Bullet weight: before or after lubing/sizing?

[YoungGun88]

So while using coatings like Hitek or powdercoat has become normal for many, including myself, I still want to traditionally lube/size some boolits. But I was thinking the other day “Does a 230gr round nose cast boolit weigh 230 grains(of the stated alloy that boolit is spec’d for) BEFORE lubing/sizing, or AFTER lubing and sizing?”

I get that a small deviation in weight +/- due to alloy is one thing, but if a boolit has deep lube grooves and they’re empty due to using hitek coating instead of lube to fill those grooves, does that mean the boolit is lighter as a result? Would this possibly hinder performance in any way?

This inquiring mind would love to know.

[knitepoet]

Personally, I go by the fully "dressed" weight. Since that's what's being accelerated down the bore.

In the grand scheme of things, there probably isn't enough difference between bare, lubed, lubed and GC'd or PC'd to matter, as long as they're all done the same way.

[memtb]

For what’s it’s worth, using my 45-70 as an example.

My first attempt at powder coating was abysmal (think speckled puppies) due to a poor choice of powder! The coverage was very uneven, I’m pretty certain that there was “some” weight variation due to this. In spite of that….I was getting 100 yrd. groups right @ 1”!

I believe that the variation in bullet weight due to alloy fluxing is far more significant than variations by the powder coating! memtb

[gwpercle]

I have always gone by the weight of the As Cast Boolit ...'
before lubing and sizing .
I don't do powder coating .
It's just my way ... you do it whatever way makes you Happy !
Gary

[SiliconeSword]

I weigh after coating as that's all I do and is how I intend to shoot the boolit. I'll weigh bare sometimes just to see how far off the weight is, for example I have a 130gn mold that drops 140gn and a 247gn that goes up to 256. Haven't weighed enough to have a fair sample size for a before and after but I doubt it's even a 1% gain, a gas check is probably 10X the weight of PC

[fredj338]

Performance? You are over thinking it. I would bet most casting their own rarely get an exact finished wt stamped on the mold. At handgun distance out to 50y, even a diff between 225 & 240gr isnt likely showing up on the target.

[Shiloh]

Use finished weight.

[redhawk0]

I use as cast weight. The 1-2gr of PC or GC won't make a difference for the loading data. But I do weigh actual as cast weight...not published weight for the mold.

redhawk

[mehavey]

As-Cast

- Sizing doesn't change weight
- Lube is inconsequential/burned/vaporized

[jsizemore]

That's why we work up a load.

[justindad]

Splitting hairs.

[gwpercle]

Splitting hairs.

LIKE !
Gary

[Delkal]

I use the load data for what is stamped on the mold. If my supposedly 230 gr ,45 ACP actually weighs 235 gr or 226gr so what. Pressure wise there is more variation with OAL, bore diameter, and the tightness of the chamber.

As someone wise just said.....that is why we work up.

[Echo#154]

My school of thought is that if you’re looking for consistent accuracy the key is consistent loading. If you weigh the bullet before or after doesn’t matter as much as consistent coating and loading techniques.