Bullet bruising

[long_arm]

These are 358-158 KT bullets before and after PC (BHN 12). I shake & bake using Smoke's clear, in this case.
If you zoom in on the first pic you can see nice clear crisp edges. After powder coating, if you zoom in on the second pic, you can see the edges are dented in slightly.

Is there a way to avoid this? Am I shaking/swirling too hard?





Edited to add: I cast, then size ( first pic), then PC and then size again (second pic).

[kenacp]

Won't make a bit of difference on performance.
I think you would do fine just sizing after the PC. Save some work on yourself.

[rancher1913]

get a dedicated pc mold, no lube groves to worry about

[long_arm]

I get that. Still....

[long_arm]

Rancher,
I see the edges of the meplat are dinged in as well.

[long_arm]

Maybe I need to look at a different system of applying the powder?

[Ford SD]

you could water drop from mould, then size ....... it makes sizing harder.... use a push through

baking would reduce hardness to air cooled level

[remy3424]

I never seem to need to shake, just swirl aggressively...shaking only broke my containers.

[charlie b]

I have had less of that since I added BB's to the shake container. I also do not shake, I rotate (tumble) or swirl.

But, I don't see that it will make much difference in shooting them. I used to put my fresh cast bullets in a tumbler to knock of the flash. The bullets shot just fine even thought they were 'dimpled'. I did use gas checks so any dings on the bases were 'covered' by the checks.

[mehavey]

. . . less of that since I added BB's . . .

^ ^ ^ This ^ ^ ^

[Walter Laich]

after a swirl I do shake up and down 5 or so times
takes off the excess powder
shaking is not very hard

[Hickok]

Nothing to worry about. Load'em and shoot'em!

[kevin c]

I have read many times that one reason commercial casters use Hardball alloy (92-6-2, BHN ~16) is that they stand up better to the battering they get being shipped.

I’m not saying your alloy is necessarily too soft; I myself use 95-3-2 in my HiTek coated 9mms that get knocked together 3-4 times (two coating shake ups, a third to apply sizing lube, then sizing with a drop into a bucket), and so get plenty of dings, but accuracy is fine for my application.

For you, maybe load and shoot some? If the groups don’t satisfy, before trying harder alloy, maybe try a stand up coating technique that doesn’t bang up the individual slugs to see if a clean, undamaged base makes any difference?
.

[pworley1]

Most of that will go away if you are less aggressive with the shaking and only sizing after coating. Good luck.

[Recycled bullet]

What container are you using for the powder shake?

I use a Rubbermaid or generic red plastic snap top food container that can be sourced from any local supermarket.

The important thing is it's gotta be at least half gallon internal volume and have the#5 inside the triangle underneath.

The best containers are rounded in shape so you can just swirl the bullets inside the box and the powder will stick really well.

The bullets just race around inside the box picking up powder no smashing it crashing it needed.

[GregLaROCHE]

They look good to shoot. Do you think that will effect performance or is it esthetics you’re concerned about?