resizing cast bullets to powder coat

BJung · April 16, 2020, 11:02 AM

My barrel must measure .357 because I slugged it for Dardas ( when he was in business still ) and he was sending me .358 bullets. That's great for my Lee cast bullets measure at .358. But, I want to powder coat and only have a Lee .357 resizer and not a .358. I've read that powder coating will add at least .001" to the diameter making the cast bullet .359".

The question concerns accuracy. Should I (1) resize the cast bullets and powder coat up to .358" (or more), (2) powder cast and shoot a .359" (or more bullet), (3) buy at .358 resizer, or other? What is your experience tell you?

Mike / Tx · April 16, 2020, 12:11 PM

I would pick up a .358 sizing die, powder coat, and run them through the sizer. That will assure that you get the proper size.

**Unclenick** · April 16, 2020, 04:20 PM

I will move this to the cast bullet forum for you.

P Flados · April 16, 2020, 07:04 PM

Before you spend any money, I would recommend you try a couple of things.

One would be to size some to 0.357", then apply the PC and do not size again.

The other would be to PC some and then size to 0.357 and see if they work. I have some guns that do OK with PC bullets sized very close to bore diameter.

Grey_Lion · April 16, 2020, 07:20 PM

You do get that you put the finished dry powder coated bullets thru the sizer again - right?

I don't even bother sizing the cast round before the powder coat. I do it after.

armoredman · April 17, 2020, 04:46 AM

Ditto - powder coat then size, same here.

reddog81 · May 7, 2020, 01:05 PM

You can test out both powder coating then sizing and sizing then powder coating. It is certainly possible and won't hurt anything to size then PC. You should still end up with reasonably consistent bullets.

I prefer to PC then size but I have sized and then PC'd on numerous occasions without any noticeable change in accuracy at 15 yards. I'm sure bench rest testing and shooting at 25 yards would reveal small differences however 95%+ of shooters would never notice.

Grey_Lion · May 9, 2020, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddog81

You can test out both powder coating then sizing and sizing then powder coating. It is certainly possible and won't hurt anything to size then PC. You should still end up with reasonably consistent bullets.

The absolute WORST feed jams I've ever had in my glock where when I first started powder-coating cast bullets. The powder coating added just enough diameter to the bullet that the rounds would stick and prevent the bolt from closing fully. We almost required tools to eject the rounds. After the second one of these, I dumped the mag. Pulled all these bullets. Put them through the sizing die.

Never had an issue since.

TRUST ME! - you SERIOUSLY want to run the rounds through the sizer AFTER the powder coat. PC can add a couple thousandth of an inch and, being plastic, it doesn't quite glide or feed like any metal jacket does, Any good PC won't come off in a sizing operation unless the projectile was significantly over sized to begin with.

**Unclenick** · May 10, 2020, 11:29 AM

I think his point is that IF you can consistently get the PC half a thousandth thick, then sizing down to .357 before coating would give you 0.358 final diameters and those would not over-expand the cases and cause feeding issues. The problem is that big "IF". I don't think my own efforts control the thickness that closely. Of course, you can always use the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die to crimp your cartridges and add final sizing if it is needed to keep the cartridge case OD down where it belongs. Probably a lot of ways to skin this cat.

DukeConnor · May 11, 2020, 05:09 AM

Sizing dies are pretty cheap. Buy one then you will have no worries.

Dead-Nuts-Zero · May 25, 2020, 07:40 PM

I resize after powder coating & have had excellent results with several batches. However I used a different color coating on my last batch & out of about 500 bullets I had a few tight one and about 10 that were almost impossible to force through my resizer using a light duty press. My guess is the powder coat was a little thicker.

I cast 38 full wad cutters at .358, powder coat, resize with Lee .358 die, load on Dillon 550b using Lee Factory Crimp Die at my last station. Have not had one problem whatsoever, they shoot great in my S&W 686.
As they say...YMMV.

April 16, 2020, 11:02 AM	#1
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	resizing cast bullets to powder coat My barrel must measure .357 because I slugged it for Dardas ( when he was in business still ) and he was sending me .358 bullets. That's great for my Lee cast bullets measure at .358. But, I want to powder coat and only have a Lee .357 resizer and not a .358. I've read that powder coating will add at least .001" to the diameter making the cast bullet .359". The question concerns accuracy. Should I (1) resize the cast bullets and powder coat up to .358" (or more), (2) powder cast and shoot a .359" (or more bullet), (3) buy at .358 resizer, or other? What is your experience tell you?

April 16, 2020, 12:11 PM	#2
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	I would pick up a .358 sizing die, powder coat, and run them through the sizer. That will assure that you get the proper size. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

April 16, 2020, 04:20 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I will move this to the cast bullet forum for you. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 10, 2020, 11:29 AM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	I think his point is that IF you can consistently get the PC half a thousandth thick, then sizing down to .357 before coating would give you 0.358 final diameters and those would not over-expand the cases and cause feeding issues. The problem is that big "IF". I don't think my own efforts control the thickness that closely. Of course, you can always use the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die to crimp your cartridges and add final sizing if it is needed to keep the cartridge case OD down where it belongs. Probably a lot of ways to skin this cat. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 25, 2020, 07:40 PM	#11
Dead-Nuts-Zero Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2004 Posts: 579	I resize after powder coating & have had excellent results with several batches. However I used a different color coating on my last batch & out of about 500 bullets I had a few tight one and about 10 that were almost impossible to force through my resizer using a light duty press. My guess is the powder coat was a little thicker. I cast 38 full wad cutters at .358, powder coat, resize with Lee .358 die, load on Dillon 550b using Lee Factory Crimp Die at my last station. Have not had one problem whatsoever, they shoot great in my S&W 686. As they say...YMMV. __________________ . . BANG------------ >>> !

April 16, 2020, 07:04 PM	#4
P Flados Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2017 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 243	Before you spend any money, I would recommend you try a couple of things. One would be to size some to 0.357", then apply the PC and do not size again. The other would be to PC some and then size to 0.357 and see if they work. I have some guns that do OK with PC bullets sized very close to bore diameter.

April 16, 2020, 07:20 PM	#5
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 407	You do get that you put the finished dry powder coated bullets thru the sizer again - right? I don't even bother sizing the cast round before the powder coat. I do it after.

April 17, 2020, 04:46 AM	#6
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	Ditto - powder coat then size, same here.

May 7, 2020, 01:05 PM	#7
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,635	You can test out both powder coating then sizing and sizing then powder coating. It is certainly possible and won't hurt anything to size then PC. You should still end up with reasonably consistent bullets. I prefer to PC then size but I have sized and then PC'd on numerous occasions without any noticeable change in accuracy at 15 yards. I'm sure bench rest testing and shooting at 25 yards would reveal small differences however 95%+ of shooters would never notice.

May 11, 2020, 05:09 AM	#10
DukeConnor Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2016 Posts: 224	Sizing dies are pretty cheap. Buy one then you will have no worries.