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Post by fanofthefortyone on Aug 8, 2016 7:17:28 GMT -5
You don't have to stand them up, just make sure they are not piled on top of each other. Ronnie
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Post by hoover on Aug 8, 2016 8:00:15 GMT -5
Hey Diddle! As a convert to PC, and a die hard cast shooter who was very happy with traditional lubed/sized bullets, PC is simply easier and faster to process. After casting my slugs, I tumble them with PC and then give them a shake in a wire basket to knock off any excess powder. Then I dump them on a tray covered with non-stick foil and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
It is a lot easier to do, as the tumbler and oven do all the work. Handling, loading and shooting are cleaner. Your dies don't get gunked up, the lube won't melt if you choose to ship bullets to someone, and long term storage is better as you have no worries of lube drying out. Most importantly are the results while shooting. Accuracy is usually the same, if not better than traditional lube/sizing, there is no smoke, and your bore is easier to clean.
Everyone will have to make their own decision in the matter, but for me, PC has made my life easier as bullet processing is faster with less effort.
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COR
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,522
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Post by COR on Aug 8, 2016 10:26:08 GMT -5
You don't have to stand them up, just make sure they are not piled on top of each other. Ronnie I pile them up...doesn't seem to make much difference. I used to stand them all up too. results are the same in terms of accuracy and zero leading.
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diddle
.30 Stingray
Posts: 470
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Post by diddle on Aug 8, 2016 12:04:44 GMT -5
This process does interest me. Is there a good tutorial somewhere that a PC novice like me could reference?
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JSilva
.30 Stingray
Posts: 184
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Post by JSilva on Aug 8, 2016 12:07:53 GMT -5
I did a load yesterday of harbor freight red 9mm bullets. Piled about 3 deep on the cookie tray and baked fine. I water quench mine and they all came loose from one another with no exception. Only thing I need to refine is my quench bucket.
About the only thing I do different from most others is in regards to my oven insulation. But that's another story for later.
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gman50
.30 Stingray
Posts: 191
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Post by gman50 on Aug 8, 2016 12:15:22 GMT -5
Hoover has an article about it. The link is somewhere on here. Or you can go to castboolits.com. The process is not hard. If you read everything over on castboolits it may seen overwhelming. I have followed hoover and sixshot's advice and use a small case tumbler that I dedicate for powder coating only. Throw your bullets in with a couple tespoons of powder and turn it on for 10-20 minutes. Get yourself an Oster convection oven and a good thermometer to make sure your oven is actually 400 degrees. After preheating put your bullets in the oven. I use powder from smoke4320 at castboolits. Once the temp returns to 400 degrees and my bullets look wet I time for 10 minutes. I'm still being anal about not standing mine up so until I get over it that's what I do. I'm totally converted from traditional lubed bullets.
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COR
.375 Atomic
Posts: 1,522
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Post by COR on Aug 9, 2016 9:36:35 GMT -5
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Post by lscg on Aug 10, 2016 0:51:07 GMT -5
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Post by lscg on Aug 10, 2016 1:07:26 GMT -5
Ray, had a couple of questions and thought i'd ask them in this thread rather than start a new one. hope you don't mind.
first, for those of you that use a Tumbler to coat your bullets. is it necessary to buy a second bowl? or can I use one bowl and just clean it out when I need to tumble brass?
second, how many bullets can one pound of powder coat when using the tumbler method? i'm sure bullet size would come into play here so lets say for a bullet like the Keith 429421.
and third, i'm guessing with powder coating you don't really have to worry so much about the hardness of your alloy, correct? except of course when it comes to what kind of animal you might shoot.
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Post by fanofthefortyone on Aug 10, 2016 6:35:19 GMT -5
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Post by contender on Aug 10, 2016 8:38:05 GMT -5
Zane,,, I'll chime in here a bit. Yes, you can easily wipe out a tumbler bowl & switch colors, clean brass, etc. But I'm an equipment junkie, and I have purchased a separate new tumbler just for PCing bullets, found a spare tub for it, then found another used tumbler with a spare tub for it as well. The used one, with 2 tubs cost me $35 at a gun show. I was smiling as I bought that one. I still have 3 other tumblers to use in cleaning brass & such. As for how many bullets a pound will coat? Well, I haven't done many in about 2 months, (work, heat, humidity etc.) but I did do over 2400 in 45 Colt out of a pound of powder,,, where I'd also previously done at least 2000 others, and I still have a lot of powder left. Lastly as for alloy hardness,,, if you have a "hard" bullet,,, when you PC them, it will anneal them to a softer BNH. But if I recall correctly they come out in the 11-12 range. I've not had any hardness issues at all!
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wdr2
.30 Stingray
Posts: 147
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Post by wdr2 on Aug 10, 2016 9:18:39 GMT -5
I use a Berry's Model 400 vibratory cleaner (actually the Cabela's green version) for powder coating. Cabala's has a kit on sale now that includes the sifter which works great for shaking excess powder off before baking. Kit is IK-212869, $59.99. I find the bowl very easy to clean out with a paper towel allowing a change in powder color or a change over to case cleaning. I have only used Smoke's powder so I don't know if other powders are easy to clean out. Nice thing about this vibrator, it's made in USA. Berry's now has a new vibrator with a detachable bowl and they say extra bowls are available. I have not tried this new model.
Bill Idaho
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Post by sixshot on Aug 10, 2016 12:36:39 GMT -5
I got on the PC band wagon back in 2013 & I figure I did about 9,000 bullets with that first lb. of Harbor Freight Red, it goes a long way! I have 4 Hornady tubs so I can use different colors but so far have only used HF Red & Smoke's Gloss Black & they both work great after a good 10 minute bake at 400 degrees. I'll mention again that Hornady One Shot Case Lube is great if you are sizing with a Star Lube Sizer & the bullets are tight. Just give them a squirt, let it dry for a minute or so & they will go through much easier & you won't bend your handle. PC bullets will hold up better than a regular lubed bullet of the same hardness without leading, plus you usually have a slight accuracy gain & a much cleaner gun. The only down side is rock chucks, ground squirrels, badgers & weasels hate them, bad for their digestive system! I've yet to hear anyone mention how they look in flight, you know how sometimes late in the afternoon how you can see revolver bullets in flight. Anyone notice a difference with PC compared to regular cast?
Dick
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Post by lscg on Aug 10, 2016 16:00:50 GMT -5
thanks for the answers Ronnie, Tyrone, Bill and Dick!
eventually i'll get another tumbler but for now i'd rather spend that money on lead! going to see if I can find a cheap toaster oven next time I'm in a big town and then i'll order some Powder from smoke over on the cast bullet forum. i'm thinking red, white, Blue and John deer green would look nice.
the reason I ask about the lead hardness is all I have now is range scrap. I don't have a hardness tester but it's supposed to be in the 11-14 BNH range. wasn't sure if baking them would make them too soft for deep penetration or bone breaking.
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Post by sixshot on Aug 10, 2016 16:24:37 GMT -5
Zane, just PC that range lead & start banging hogs & whitetails, you'll do just fine.
Dick
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