I have been having trouble trying to load coated bullets (MBC). I have been using their lead 200 gr. SWC (.45 Auto) for years with out a single hitch. With their coated bullets if I get them to pass the plunk test they nose dive, if I make them longer they don't chamber. Thought I would ask here before I go back to lead. Any thoughts?
Trouble with coated bullets
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witchdoctor
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Pardon my ignorance sir, but what are they coated with ?
Not your ignorance but mine - I have no idea, they call them "Hi-Tec"
The coating is made in Australia and imported here. We are currently lined to up distribute this coating along with unsized/unlubed bullets so that folks can apply the coating themselves. The coating itself consists of a catalyst which binds a polymeric colorant agent with acetone which is then applied in bulk to raw bullets and baked onto the bullets' surface at nearly 400 degrees. The coating is a polymer (bonded with metal) and forms an extremely tough new surface for the bullet. The application of the coating is repeated for an additional coat. The bullets are then sized normally but not lubricated, as the coating itself acts as bullet lube. Nominal bullet diameter is not affected.
The coating is made in Australia and imported here. We are currently lined to up distribute this coating along with unsized/unlubed bullets so that folks can apply the coating themselves. The coating itself consists of a catalyst which binds a polymeric colorant agent with acetone which is then applied in bulk to raw bullets and baked onto the bullets' surface at nearly 400 degrees. The coating is a polymer (bonded with metal) and forms an extremely tough new surface for the bullet. The application of the coating is repeated for an additional coat. The bullets are then sized normally but not lubricated, as the coating itself acts as bullet lube. Nominal bullet diameter is not affected.
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witchdoctor
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Coop, no sir. I am ignorant of that entire process. Interesting to learn about though.
From age d8ve my father utilized child slave labor to wipe down the home cast and homegrown bullets we used on our farm. That was my sister and me.
Even on my twenty two years as 11-Bravo the armored would say, be sure their is no liquid on your ammo or your weapon will not feed or function properly.
We could die if that rifle refused to work in the field during an op.
I wish you success in your endeavor and thank you for the explanation.
Richard
From age d8ve my father utilized child slave labor to wipe down the home cast and homegrown bullets we used on our farm. That was my sister and me.
Even on my twenty two years as 11-Bravo the armored would say, be sure their is no liquid on your ammo or your weapon will not feed or function properly.
We could die if that rifle refused to work in the field during an op.
I wish you success in your endeavor and thank you for the explanation.
Richard
Thanks, Richard for the interest and comments, I spent my afternoon adjusting my seating and factory crimp dies to these specs. The rounds now fit the gauge, they were a little off on the crimp. I'll get back after I get to the range again. Might be a while as I'm having heart surgery but I don't know exactly when.
Talk to you then.
Coop
May God be with you and the whole surgical crew when you have your heart surgery.
dennishoddy
Moderator
Praying for a full recovery to your heart surgery.
Good to hear you figured out the issue with the coated bullets.
witchdoctor
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That is a nice knife there. I am going to find my own. K I rs are like holsters.
I used to buy Benchmade, but USCCA offered a nice otf from Krate.com. Very well made with lifetime warranty. Can't say enough good things.
Knife attachment, barrel. Some stuff you cant unlearn...
Well, there's yer problem. They're trying to go "down under".
(I'll see my self out)
Good luck with your surgery.
Joe
dennishoddy
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We may actually be "down under" next year.
Thank you for your prayers, I am a pastor and believe that they really help.
Yes prayer absolutely changes things.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
I also believe in the power of prayer. God wants to have a relationship with him, as evidence by His time with Adam & Eve in the garden of Eden, before their fall , made by listening to the serpent & ignoring God's instructions not to eat from the forbidden tree. Prayer sent for your medical condition, that surgery is successful & for rapid & complete healing.
I'm a big fan of Hi Tec coated bullets..the bigger coated bullet sellers use that process, i.e. Bayou Bullets.
HI Tec coating reportedly was used / tested in Australia for 20 yrs. before coming to America. I bought some after reading about the process, to try them , as I had been using hard cast bullets almost exclusively for my handgun ammo. I really disliked having to scrub lead from barrels. Loaded some ammo w/ these new-to-me Hi tec coated bullets & test fired them, by shooting a few into the ground, then examined the bullets. The coating remained intact, did not flake, peel, or separate from the lead. Before using these bullets, I read about the lube (or chemical that acts as a bullet lube) within the coating, as I was concerned that the coating would cause bore wear. I've shot thousands of these coated bullets, from a variety of bullet manufacturers , am very satisfied with their performance.
I've also read about some people using powder coating on lead bullets. I wouldn't use a powder coated bullet in my firearms, as I'd be concerned with bore wear. Powder coating in very hard, & I've read nothing about it's effect on a bore. As always, "YMMV"
I'm a big fan of Hi Tec coated bullets..the bigger coated bullet sellers use that process, i.e. Bayou Bullets.
HI Tec coating reportedly was used / tested in Australia for 20 yrs. before coming to America. I bought some after reading about the process, to try them , as I had been using hard cast bullets almost exclusively for my handgun ammo. I really disliked having to scrub lead from barrels. Loaded some ammo w/ these new-to-me Hi tec coated bullets & test fired them, by shooting a few into the ground, then examined the bullets. The coating remained intact, did not flake, peel, or separate from the lead. Before using these bullets, I read about the lube (or chemical that acts as a bullet lube) within the coating, as I was concerned that the coating would cause bore wear. I've shot thousands of these coated bullets, from a variety of bullet manufacturers , am very satisfied with their performance.
I've also read about some people using powder coating on lead bullets. I wouldn't use a powder coated bullet in my firearms, as I'd be concerned with bore wear. Powder coating in very hard, & I've read nothing about it's effect on a bore. As always, "YMMV"
None of my 1911s will feed & fire any jacketed SWC reliably. I have noticed a light copper color on my polished feed ramps, it got me to thinking that a copper jacketed bullet may not be the best feeder in my 1911s.
You said:
The bullets are then sized normally but not lubricated, as the coating itself acts as bullet lube. Nominal bullet diameter is not affected.
Do you believe a hard cast SWC with this coating could possibly help feeding issues with the SWC in unaltered 1911s?
I have never had much luck with jacketed SWC either, although lead bullets from H & G #68 mold or clones work very well.
I copied that description from the Missouri Bullet Website.
I am hoping they will feed properly they all fit the bullet guage and pass the plunk test. I have several batches of 200gr. .45s and 125 gr. 9MM from Missouri Bullet and Blue Bullets loaded I am trying Bullseye and TiteGroup at varying loads.
I'm sorry I don't have range reports but I have recently had two heart surgeries and haven't been able to get to range. I am hoping that the Blue Bullets feed because they look cool. I will give you more information when I get back to the range.
Good luck if you get to try first!
Coop
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First and formost, I hope your surgries were successful,and that you are able to be up and around sooner rather than later. I love the blue bullets. I have some 38 special 158gr swc from DGB. I finally got around to loading some up, but been to busy to try them. I believe they are 3.3? gr 231. Starting load. Just getting into reloading. These are loaded in Federal brass with Winchester small pistol primers. These are green. I hope they work well. Will try them out soon as I have the time. I've been busier since I retired than I ever was when I was still working. Good Grief!
Get well soon ,and may God bless you and your family. Stay safe.
joepistol
Well-Known Fanatic
.." None of my 1911s will feed & fire any jacketed SWC reliably:
that seems strange to me, as ALL my 1911's feed & eject swc's w/o an issue.
My 1st suggestion is, did you try changing pr using different magazines ?
If a problem persists, if your rds pass the plunk test, maybe your 1911's need what used to be called ( still is ?) a" throat job" ..where the barrel entrance is slightly tapered & polished, allowing bullets to feed easily. One or maybe 2 of my 8 45 cal. 1911's have had this done by a prof. gunsmith, before they came into my possession. I've even tried those 155gr 45cal SWC's..( just because I hadn't tried them before) I don't recall having any issues with the 1911's I shot them in..thought I honestly can't remember which one or ones I used to shoot them.
I do remember I had to seat bullets shorter on some 185 gr swc's I used, & looking @ those loaded blue bullets, they may be seated a little too long.
I've learned that some bullets may need to be seated a little shorter to function properly in some guns, than the OAL listed in manuals.
I was fearful of seating shorter than OAL lengths , due to understanding the effect it has on pressure, but I spoke with my gunsmith, and he agreed a shorter length my be necessary for a SWC to feed properly in some guns.. Since I load more toward start or mid level powder charges , I decided it would be safe to try.
They worked, well. I've seen SWC bullets loaded in 45 acp cases to the depth that the bullet was inside the case mouth to the level where the bullet taper begins.
that seems strange to me, as ALL my 1911's feed & eject swc's w/o an issue.
My 1st suggestion is, did you try changing pr using different magazines ?
If a problem persists, if your rds pass the plunk test, maybe your 1911's need what used to be called ( still is ?) a" throat job" ..where the barrel entrance is slightly tapered & polished, allowing bullets to feed easily. One or maybe 2 of my 8 45 cal. 1911's have had this done by a prof. gunsmith, before they came into my possession. I've even tried those 155gr 45cal SWC's..( just because I hadn't tried them before) I don't recall having any issues with the 1911's I shot them in..thought I honestly can't remember which one or ones I used to shoot them.
I do remember I had to seat bullets shorter on some 185 gr swc's I used, & looking @ those loaded blue bullets, they may be seated a little too long.
I've learned that some bullets may need to be seated a little shorter to function properly in some guns, than the OAL listed in manuals.
I was fearful of seating shorter than OAL lengths , due to understanding the effect it has on pressure, but I spoke with my gunsmith, and he agreed a shorter length my be necessary for a SWC to feed properly in some guns.. Since I load more toward start or mid level powder charges , I decided it would be safe to try.
They worked, well. I've seen SWC bullets loaded in 45 acp cases to the depth that the bullet was inside the case mouth to the level where the bullet taper begins.
dennishoddy
Moderator
I shot 200 grain SWC coated bullets for years in my Kimber 1911 in USPSA matches. I found the seating depth of the bullets were the determining factor in reliability.
1/16th of an inch over the case mouth was the sweet spot. Any lower or higher, there was feeding issues.
1/16th of an inch over the case mouth was the sweet spot. Any lower or higher, there was feeding issues.
Thanks for the info, I never thought of measuring the amount over the case mouth. I will try it immediately.
