Moly Precision Bullets....Leading...Help

Dis-1-Shooter · May 24, 2010, 10:03 PM

Hello to all the members out there. Has any one ever used Precision Bullets. These bullets are the hard moly for pistols. I have ordered 1,000 moly bullets from Precision and have shot about 200 rounds in a match this past weekend. Around the 30th round or so I started to notice leading in my barrel. I finished the match and proceeded to clean my barrel and was scrubbing for hours with various chemicals. Finally used vinegar and H2O2 to totally remove the lead; it was coming out in small chunks. This is my first experience using moly/lead in my pistol. Is this normal for moly lead bullets or can it be narrowed down to the brand? As a side note, a friend uses Bear Creek and does not experience any leading at all. Both our guns are STI Edge in 40 cal, mine is new and his is an older one. Both our load data are identical, just different bullet brands. Any insight on this topic will be awesome. Thanks to all that respond.

Dis-1-Shooter

frumious · May 24, 2010, 10:10 PM

What does your load data look like (amount and type of powder), and what weight of bullet are you using in that .40? Have you chrono'd a load to see how fast you are pushing it (maybe you had to chrono at the match)? Also FWIW I don't think Precision uses moly...they use some proprietary coating that acts more like a jacket than a lube. Moly is just a glorified lube. I've got some Precision 9mm and 45 loaded up but I haven't made it to the range with them yet. Hope mine shoot cleaner than yours :-)

-cls

Dis-1-Shooter · May 24, 2010, 10:30 PM

Frumious, you are right. Precision bullets are similar to moly/poly coating, but much tougher. My load data is listed somewhat scary and to reduce trials at it I am not going to list my powder. I use 185 Precision bullets, CCI SP primers, 1.170". This past match was local so there were no chronos, but I have chroned them and they make major PF at 896 low/ 901 high; total of 10 shots. I hope you do not experience the same leading as I did, please keep me posted on your findings.

Thanks

barhob · May 24, 2010, 11:26 PM

why not list the powder you are using?
a hot powder like 'Tite Group' could be your problem.
try 231 or bullseye.
make sure you are not over 'taper crimping'.
that could break the coating and possibly strip the bullet.
i have used the bullets in 9MM and they work great!

frumious · May 24, 2010, 11:26 PM

Hmmm...pushing a 185 to 900 FPS doesn't seem all that special...I don't load .40 but I checked Lee, Lyman, and Hornady and there are plenty of loads that exceed 900 FPS without using a max powder charge. Many loads hit 900 at starting charges. Not sure why your load is scary.

Regardless, I really have no suggestion except to visit precision's site here and check out their recommendations on powders, etc. Specifically, they indicate if you have smoke/fouling issues, try a little slower powder, watch for shaving the bullet when seating, make sure your bore is not oversize WRT the bullet. LOTS of good information in just half a page of reading. Since you are having problems, might want to read it very closely if you have not already.

Back to the scary loads...I will go ahead and say that if you are using a powder that normally won't push a 185 to 900 FPS at max load, and you are overcharging it (even just a little) to get there, I'd fix that first before doing anything else. And I mean PRONTO.

Good luck and safe shooting. Let us know how it turns out.

-cls

Dis-1-Shooter · May 25, 2010, 12:03 AM

Update, I just pulled a couple of bullets and discovered the coating was cut through during the taper crimp process. Funny thing, I measured the Precision bullet (mine) at the crimp point and it measured .398" and then measured the Bear Creek (buddy's load) at the crimp point and it measured .393". The Bear Creek bullet had NO exposed lead with a much heavier taper crimp. From the findings, it appears that the Bear Creek bullets must have a much thicker moly/poly coating. Thus explaining why my loads were leading and the Bear Creek were fine. I also discovered that backing out the seating die 3 turns, according to Lee reloading instructions, tends to have a single seat and crimp process on the Precision bullets also cutting through the coating. When I tried it at 3.5 turns and then taper crimp there were no lead exposed. I guess I have answered my own question/situation. I will load some later and give a final thought. Thanks for all that helped.

May 24, 2010, 10:03 PM	#1
Dis-1-Shooter Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Posts: 47	Moly Precision Bullets....Leading...Help Hello to all the members out there. Has any one ever used Precision Bullets. These bullets are the hard moly for pistols. I have ordered 1,000 moly bullets from Precision and have shot about 200 rounds in a match this past weekend. Around the 30th round or so I started to notice leading in my barrel. I finished the match and proceeded to clean my barrel and was scrubbing for hours with various chemicals. Finally used vinegar and H2O2 to totally remove the lead; it was coming out in small chunks. This is my first experience using moly/lead in my pistol. Is this normal for moly lead bullets or can it be narrowed down to the brand? As a side note, a friend uses Bear Creek and does not experience any leading at all. Both our guns are STI Edge in 40 cal, mine is new and his is an older one. Both our load data are identical, just different bullet brands. Any insight on this topic will be awesome. Thanks to all that respond. Dis-1-Shooter

May 25, 2010, 12:03 AM	#6
Dis-1-Shooter Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Posts: 47	Update, I just pulled a couple of bullets and discovered the coating was cut through during the taper crimp process. Funny thing, I measured the Precision bullet (mine) at the crimp point and it measured .398" and then measured the Bear Creek (buddy's load) at the crimp point and it measured .393". The Bear Creek bullet had NO exposed lead with a much heavier taper crimp. From the findings, it appears that the Bear Creek bullets must have a much thicker moly/poly coating. Thus explaining why my loads were leading and the Bear Creek were fine. I also discovered that backing out the seating die 3 turns, according to Lee reloading instructions, tends to have a single seat and crimp process on the Precision bullets also cutting through the coating. When I tried it at 3.5 turns and then taper crimp there were no lead exposed. I guess I have answered my own question/situation. I will load some later and give a final thought. Thanks for all that helped. Last edited by Dis-1-Shooter; May 25, 2010 at 12:42 AM.

May 24, 2010, 10:10 PM	#2
frumious Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2009 Location: Carrollton TX Posts: 523	What does your load data look like (amount and type of powder), and what weight of bullet are you using in that .40? Have you chrono'd a load to see how fast you are pushing it (maybe you had to chrono at the match)? Also FWIW I don't think Precision uses moly...they use some proprietary coating that acts more like a jacket than a lube. Moly is just a glorified lube. I've got some Precision 9mm and 45 loaded up but I haven't made it to the range with them yet. Hope mine shoot cleaner than yours :-) -cls

May 24, 2010, 10:30 PM	#3
Dis-1-Shooter Member Join Date: February 25, 2010 Posts: 47	Frumious, you are right. Precision bullets are similar to moly/poly coating, but much tougher. My load data is listed somewhat scary and to reduce trials at it I am not going to list my powder. I use 185 Precision bullets, CCI SP primers, 1.170". This past match was local so there were no chronos, but I have chroned them and they make major PF at 896 low/ 901 high; total of 10 shots. I hope you do not experience the same leading as I did, please keep me posted on your findings. Thanks

May 24, 2010, 11:26 PM	#4
barhob Junior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: texas Posts: 11	why not list the powder you are using? a hot powder like 'Tite Group' could be your problem. try 231 or bullseye. make sure you are not over 'taper crimping'. that could break the coating and possibly strip the bullet. i have used the bullets in 9MM and they work great!