Casting for polygon. YES powder coat.

totalloser · March 3, 2014, 03:58 PM

I keep seeing posters surprised at the powder coating process, so I thought it might be worth mention in the main forum for those with polygon barrels who had given up on casting.

Mods: Please consider that my target audience/participants are *not* casting.

What I have found is that lubed does work in my glocks, but getting the hardness adequate for higher pressure rounds is a challenge. And there is a general fear of casting for polygon barrels, which is a subject of much debate.

But with powder coating, I can use MUCH softer alloy and handling the projectiles is not messy and can be dramatically faster than pan lubing. The reason the alloy can be much softer is that "gas cutting" which is the cause of most leading, is fully resisted by the powder coating process.

If you have dismissed casting due to the polygon issue I suggest you visit the casting section and take a look at what folks (like myself

) are doing with powder coating projectiles.

jmorris · March 4, 2014, 09:29 PM

If you want an even faster coating application that is even more durable than powder coating and coats the entire bullet, the HI-TEK coating is the ticket.

MudMarine99 · April 4, 2014, 07:30 PM

How about duracoat? Its the next big thing. Think moly x 10! Lol

g.willikers · April 5, 2014, 09:12 AM

On the other hand, lots of folks use regular cast bullets in them funny barrels with excellent results.
It just takes a slightly different approach.

iraiam · April 5, 2014, 09:34 AM

I could see this working, I shoot cast bullets out of a Glock, but I switch to an aftermarket barrel for it.

I have tried powder coating bullets, but I found the added labor was just too much of a bottleneck.

cheezhed · April 5, 2014, 10:41 PM

How does one powder coat a bullet? Is it something you can do at home?

Wreck-n-Crew · April 5, 2014, 11:35 PM

Quote:

How does one powder coat a bullet? Is it something you can do at home?

Yes. There are a few threads on coating bullets here on TFL: http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ghlight=coated
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ghlight=coated
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ghlight=coated

You can buy them as well

http://www.thebulletworks.net
http://www.bayoubullets.net/

chris in va · April 6, 2014, 04:07 AM

I wouldn't consider Glock rifling to be true polygonal. Have a look at a Kahr barrel for the real deal. It leads something fierce, unlike the Glock I had.

jmorris · April 6, 2014, 08:40 AM

Quote:

How does one powder coat a bullet? Is it something you can do at home?

Yes, you can do it at home but I wouldn't use the same ove you cook food in.

Here is my go at powder coating, step by step.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...bullet+coating

This is the step by step of how I apply and bake the hi-TEK coating.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...bullet+coating

hartcreek · April 23, 2014, 01:35 AM

I just did my first powder coated bullets last week and boy was it easy. I cast the bullets so they would be clean and I would not have to spray them down with brake cleaner. I quench my bullets so I sized them with my lee sizer like I always do still damp and let them dry.

To get the coating on the bullets I just swirled them around like I do with Lee liquid lube. I used a pair of surgical tweezers to stand the SWC bullets on end on a plate and then cooked the coating for 10-14 minutes in a $26 toaster oven.

I was able to toast 150 9mm at a time so once my first batch was cool to the touch I tipped then off the plate as they kinda stick and gently put them in a box an got to reloading. I tumbled the rest of the 400 bullets and set then back on the plate that came with the oven and toasted the rest.

It sure worked easy.

**Unclenick** · April 23, 2014, 10:12 AM

Since this thread now has some age, I think it has drawn all the attention it's going to in this forum. Also, it's drifting off into technique which belongs in the casting forum, so I'm going to move it there now.

reloader28 · April 23, 2014, 09:36 PM

My brothers Glock gave us fits. And I mean fits.
That was before we knew about cast bullets in those barrels.
We finally got it shooting pretty good and almost clean, but then I got into plain base gas checks and that ended ALL leading in that barrel and shoots awesome.

I'm kind of a fuddy duddy and cant bring myself to try powder coat yet.

April 5, 2014, 09:12 AM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	On the other hand, lots of folks use regular cast bullets in them funny barrels with excellent results. It just takes a slightly different approach. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 5, 2014, 09:34 AM	#5
iraiam Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2012 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 1,057	I could see this working, I shoot cast bullets out of a Glock, but I switch to an aftermarket barrel for it. I have tried powder coating bullets, but I found the added labor was just too much of a bottleneck. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member Since 1999 "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials." George Mason

April 23, 2014, 01:35 AM	#10
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	powder coating I just did my first powder coated bullets last week and boy was it easy. I cast the bullets so they would be clean and I would not have to spray them down with brake cleaner. I quench my bullets so I sized them with my lee sizer like I always do still damp and let them dry. To get the coating on the bullets I just swirled them around like I do with Lee liquid lube. I used a pair of surgical tweezers to stand the SWC bullets on end on a plate and then cooked the coating for 10-14 minutes in a $26 toaster oven. I was able to toast 150 9mm at a time so once my first batch was cool to the touch I tipped then off the plate as they kinda stick and gently put them in a box an got to reloading. I tumbled the rest of the 400 bullets and set then back on the plate that came with the oven and toasted the rest. It sure worked easy.

April 23, 2014, 10:12 AM	#11
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Since this thread now has some age, I think it has drawn all the attention it's going to in this forum. Also, it's drifting off into technique which belongs in the casting forum, so I'm going to move it there now. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 4, 2014, 09:29 PM	#2
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 3,077	If you want an even faster coating application that is even more durable than powder coating and coats the entire bullet, the HI-TEK coating is the ticket.

April 4, 2014, 07:30 PM	#3
MudMarine99 Junior Member Join Date: January 12, 2013 Posts: 6	How about duracoat? Its the next big thing. Think moly x 10! Lol

April 5, 2014, 10:41 PM	#6
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	How does one powder coat a bullet? Is it something you can do at home?

April 6, 2014, 04:07 AM	#8
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I wouldn't consider Glock rifling to be true polygonal. Have a look at a Kahr barrel for the real deal. It leads something fierce, unlike the Glock I had.

April 23, 2014, 09:36 PM	#12
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	My brothers Glock gave us fits. And I mean fits. That was before we knew about cast bullets in those barrels. We finally got it shooting pretty good and almost clean, but then I got into plain base gas checks and that ended ALL leading in that barrel and shoots awesome. I'm kind of a fuddy duddy and cant bring myself to try powder coat yet.