Powder coating casings

BJung · August 16, 2020, 12:00 AM

Anyone ever try powder coating their rifle or pistol casings?

While shooting test loads at the range, I was grumbling about lost brass or brass separated by weight and now had to be weighed and separated again. Then I thought, hey those powder coat companies are PC rims and car parts.

At worst, you'd have to resize with a lee collet die or expand the case mouth with a mandrel to avoid excessive case neck tension.

armoredman · August 16, 2020, 04:21 AM

I cannot see a single benefit to doing that, and a huge negative by making the case both larger and longer than designed. I also don't separate brass by weight or any other bench rest thing. The PC for car parts is not the same shake and bake method we use, I would hazard a guess. If you really want to mark them use permanent marker on the case head, different color for whatever it is you are trying to differentiate

FrankenMauser · August 16, 2020, 12:33 PM

Powder coating cartridge cases would be an exercise in frustration from all perspectives.

If you want to color your brass, you can dye it.

HiBC · August 17, 2020, 11:47 AM

I'm not sure what case annealing might take place. It takes someplace between 600 and 900 f to anneal a case neck in a few seconds,but annealing will occur at lower temps with longer dwell time.

IMO,its another factor to research.

I suspect a mess would occur in the sizing die, and don't forget when that brass is in the chamber at peak pressure it gets hot. You might transfer paint to the chamber walls.

Then,paint sticking to paint could mess with reliability.

big al hunter · August 17, 2020, 09:09 PM

Color code a chart with Sharpie markers. Then put a line on the cartridge head that matches your chart. It stays until you polish the cases, allowing you to sort by color without the scale. And it won't caused the increase in case size and all the headaches that would accompany powder coating.

Rondog · August 19, 2020, 05:33 AM

I powder coated some cases once, but I was making .45 Colt key fobs in team colors......

Grey_Lion · August 21, 2020, 06:57 PM

WOW - can you say feed jams? - No way I'd PC the brass...... - Although Rondog has a point there as ornamental key fobs......

August 16, 2020, 12:00 AM	#1
BJung Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2019 Posts: 773	Powder coating casings Anyone ever try powder coating their rifle or pistol casings? While shooting test loads at the range, I was grumbling about lost brass or brass separated by weight and now had to be weighed and separated again. Then I thought, hey those powder coat companies are PC rims and car parts. At worst, you'd have to resize with a lee collet die or expand the case mouth with a mandrel to avoid excessive case neck tension.

August 16, 2020, 12:33 PM	#3
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Powder coating cartridge cases would be an exercise in frustration from all perspectives. If you want to color your brass, you can dye it. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

August 17, 2020, 09:09 PM	#5
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 1,558	Color code a chart with Sharpie markers. Then put a line on the cartridge head that matches your chart. It stays until you polish the cases, allowing you to sort by color without the scale. And it won't caused the increase in case size and all the headaches that would accompany powder coating. __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

August 16, 2020, 04:21 AM	#2
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,299	I cannot see a single benefit to doing that, and a huge negative by making the case both larger and longer than designed. I also don't separate brass by weight or any other bench rest thing. The PC for car parts is not the same shake and bake method we use, I would hazard a guess. If you really want to mark them use permanent marker on the case head, different color for whatever it is you are trying to differentiate

August 17, 2020, 11:47 AM	#4
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,283	I'm not sure what case annealing might take place. It takes someplace between 600 and 900 f to anneal a case neck in a few seconds,but annealing will occur at lower temps with longer dwell time. IMO,its another factor to research. I suspect a mess would occur in the sizing die, and don't forget when that brass is in the chamber at peak pressure it gets hot. You might transfer paint to the chamber walls. Then,paint sticking to paint could mess with reliability.

August 19, 2020, 05:33 AM	#6
Rondog Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Posts: 61	I powder coated some cases once, but I was making .45 Colt key fobs in team colors......

August 21, 2020, 06:57 PM	#7
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 407	WOW - can you say feed jams? - No way I'd PC the brass...... - Although Rondog has a point there as ornamental key fobs......