had this problem, but if a bullet passes the smash test then you are either having to size beyond the flex of the pc or you need to polish your die. If the pc flakes on the smash test, you have a problem with your baking procedure.

[bruce drake]

check your curing process if you aren't trying to size down a large amount. It should not be flaking off unless you have a rough die or you have a splotchy result from the coating.

For pistol bullets I size after coating once.
For rifle, I coat once and then gas check and size and then coat for a second time.

[mallardsx2]

214049

This is most likely my problem. since they are all touching it leaves little voids when I break them apart.

[bruce drake]

that could be the problem...

Those are pistol bullets. stand them up and they will have a much better coverage.

[fralic76]

I cast, size, powder coat and then size again. Never had any problems. When I powder coat I stand my boolits up.

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[bstone5]

I stand the bullets up on base, powder coat with the Harbor Freight Electronic gun, bake bullets after coating and then size with Lee push thru die. Coat and bake several thousand bullets at a time. After coating and baking the bullets are sized in the evening after work.
Never have had the coating come off if the bullets were baked over the correct time in the oven.

[gregtu]

I stand the bullets up on base, powder coat with the Harbor Freight Electronic gun, bake bullets after coating and then size with Lee push thru die. Coat and bake several thousand bullets at a time. After coating and baking the bullets are sized in the evening after work.
Never have had the coating come off if the bullets were baked over the correct time in the oven.

So you don't worry about having PC on the base? Do you use gas checks? Or does it matter?

[mallardsx2]

I use the harbor freight powder coating gun and powder coat.

I bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Then open the door on the toaster oven and let completely cool.

The difference is that I do not stand my bullets up on end. This would take a long time to do I would think.

[M-96 Hunter]

Heresy, but I don't size at all for 44 spec/mag (Lee 200 gr 44-40), 7.65 Argentine (NEI 190 .311 mold), 45 colt (NEI .451 250 gr) or 9.3 (NOE 280).

They all work just fine.

[stubshaft]

I Shake, bake then size.

[Walter Laich]

I shake and dump on a wire basket
I have them touching but don't pack them in tight. I shake the basket a bit before I put in oven

even when I get a bullet that is way oversize (mold was fully closed) the PC doesn't chip off.