Base coverage

[dddddmorgan]

I'm sure the answer is "everything is important" but I've got a question about coverage, I'm fairly new to powder coating.

I'm using Smoke's John Deer Green and it's working beautifully, this really is an easy process.

My question is that sometimes the base isn't as fantastic as the rest of the boolit, is this super important?

I'm using non-stick aluminum foil on my baking sheets even though they're non-stick coated.

I'm only coating non-magnum stuff at the moment, mostly bevel based projectiles for the auto loaders so nothing extreme. What say you all?

[BNE]

Are you tumbling the bullets or spraying them?

If tumbling, the base is usually covered. Spraying it’s not covered much at all.

I say as long as the base is flat and you are sizing them to the core diameter for the gun they will be used on, then it is fine. At pistol ranges (25 yards or less) I have not noticed any difference in accuracy. (I am normally the biggest problem with my accuracy!)

I say load them up and shoot them. If you really are concerned, separate the ones you question and shoot them separately. Prove it to yourself one way or the other.

BNE

[dddddmorgan]

I should have added that, I'm tumbling. Right now I'm doing "shake 'n' bake" but I've ordered a new bowl for my Lyman tumbler to try that.

Some of them have a little bit and some of them have great coverage, I guess it's just a matter of me doing a better job.

Everything sizes okay and such.

I haven't gotten a chance to go out. I've been coating as possible, I can get a couple of batches after work etc...

I'll have a chance to shoot in a couple of week, weather permitting.

[405grain]

Uniformity of the base of a bullet is more important for accuracy than that of the bullets nose. With pistol bullets the ranges are shorter, and the velocities slower, so any dispersion caused by differences in the bullets base shouldn't be very much unless those differences are huge. With rifle bullets any discrepancy in the bases of the bullets will have a much more pronounced effect on accuracy. To get more uniform bullet bases the first thing that I would suggest is to switch from non-stick aluminum foil to parchment paper. Nothing sticks to parchment paper. (not to be confused with wax paper - which is something else entirely and won't work very well) Parchment paper can give you a flatter wrinkle free surface to bake your bullets on, plus it's cheaper than aluminum foil. I've always gotten more uniform bullet bases using parchment paper.

[dddddmorgan]

I like the idea of parchement paper, I have some and I'll try it. The bullet base is uniform (as cast) I'm mostly worrying about losing whatever powder coating that's applied to the base.

I'll try the parchement paper tonight.

[dddddmorgan]

SUCCESS!!

First I'd like to thank 405 for the parchment paper idea, it is bang on! No sticking, perfectly uniform coverage on the bottom.

I learned a long time ago that the right tools make the job enjoyable. I can't enjoy something that is poorly done. After watching many videos and reading a lot of postings I purchased Smoke's John Deer Green; then the Lee push through sizers came along; and just today the bowl for my Lyman tumbler came (the liquid kind).

I tumbled for 20 minutes (or so) and the bullets are really coated. Baked on the parchment paper for 20 minutes at 400 and viola! I'm a happy camper!


As you can see they came out beautifully and they passed the smash test with flying colors.

[William Yanda]

Comparing PC to traditional lubing, the goal is to prevent leading. With traditional lubes, sometimes lube on the base is detrimental.

[jsizemore]

I tumble around 3.5 lbs of bullets for 4 minutes. I shake in a wire mesh basket to strain the excess powder. I'm looking for a thinner coat.

[popper]

Try 'Yoshi' or other brand baking sheets. Been using the same one for 2 years, still good (she gave me a used one).

[cstrickland]

I went trough this when I first started powder coating as well . I spray mine with an eastwood powder gun , while they are standing upright on a sheet pan covered in foil . I like the coverage and I like flat black which usually does not tumble

I have since powder coated I am not sure how many 9mm, 357/38, 308,22,45 and a couple of other. For the blasting rounds I make it has never made a difference. Now I also do not push to max ( well some 9mm I do ) so most are around 85% to 90% max charge . I can say in a few ( 9mm) the powder coated have been more accurate then factory FMJ cheap stuff

I have read people talking about more match precision ammo and how it may possible affect the accuracy , but if I want accuracy I load jacketed .

[Delkal]

Some of them have a little bit and some of them have great coverage, I guess it's just a matter of me doing a better job.

This is probably because some of the bullets are hotter than the others. I warm mine up in a toaster oven but the ones in the center right under the element are always hotter. After heating I mix them up and leave them in a thick pile to equilibrate the temp.

I use parchment paper for larger diameter pistol bullets and a silicone mini ice cube tray for rifle.

[Rapier]

If you use plain base bullet mould and curved or bent needle nose pliers to remove the bullets, then place the bullets nose down in a 1/4" hardware box, turned up side down, the base gets coated and baked, then does not require a gas check even at 2,500 fps.