I’m now a believer.

[jdgabbard]

So, I’ve been casting for years. I only recently dove into the powder coating game. Although I took my time acquiring the necessary items to do it. That said, I recently was successful in powder coating and sizing some 9mm and 38spl boolits. And decided to see how they performed.

The only load I shot so far was the 358311 over 4.2gr of Unique. This has often proved to be an accurate load for me, although a very dirty load -usually gums up the gun with soot mixed with lube. I took a box to the range with me today while I was testing out a new rifle. I decided that I’d put these through my SP-101. And let me tell you, not only were they just as accurate as any others I’ve loaded, but the gun is a good bit cleaner. Although there is certain some carbon on it, it’s otherwise clean from what I can tell.

This sold me. I’m not going back to lube so long as I can find appropriate powder.

[slim1836]

It's nice to have options.

Slim

[rancher1913]

This sold me. I’m not going back to lube so long as I can find appropriate powder.

smoke stocks and sells all you will ever need

[charlie b]

Smoke's powders.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...owder-For-sale

[asdf]

smoke stocks and sells all you will ever need

...except copper colour. Why doesn't anyone ever have copper???

[mehavey]

See https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post4968246
(but it's necessarily 2-step)

[asdf]

See https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post4968246
(but it's necessarily 2-step)

It's copper-ish, but not close enough to look like a bullet jacket. I'm told that there is one (somewhere), but it requires that you apply it over the chrome coat first, which in turn can only be applied over polished metal. Not practical, unfortunately.

[Kosh75287]

I first thought that 4.2/Unique seemed a bit light for 9mm, and might be the source of your dirty burning. THEN, I realized that the Lyman #358311 was a ~160 gr. LRN bullet. NOW, your powder charge makes perfect sense (though the dirtiness makes less, to me).
Do you know what sort of velocities you might be getting with 4.2/Unique/160? I'm a MAJOR fan of heavy-for-caliber projectiles in 9mm and .38 Super.

[jdgabbard]

I first thought that 4.2/Unique seemed a bit light for 9mm, and might be the source of your dirty burning. THEN, I realized that the Lyman #358311 was a ~160 gr. LRN bullet. NOW, your powder charge makes perfect sense (though the dirtiness makes less, to me).
Do you know what sort of velocities you might be getting with 4.2/Unique/160? I'm a MAJOR fan of heavy-for-caliber projectiles in 9mm and .38 Super.

This is a 38spl load. And is a very pleasant shooting load, probably in the 800fps range. Though I have seen loads with this boolit in the 9mm, in Lyman #44. It lists 3.5-4.5gr of Unique with #2 Alloy for a top end load of 1039fps. Here is a copy of the 44th Edition Manual. Sounds like a pretty stout load. Personally, I prefer Red Dot in the 9mm, and have shot kegs of it. Though, I've always been concerned about pressures - it very much fills up the case to the point that some loads smush down the powder a bit. Though I've never had an issue with 4.0-4.3gr with a 115-120gr pill.

[white eagle]

its a great option and if it shoots cleaner what's not to like

[reedap1]

JD,

Glad to hear of your "conversion"...my epiphany came about 3 years ago with powder coating. See if you can find some Alliant American Select gunpowder. It is primarily a shotshell powder, but Alliant lists loads for pistols and is the only powder I use for my plinking/practice loads in pistols. It is incredibly clean burning and nothing like Unique. I have shot over 500 rounds in my 357 without cleaning (with light loads, nearly 38 Special levels) without any loss in accuracy with PC (Smokes Clear) bullets and American Select. I am using 4.3 grains of American Select with 158-grain PC bullets and shooting groups around 2"' off sandbags at 25 yards in a S&W Model 66. Velocity is just under 1000 fps. Even the cleaning is easy, I just swab the bore 2x with a Hoppes #9 soaked patch and dry patch it out, no brushing. One tip, just make sure you keep velocity over about 850 fps to avoid sticking a bullet in the barrel with the 158 grainers. I have moved to lighter cast bullets in the 125-140 grain range just for the economy and reduced recoil. Shooting these loads is almost like shooting a 22RF.

Good luck,
Paul

[makeurownfun]

Smokes powder

or

Buy some RAL powder from Powderbuythepound. Lots of powder will work, like Eastwood Ford Lightblue. I started PCing 2 years ago and haven't looked back since.