I have always used lube. Is powder coating a better route to go?
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Powder coating Boolits
- Thread starter ronnycl
- Start date
Cast boolits? Properly size (read: "oversize") and lube. I've seen some things online about powder coating, but don't know the details . I've also seen people paper patch cast boolits, but that's a lot of work.
Gosh, I miss casting boolits and shooting them through a lever gun!
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
There is a good article on powder coating in the most recent issue of Handloader magazine. I have a good friend who is a bullet caster and he's experimented with powder coating quite a bit the past couple of years. I don't think you can say that PC is better or worse than conventional lubes. I think both have their place. As for me, all I've ever used is the conventional type lubes applied with a RCBS lube/sizer press. For one thing I can't get over the odd appearance of bright red/yellow/blue etc. bullets showing in the front of the cylinder of a single action revolver. 
But it would be fun to give it a try since bullet casting lends itself to experimenting so well. I've been surprised at how well my friends PC bullets have worked even with rifle loads up around 2,000 ft/sec. Maybe some above that but I don't recall exactly.
From the article I mentioned above, it seems that it's real cheap to PC bullets and the powder can be applied by pouring some into a closed container on top of the bullets, rolling it all around much like you would LEE Tumble lube and then baking the bullets in a toaster over to melt the powder. Apparently you don't even have worry about standing the bullets up on their bases.
But it would be fun to give it a try since bullet casting lends itself to experimenting so well. I've been surprised at how well my friends PC bullets have worked even with rifle loads up around 2,000 ft/sec. Maybe some above that but I don't recall exactly.
From the article I mentioned above, it seems that it's real cheap to PC bullets and the powder can be applied by pouring some into a closed container on top of the bullets, rolling it all around much like you would LEE Tumble lube and then baking the bullets in a toaster over to melt the powder. Apparently you don't even have worry about standing the bullets up on their bases.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
One positive of PC over a grease based lube would be the lack of lube build up in your Seater die.
Bad habit
Well-Known Member
I have been powder coating for a while. I also used the liquid coating as well. I feel the powder coating is way mo' bettah. One coat of powder versus 3 for the liquid. Power coating also gets onto the grooves whereas the liquid Didn't. Coated bullets store indefinitely and you don't have to worry of you spill a box of them on the floor. They size great- I sometimes hit them with a little one shot to make sizing easier..
The only downside is you do have to have an oven. I got lucky and found an extra full size oven for $25. I also boiled all of my size dies to get the old lube out of them.
The only downside is you do have to have an oven. I got lucky and found an extra full size oven for $25. I also boiled all of my size dies to get the old lube out of them.
