First shots with powder coated lead

kealil · November 2, 2014, 07:18 PM

Hello all,

I just got back from a range trip and wanted to report how the powder coated bullets performed. Sorry though, no pictures of targets. was kinda in a rush near the end.

I started with my favorite bullet for my 357 158gn Semi Wadcutter.

I used the tumble method with Harbor Freight Yellow Powder coat. Single coat on every bullet, baked at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and ran them through the sizer. They went through the sizer just fine, no hangups and it felt like sizing a jacketed bullet, very smooth.

They definitely won't win a beauty pageant (serves me right for using yellow I suppose

) but they were so much easier to handle than the moly'd bullets I was doing before.

I was extremely impressed with the loads. All the rounds were dead on with the sights and it was one ragged hole. The barrel is spotless. I think these bullets may have cleaned the barrel better than I could.

Sorry for the lack of details, those will come with the next range trip. I also have reports for my 9mm, 45ACP, and 380 by then as well because I'm moving all pistol to powder coat now.

Beagle333 · November 2, 2014, 07:22 PM

The yellow does work good. Same with the white, but the coverage over dark colored lead just isn't spectacular. The performance is pretty awesome though!

kealil · November 2, 2014, 07:52 PM

Agreed.

Since this was so successful, I think I'm going to get the powder coat gun and may try some red or black

Maybe I'll go crazy and try some Kawasaki green

Beagle333 · November 2, 2014, 08:06 PM

This fellow here is taking the lead on powder sales. He has become very popular in the coating community. I do use a good bit of HF red, but if it's any other color, it probably came from Smoke.
Smoke's Powder

skizzums · November 8, 2014, 10:25 AM

After getting some of smokes blue or black, its so fluffy and coats so well tumbling, you won't even want a gun. Try it out before you go down the spray on route.

mikld · November 8, 2014, 12:24 PM

I started dry tumbling PC, got a HF gun and sprayed a lot of bullets, bought some of Smoke's powder, went back to dry tumbling and get excellent coverage...

November 2, 2014, 07:22 PM	#2
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	The yellow does work good. Same with the white, but the coverage over dark colored lead just isn't spectacular. The performance is pretty awesome though! __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

November 2, 2014, 07:52 PM	#3
kealil Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Posts: 270	Agreed. Since this was so successful, I think I'm going to get the powder coat gun and may try some red or black Maybe I'll go crazy and try some Kawasaki green __________________ "A weapon without a name is nothing; Just another hunk of steel, wood, or what have you. A weapon with a name is more. It is a partner, a friend, and a comrade to the end"

November 2, 2014, 08:06 PM	#4
Beagle333 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2012 Location: Auburn, AL. Posts: 2,332	This fellow here is taking the lead on powder sales. He has become very popular in the coating community. I do use a good bit of HF red, but if it's any other color, it probably came from Smoke. Smoke's Powder __________________ . . . Have a Colt and a smile.

November 8, 2014, 10:25 AM	#5
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	After getting some of smokes blue or black, its so fluffy and coats so well tumbling, you won't even want a gun. Try it out before you go down the spray on route. __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

November 8, 2014, 12:24 PM	#6
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	I started dry tumbling PC, got a HF gun and sprayed a lot of bullets, bought some of Smoke's powder, went back to dry tumbling and get excellent coverage... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...