Which PC smokes least under fire?

[atfsux]

I keep reading from other folks who load powder-coated and other polymer-coated projectiles that some commercially made offerings smoke more or less than competitor manufacturer X or Y. These guys who are complaining are mostly high-volume IDPA and IPSC shooters. And for them, it can be an actual concern with all the rounds they fire. Especially if you shoot primarily at indoor ranges. (Yes, indoor ranges SHOULD be properly ventilated. But the best indoor air system is inferior to being outdoors.)

From what I have read, the consensus seems to be that Hi-Tek smokes more than Bullet Corp's product, and that various PC powders smoke more than Hi-Tek. But there are too many variables in that analysis, since few commercial sources do PC rather than Bullet Corp or Hi-Tek, and secondly, there is no universal agreed upon temp or time of bake for PC (unlike the specific instructions Hi-Tek and Bullet Corp provide), and nearly everyone does it just a little bit differently. And thirdly, there are so many brands of PC powders out there, and they are bound to have slightly different properties from one another and therefor perform differently from each other when it comes to burn resistance under fire.

I wonder if anyone here has done enough PC with various brands of powder and been able to notice if one particular manufacturer smokes less than the others. Have the more expensive powders done any better for you than the cheaper ones? (Other than Harbor Freight, of course. We all know they are fairly low on the quality chart.)

[414gates]

I doubt that PC can smoke.

Considering the temperature required to apply it, and after is is applied, it becomes even more impervious to heat.

Also considering that the paper patch on a paper patch bullet doesn't burn up.

If there is any smoke, it's from the sizing lube that was applied after PC before bullet sizing.

If you look at a recovered PC bullet, the coating on the base is still intact, it hasn't turned to smoke.

[atfsux]

If there is any smoke, it's from the sizing lube that was applied after PC before bullet sizing.

You might be partially correct in this analysis. I use a diluted lanolin solution I spray on mine very lightly. I've never detected any sort of smell or smoke from it during firing. But then again, I have a notoriously bad sniffer.

Yet, it is indisputable that some guys detect or complain about this.

Keep it coming. Feel free for anyone to chime in on whether this is real or not, or what your opinion is.

[elmacgyver0]

As long as it goes bang, doesn't lead up the barrel and suppressor who cares?
Perhaps the gun powder?

[405grain]

Bright Pink!!! Bright pink PC absolutely makes the least amount of smoke. You need to be using bright pink bullets (and show them to your shooting buddies)

Actually I'm trolling you. It probably doesn't make the slightest bit of difference what type of PC you use. The smoke is most likely from the burning gun powder. PC smokes much less than lubed bullets, and there aren't that many complaints about lubed.

[45workhorse]

I use Smokes PC never noticed any smoke/smell from them.
Lubed boolits yes, smoke and smell.

[Kraschenbirn]

Never really noticed any smoke at all from my PC'd boolits until a couple of weeks ago. Was one of those ugly hot/humid days with almost no breeze and, from both my GP-100 and S&W 586, I could see a slight puff, almost like a cigarette smoke ring, with every shot. Didn't linger in the air for long and I didn't give it any thought at the time but, reading this thread, reminded me. Boolits were nothing out of the ordinary: 155 gr SWC PC'd with Smoke's Jet Black, powder was 4.5 gr Win 231. But - last Thursday - different weather conditions with temp in mid-60s and low relative humidity, same guns, ammo from same reloding session and I don't recall any smoke at all.

When it comes to atmospheric science, I'm just an old airplane driver with enough basic meteorolgy training to keep myself (most of the time) out of trouble but I do know that combustion characteristics can vary with stuff like OAT, pressure, humidity, etc. Just a thought

Bill

[SiliconeSword]

I can smell a difference between gas checked and plain base in a handful of guns using Eastwood signal white, but the smoke itself isn't noticeably worse I'd say

[atfsux]

I can smell a difference between gas checked and plain base in a handful of guns using Eastwood signal white, but the smoke itself isn't noticeably worse I'd say

Thank you. This is the sort of empirical first person experience opinions I'm looking to hear about.

[fredj338]

Smoke is a product of hot gasses & interacting with lube. PC or HTis basically a lube. I find PC smokes less with most powders than HT. Really hot powders like TG can produce more smoke with any lube.

[atfsux]

Smoke is a product of hot gasses & interacting with lube. PC or HTis basically a lube. I find PC smokes less with most powders than HT. Really hot powders like TG can produce more smoke with any lube.

I have actually found that Titegroup smokes a bit more when lower-than-max charges are used. It seems to get a better/cleaner combustion when the pressure is higher.

[SiliconeSword]

Well dang, I use Titegroup a lot and my 9mm IS more smoky than my 300blk or .350L that use #11fs. I don't load anything else besides 5.56 J-words so not much else to add

[414gates]

Smoke is a product of hot gasses & interacting with lube. PC or HTis basically a lube. I find PC smokes less with most powders than HT. Really hot powders like TG can produce more smoke with any lube.

I powder coat for all my handguns, and one 500 Jeffery.

I've never noticed any change to the sight picture between shooting jacketed bullets and PC in the handguns, and I do use the same powder with both. If my PC did smoke, I'd notice it on the longer strings.

The Jeffery will on the odd shot with PC visibly belch a white smoke, but it's definitely from excess lube. I use Lee Alox to size the PC bullets.

If your PC is producing smoke, it's an incorrect formulation, or the curing was not done properly.

Test it for yourself, put a few powder coated bullets under a blowtorch. Any smoke ?