Leading with Hitek, PC the answer?

[Goldstar225]

Need a little help from those with more experience.

I recently started using Hitek coating on my 9mm bullets and am getting substantial leading after approximately 100 rounds fired. These are being shot in a Glock 48 at 1100 FPS. I have purchased and used a conventionally rifled barrel as well and still am getting lead build up in the last 1 - 1 1/2" inch of both barrels.

- Each batch of coating has been carefully measured by weight (powder) and Fluid ounces per the manufacturers instructions.
- Each batch of bullets are lightly coated and baked in a convection oven. Temperature verified with oven thermometer at 400 degrees.
- I started at two coatings and have worked up to four coatings with no improvement.
- All batches have passed both the rub and smash test.
- I have tried sizing to both .356 and .358 (after coating) with no change in effect.
- Lead source is COWW.

Hope I've covered the needed key points. I'm wondering if I'm missing something or if changing to powder coating will work better than Hitek to prevent leading?

Thanks in advance for any insight and assistance.

[243winxb]

Try 15 BHN alloy.

[Half Dog]

I had the same issue. I slowed the bullet down and the problem went away. I use 2 coats of Hi-Tek.

Is the leading at the crown part of the barrel?

[ioon44]

Have you pulled some of your loaded bullets and checked the diameter to see if your dies are swagging the bullet? If the bullets are not .358" when they enter the barrel, then adjust your dies.

[popper]

I used HiTek on 40sw and found the coating eroded (?) and turned white on some recovered bullets. I got some leading after shooting a lot in the 9mm. This was the old liquid green. I suspect your problem is bullet size. Anybody in the Plano TX area can have my leftover hitek (FTF and free, green liquid and gold powder). Works fine, PC is just easier for me as I don't coat large batches, not worth my time.

[Goldstar225]

Have you pulled some of your loaded bullets and checked the diameter to see if your dies are swagging the bullet? If the bullets are not .358" when they enter the barrel, then adjust your dies.

I have not. I'll pull some tonight and check.

[charlie b]

If the barrel is not throated then PC will not solve the problem.

[Ausglock]

COWW is not hard enough. Go with Hardball alloy.

[Elpatoloco]

COWW is not hard enough. Go with Hardball alloy.

Bull butter. I run pc range scrap

[Ausglock]

Bull butter. I run pc range scrap

I find range scrap is around 10 to 12 BHN. OK for 38 Special or 45 ACP, but not 9mm/38 Super.
15 -16 BHN hardball alloy only.

[BentSprings]

I agree with the bull butter as I too have ran some very soft 9-10 BHN scrap in several 9mm hand guns and several carbines. PowderCoat can do it even when pushed hard through the PC9, Hitec fails even in the pistols. PC cures a lot of the ills with lube/hi-tec. I sold my STAR grease guns and gave my hi-tec away, both suck bigly compared to good Powder Coat.

[405grain]

Goldstar225: Does your 9mm have polygonal rifling? Pistol manufacturers that use polygonal rifling recommend against using cast or swaged lead bullets because of gas blow-by and barrel leading. You didn't mention what brand of firearm your using.

[reddog81]

How will a different alloy help prevent leading with HiTek?

FWIW I mix COWW with dead soft lead for my 147 grain 9mm PC bullets.

[DDriller]

I have never had any leading using HiTek on 9mm, .40acp, .338 spectre, and .458 socom. Have sized down as much as .005 and never had any come off. Lead has been pure, WW, and hardcast with no problems from any of them.

[ioon44]

I have never had any leading using HiTek on 9mm or .45 ACP and my 9mm is a Walther PPQ SF with polygonal rifling.
My alloy runs around 10 to 12 BHN and my bullets are sized .002" over bore size and I make sure the bullets are not swagged to under size by my loading dies. Bullet fit is king.

I have been using HiTek for about 10 years and I tried PC and did not like it, but it works great on my lawn furniture.

[charlie b]

Do either of your barrels have a throat? Many semi-autos these days do not. The end of the chamber is a sharp edge. No taper to the rifling.

My HK leads badly no matter what I do. The sharp edges scrape the PC and the bare lead coats the barrel. A lubed bullet might work better than PC. Best would be to send the barrel(s) to Doug and have him put a throat in them.

[oley55]

I have not. I'll pull some tonight and check.

Hmmm, the OP's last post on this was June 11, I guess we will never know what or if he resolved the problem.

[Elpatoloco]

I find range scrap is around 10 to 12 BHN. OK for 38 Special or 45 ACP, but not 9mm/38 Super.
15 -16 BHN hardball alloy only.

I've been running it in 10 mm. Max loads with smokes powder

[Darren_dw51]

If you still have the HiTek,I'll take it. I use it all the time.