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Thread: Powder coating muzzle loader bullets

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy shaggybull's Avatar
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    Powder coating muzzle loader bullets

    Anyone tried powder coating bullets for muzzle loading? If so lube or no lube?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master


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    Kidding I hope? Lube is for more than leading. PC is only for leading.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I PC'ed round balls and shot them with a lubed patch.
    I also tried PC ing some Conicals.
    But I lubed them like they were a bare Boolit.
    The PC helps with leading if the PC contacts the metal.
    But when loading Conicals in a rifled bore , the lands do cut down into the bare lead.
    The lube helps keep it from leading.
    Now I do have a .75 cal Smooth Bore Blunderbuss that I could shoot PC'ed buckshot or full sized balls and get less leading with no lube.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    My son bought a bunch of PC boolits for his Spencer (45 colt - couldnt get them bare and we didnt have a mold) we just pan lube em with BP lube and it shoots fine.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Another reason for lube with a muzzle loader is to keep the fouling manageable.
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    One time someone asked me.
    Does Powder coating a Boolit for hunting , make it Non Toxic.
    I guess they didn't want to poison a deer if they shot it

  7. #7
    Boolit Bub
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    I have just for sh!%s and giggles. Only real reason I can imagine is for shooting bare balls in a smoothbore. I did it for fun and quickly identifying different sizes by color.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Firelock66 View Post
    and quickly identifying different sizes by color.
    Now that's not a bad idea.
    A vote for anyone other then the conservative candidates is a vote for the liberal candidates.

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy Gobeyond's Avatar
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    If you have to lube it what’s the point.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I would consider PC a substitute for paper patching, if it still allows enough upset to engage the grooves. One of these days I will compare them back to back.

    When shooting paper patch I use a lubed felt wad under the bullet to help keep the powder fouling soft.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    You might only lube it if it is a Rifled bore.
    Unless you shoot a smaller diameter Boolit over a lubed Over powder wad in a rifled barrel so the rifling isn't cutting thru the PC when you load it.

    You don't lube PC'ed Boolits in centerfire guns.
    But then the rifling is only cutting in when it shoots.
    So PC ing a conical for a BP revolver might work nice.

  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy
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    I've experimented with it shooting minies, conicals and round ball. The results- meh, little to no change for the effort. You still have to lube the bullets and ball to keep the fouling under control. Since I also compete with a smoothbore, you have to use lube there as well regardless of powder coat or not. In my opinion, it's not worth the effort in muzzleloading.
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  13. #13
    Boolit Master


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    Well I think a few of you miss some of the benifits of PC...

    First off YES, 100% ya need ta lube cause ya need to control that Fouling. But lube also controls leading which pc does in spades. It also encapsulates tge lead. Keeping it off your fingers and OUT OF YOU!
    Its also a good way to identify loads.

    Problems I have encountered is conical Loading. It increases dia a bit it also is about 30 bhn. So pushing a conical down the bore can be more difficult.

    We are going to talk a bit on this tonight on our Friday chats on uTube. Georgia Shooting Connection. Cone and join us!!

    Tonights link will be posted later.

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  14. #14
    Boolit Mold
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    Quote Originally Posted by cwlongshot View Post
    Well I think a few of you miss some of the benifits of PC...

    First off YES, 100% ya need ta lube cause ya need to control that Fouling.

    Problems I have encountered is conical Loading. It increases dia a bit it also is about 30 bhn. So pushing a conical down the bore can be more difficult.
    I notice no difference in fouling or clean up, when shooting lubed "REAL" bullets poured with soft lead and Power Belts or sabot which have no lube. I can't see how powder coating would be any different in this respect. Sized to the same diameter as the Thor all copper bullet that fits my CVA I find that the PC lead bullets load very easily. I'll get back on this after the weather breaks and I can go shoot again.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master


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    I have shot a fair amount of maxi-balls, maxi-hunters and REAL bullets out of 45's and 50's and have NEVER had a problem with leading. I just can't see it being worth the effort to PC MZ bullets.
    Old enough to know better, young enough to do it anyway!

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  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    To me, if it worked, it would replace paper patching as my primary method of shooting the muzzle loader. FWIW, the bullet is not engraved on loading. It slides down the bore with just the weight of the rod. The initial pressure upsets the bullet (and paper patch) such that it engages the rifling. Yes, a lubed wad is used to help control powder fouling. No lube on the bullet.

  17. #17
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    I’ve always coated the bare round balls for my .54 with tumble lube. Not for lube but to keep the lead from oxidizing in my possibles bag.
    PC would work, too.


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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check