Coated cast .45 colt bullets

[GSP7]

I havent used coated bullets yet , So I have to ask......

Do coated bullets leave paint or plastic coating or anything in your barrel at all?

Nothing at all in the barrel when you cleaning and examining your bore?

Even copper leaves copper,,,, so I have to ask

:mrgreen:

[onelight]

What I use does not leave anything I can see on my patches

[Hossfly]

I’ve shot a lot of 9mm and 38 spl and only had problem with the 38 and think the power wasn’t properly cured. If cured properly they are pretty hard coating. I’m casting for 45 ACP and coating, Evan tho I don’t own a 45 go figure.

[Wild Bill 7]

Coat them, bake them, size them and load them. As long as you cure them properly you won't have a problem. I have been using pc boolits for a while and no residue left in any long or short barrels. If there is any residue it is usually unburned powder. I have a lot of Thompson Blue Angel lube that I will probably never use because I powder coat. In my opinion it's much cleaner and clean up is so much faster.

[jimb16]

I've never found any powder coating residue in the barrels of my firearms.

[bmortell]

PC works great especially in handgun calibers its more than good enough for the velocities and rpm involved. its not really weird if you think about a shotgun the projectile and the cartridge is plastic. same with some muzzleloading projectiles and sabot rounds.
as long as your baked properly and not undersized its fine. I don't know the proper science terms or whatever but I don't feel like plastic wants to smear on metal like how lead on steel or copper on steel does.

[Chad5005]

ive shot quite a few coated boolits and never found any in the barrels

[GSP7]

Cool

.

[tazman]

I have used both PC and Hitek in a number of pistols and revolvers. Right after shooting I can see a thin film a grey in the barrel but it never builds up any more and never effects accuracy or functionality.
Cleaning is easy because it comes out with a little oil and a patch, or just a brush stroke or two.
I am too lazy to do the coating myself and just shoot lubed cast. The coated boolits I shot were purchased.

[lar45]

I've been trying powder coated bullets in the 450 Bushmaster the past few weeks and have not had any problems with kawasaki Green up to 2050fps, but I did have a little fouling with harbour Freight Red at around 1850fps. It did clean up with two patches.

[Carrier]

Several years ago before I started casting and powder coating I bought some 38 pc bullets at a gun show. They left red streaks in my 686 that were a real pain to get out. I’m pretty sure they had been done with Harbour Freight red powder and not cured properly. I use Eastwood powder and none of the calibers I shoot with pc bullets leave any streaks that I can see. Not saying they don’t leave something I just can’t see it.

[RedlegEd]

Hi,
I've been coating mine for a while and haven't had any issues in pistols or rifles up to 1200fps. The coating on these look a little light, but I found as long as the powder is properly cured, you don't need a really thick coat. BTW, I'm using both Smoke's and Eastwood powders.
Ed

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[Larry Gibson]

GSP7
"Coated cast .45 colt bullets
I havent used coated bullets yet , So I have to ask......

Do coated bullets leave paint or plastic coating or anything in your barrel at all?

Nothing at all in the barrel when you cleaning and examining your bore?

Even copper leaves copper,,,, so I have to ask"


Here's what I found with 45 cal bullets (have found the same with other handgun and rifle bullets of various calibers and PC coatings) and is why I haven't gone to the dark side.....yet.

Lee 452-230-TC with 4 different PCs vs BAC lubed bullet

Several weeks ago a member offered to send some of his PC’d Lee 452-230-TC cast of COWW + 2% tin to compare, in a side by side test, any difference in velocity, pressure and accuracy they might have against my own like Lee bullets. Sounded like a good test so I took him up on the offer. In due course, after several PMs wherein we cogitated the parameters of the test, a box of bullets arrives. I found, just as he promised, there were 4 batches PC’d with 3 different kinds of PC (one batch had a double coat applied) sized .452. I would load those with my standard 45 ACP load to test against my own TC bullets lubed with BAC.

There were also 4 batches of the same PC’d bullets unsized. I would size those .454 and load over a tested 45 Colt load which I use in my SAAs and M73 Carbine.

All test rounds were loaded on a Dillon SDB press as that’s how I would use them. The powder for both the 45 ACP and 45 Colt is Bullseye. The powder thrower on the SDB was carefully adjusted with charges weighed on an Ohaus 10-0-5 scale. I loaded 5 gr Bullseye in the 45 ACP and 7 gr Bullseye in the 45 Colt. The bullets weighed 230 – 233 gr including my fully dressed lubed bullet.

I used the following firearms in the test;
Uberti M73 Carbine, 45 Colt
M98 Rhineland conversion, 45 ACP
TC Contender barrel, 45 ACP
TC Contender, 45 Colt
S&W M1917/25, 45 ACP
Colt Series 70 w/Ed Brown Match barrel, 45 ACP
Uberti “Evil Roy” SAA, 45 Colt

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Pressure testing was done with the TC Contender barrels via an Oehler M43 PBL. The velocities listed for the Contender tests are muzzle velocities. Accuracy and functional velocities (screen center was 15’ from the muzzle) were done with an Oehler 35P. The handguns accuracy (group size) was done with the target at 25 yards. The 2 rifles were tested with the target at 50 yards. A two handed hold was used on the handguns with hands braced on sandbags. The rifles were shot with the fore hand resting on sandbag with elbows on bench.

The cartridges were loaded with my standard loads on the SDB with Dillon SDB 45 ACP dies. A taper crimp was used to straighten out the case mouth flair. The 45 Colt cases were sized in a RCBS steel dies then lube cleaned off. They were loaded on the SDB with the Dillon sizer removed. A slight role crimp was applied to case mouth crimping into the forward edge of the front drive band just behind the start of the ogive.

257736

The loads are as follows;

45 ACP:
Lee 452-230-TC cast of COWW + 2% tin
Bullseye powder at 5.0 gr
A WLP primer
Remington R-P cases
OAL; 1.199”


45 Colt;
Lee 452-230-TC cast of COWWs + 2% tin
Bullseye powder at 7.0 gr
A WLP primer
Winchester W-W case
OAL; 1.588”

All tests were 10 shot test strings (both for pressure and accuracy/velocity testing). The barrels were cleaned between tests and 2 foulers fired prior to record testing.

I completed the rather extensive test (350 rounds “for record” + foulers) of the PC'd bullets in both the 45 Colt and 45 ACP cartridges. Four different firearms (Contender for pressure, Colt M1911, S&W M1917/25, and M98 Rhineland rifle) were used for the 45 ACP tests. Three different firearms were used for the 45 Colt (Contender for psi, Uberti SAA "Evil Roy" and Uberti M73 Carbine) tests.

In this test I found only one of the PC'd 452-230-TC bullets that performed as well accuracy wise as my own with a naked BAC lubed bullet. That PC coating was the Cardinal Gloss Black. None of the other PC’d bullets were found to be more accurate out of any of the Those other PC’d bullets would start out, in several of the firearms giving excellent accuracy but around rounds 6 – 8 the fliers would start. In a couple cases it appeared so bad I began questioning my shooting ability. However, when I shot the Cardinal Gloss Black PC’d bullets and the naked BAC lubed bullets accuracy was as it should have been.

When cleaning I found fouling (PC buildup and leading) to be a problem with two of the PC coatings (both the Sherman Williams coatings and the Cardinal Pearlescent Steel Gray) in several of the firearms, particularly the 6 1/2" barreled M1917/25 and both rifles. The fouling was both from a heavy build up of the PC in the bore and several instances, leading also. Here is some of the leading and PC buildup removed with a Lewis Lead remover after one test string. The leading removed in this picture when the Cardinal Pearlescent Steel grey was shot in the S&W M1917/25.

257737

The Sherman Williams, both 1 and 2 coats, left PC deposits in all the barrels after 6 - 8 rounds with flyers then occurring. They also left leading in the S&W M1917/25 in 45 ACP and Uberti SAA in 45 Colt. The PC fouling could be cleaned out easily with a bronze bore brush and Hoppe's #9. The leading required a Lewis Lead Remover to remove as pictured above. This picture shows the PC residue buildup when the Sherman Williams PC was used, particularly the 2 coated bullets.

As to reducing pressure I found only one of the PC'd bullets demonstrated a measurable (outside of lot to lot variation probable) less psi that the lubed bullet in the 45 Colt but that PC’d bullet gave the highest psi in the 45 ACP, higher than the naked BAC lubed bullet.

Additionally I found one of the PCs (Cardinal Gloss Black) to leave a residue on the firearms (revolvers) worse than regular lube does. There also was considerable residue blown back on the case with the 45 Colt load. Other than that the Cardinal Gloss Black 1 coat worked well in all the firearms and rivaled the naked BAC lubed bullets for accuracy. It gave slightly less psi and slightly less velocity in all the firearms too. However, as mentioned, there was a considerable blackish deposit left in the chambers, on the cylinders of the revolvers and around the carrier of the M73. That did not seem to affect the accuracy and no fouling occurred in any bores. It cleaned off the firearms as readily as the residue from naked BAC lubed bullets.

The Sherman Williams, both 1 and 2 coats, left PC deposits in all the barrels after 6 - 8 rounds with flyers then occurring. They also left leading in the S&W M1917/25 in 45 ACP and Uberti SAA in 45 Colt. The PC fouling could be cleaned out easily with a bronze bore brush and Hoppe's #9. The leading required a Lewis Lead Remover to remove.

257738

The cardinal Pearlescent Steel Gray performed well in all the handguns both ACP and Colt but was pretty inaccurate in both rifles.

I’m not going to draw any conclusions; I’ll let each of you do that by scrutinizing the data. Here are the correlated data for each cartridge:

45 ACP/452-230-TC/5 gr Bullseye/WLP/R-P Case
Sherman Williams
Metallic Silver 1 Coat
Firearm…………… Grp @ 25 yd……..Velocity……SD……..ES……psiM43)…..SD……ES……..
TC Contender………3.9”..(8 in 2.8”)……1019 fps….11 fps…35 fps…..20,200…….900…...3,300……
S&W M1917/25…….4”…(8 in 3”)……….890 fps….15 fps…54 fps…....
Colt Gvm’t M1911….5.5”…………………919 fps…..12 fps…42 fps……
M98 Rifle..(50 yd).....3.2”..(7 in 1.1”)…….1046 fps….17 fps….58 fps…..

Sherman Williams
Metallic Silver 2 Coats
Firearm…………… Grp @ 25 yd…..Velocity…….SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES……..
TC Contender………4.6”……………..1006 fps……19 fps…58 fps……19,400…...1,200….3,400…
S&W M1917/25……5.4”..(9 in 4”)…….903 fps……14 fps…41 fps
Colt Gvm’t M1911…6.5”………………919 fps…….19 fps…54 fps
M98 Rifle…(50 yd)…5.25”……………1044 fps……10 fps…33 fps

Cardinal Pearlescent
Steel Gray 1 Coat
Firearm…………… Grp @ 25 yd…..Velocity….…SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES……..
TC Contender………4.4”……………..1002 fps……14 fps…53 fps……19,900……1,500…4,000
S&W M1917/25…….4.9”………………895 fps...…17 fps…54 fps
Colt Gvm’t M1911….5”………………...917 fps…...10 fps…35 fps
M98 Rifle..(50 yd)…5.2”………………1038 fps…...13 fps…48 fps

Cardinal Gloss
Black 1 Coat
Firearm…………… Grp @ 25 yd……Velocity……SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES……..
TC Contender………2.2”………………996 fps……16 fps…..61 fps……18,700……1,200….4,100
S&W M1917/25……2.2”………………886 fps……16 fps…..43 fps
Colt Gvm’t M1911…3”…………………917 fps……9 fps…...31 fps
M98 Rifle…(50 yd)..3.6”…(8 in 1.4”)…1035 fps…...14 fps….43 fps

Naked Cast
BAC Lube
Firearm…………… Grp @ 25 yd….Velocity…..…SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES……..
TC Contender………2.1”……………..1004 fps……12 fps….40 fps…..18,900…….900……2,900
S&W M1917/25……2.25”…………… 917 fps……..9 fps…..30 fps
Colt Gvm’t M1911…2.75”…………….922 fps…….12 fps….37 fps
M98 Rifle…(50 yd)…2.2”……………1060 fps…….15 fps….45 fps

45 Colt/452-230-TC/7 gr Bullseye/WLP/W-W case
Sherman Williams
Metallic Silver 1 Coat
Firearm………………. Grp @ 25 yd….Velocity………SD…….ES……psiM43)…..SD……ES
TC Contender………….2.8”……………..1080 fps……10 fps….34 fps…..14,800……800……2,900
Uberti Evil Roy SAA…..3.6”……………..896 fps……..12 fps….34 fps..
Uberti M73 Carbine..(50 yd)..3.6”………...1153 fps……12 fps…41 fps

Sherman Williams
Metallic Silver 2 Coats
Firearm………………. Grp @ 25 yd….Velocity……..SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES
TC Contender…………..3.1”……………1070 fps…….12 fps….39 fps…..15,700……500……1,700
Uberti Evil Roy SAA…..3.6”…………….900 fps……...8 fps…...24 fps
Uberti M73 Carbine..(50 yd)….2.8”..……1142 fps…….8 fps……27 fps

Cardinal Pearlescent
Steel Gray 1 Coat
Firearm………………. Grp @ 25 yd….Velocity………SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES
TC Contender………….3.9”…………….1070 fps……..7 fps….20 fps……16,000……600……1,700
Uberti Evil Roy SAA…..5”……………….899 fps……..18 fps…59 fps
Uberti M73 Carbine.;(50 yd)..4.2………...1135 fps………5 fps…17 fps

Cardinal Gloss
Black 1 Coat
Firearm………………. Grp @ 25 yd…..Velocity…..…SD…….ES………psiM43)…..SD……ES
TC Contender…………..1.8”……………1066 fps…….11 fps….31 fps……15,900…..500……1,700
Uberti Evil Roy SAA…...2”………………896 fps……..10 fps….31 fps
Uberti M73 Carbine..(50 yd)..2.5”………..1134 fps……13 fps…..49 fps

Naked Cast
BAC Lube
Firearm………………. Grp @ 25 yd…..Velocity……SD…….ES……..…psiM43)…..SD……ES
TC Contender…………..1.8”…………….1078 fps….9 fps…….35 fps……16,700……900……2,900
Uberti Evil Roy SAA…..2”………………..902 fps….12 fps……44 fps
Uberti M73 Carbine..(50 yd)..1.7”………..1135 fps…..5 fps…….15 fps

So to answer the OP's questions some time after that article was done; "Do coated bullets leave paint or plastic coating or anything in your barrel at all?

Nothing at all in the barrel when you cleaning and examining your bore? "

As you can see, sometimes yes.....sometimes no.....

[RedlegEd]

Larry,
Excellent write up! Thank you for the research and posting.
Ed

[FLINTNFIRE]

So sherwin williams ? left deposits , as I find no residue from any of the smokes powder coat cured at 400 degrees 20 minutes after oven temp gets to 400 , powder has already flowed before temp has been reached , shot 45acp and 45 colt different colors and mixes of colors all I am pulling from my bores is gunpowder residue , I have shot 9mm and 40s&w and find no powder coat residue , shot 45 colt in 3 uberti 1873 pistols and a 1873 uberti rifle and in 2 blackhawks , 45 acp was shot through 3 different glock41 and through 3 rock island 1911 and also a springfield xdm , 9mm was shot through glock 34 and ruger 9e and beretta 92fs and 2 cz75b , 40S&w shot through glock 22 glock 35 . All of these loaded on square deal b's , so it asks the question was the powder coat cured all the way or is sherwin williams not a powder to use , interesting data posted by larry , I loaded a lot of lubed bullets prior to starting powder coating just in case it did not work for me , so far I am happy and plan on coating only from here on out , not hard to do and I like the storage aspect of coated .

[onelight]

Thanks for posting that Larry I wish you would have had some Hi-Tek coated to run at the same time.
Excellent job and very informative .