Geezer Ray
Senior Member
I'm wanting to give powder coating cast bullets another go. My mold is for .356 casting 124 gr. What size mold should I use.to cast 9mm? How much thickness is added when powder coating?
You are well provisioned with the .356, powder and four fiddy oven.I have .356 ,124 gr molds, goodwill dedicated toaster oven- up to 450 degrees with timer, sizing die .356, Eastman or Eastwood powder coating or something like that.
Dub just remember, once you retire like me, you are no longer a producer , but become a spender like me.
It seems to add about .002" or so. I coat mine then size afterwards. Makes for a perfect boolit! I use the Lee push thru sizers..356 is the size for lead 9mm after you run it through the sizing die. I have bought the powder coat, but haven't actually used it. So no idea what it adds.
It seems to add about .002" or so. I coat mine then size afterwards. Makes for a perfect boolit! I use the Lee push thru sizers.
Really nice if you have a mold that drops the boolits a tad undersized, the PC bumps it up, then you size back to where you want it. Also, if your cast is by chance not perfectly round, the sizer straightens it up.
I use the .356 sizer for 9mm/357 sig and the .358 sizer for .38/357 mag. .401 for 40/10mm. .430 for 44mag and .452 for 45acp/45Colt. And .380 for my .38-55 Marlin 93, my new favo-rite toy.
I have detected 0 leading with PC'd boolits.
Rosewood
Outstanding info there Mr. Rosewood,It seems to add about .002" or so. I coat mine then size afterwards. Makes for a perfect boolit! I use the Lee push thru sizers.
Really nice if you have a mold that drops the boolits a tad undersized, the PC bumps it up, then you size back to where you want it. Also, if your cast is by chance not perfectly round, the sizer straightens it up.
I use the .356 sizer for 9mm/357 sig and the .358 sizer for .38/357 mag. .401 for 40/10mm. .430 for 44mag and .452 for 45acp/45Colt. And .380 for my .38-55 Marlin 93, my new favo-rite toy.
I have detected 0 leading with PC'd boolits.
Rosewood
Forgot to add another trip through the sizing die after quench.
Ray, I’d go with .356. 1 to 2 thousandths additional growth of the bullet is to be expected. I’ve been powder coating for years. Normally cast bullets have some size inconsistencies when cast. Keeping the heat source level helps with that. Quality powder coating has worked better for me than the Harbor Freight offerings. After powder coating, the bullets are slicker than just a plain case bullet, and I run them thru the Lee push thru die. I’d rather shoot powder coated than sized lubed bullets. You should wind up with .356 diameter, great shooting, clean bullets. I won my single stack division in a USPSA match once with my home cast 452 bullets. It made the W that much better. Good shooting to you sir.I'm wanting to give powder coating cast bullets another go. My mold is for .356 casting 124 gr. What size mold should I use.to cast 9mm? How much thickness is added when powder coating?
Same here!Instead of acquiring a used toaster oven. I just bought a new/upgraded one for the house and retired the old one to the shop. You get in less trouble that way.
I use a plastic container to get the powder to stick. Back in my HarborFreight powder days, I used an old tumbler to make enough static to get coverage.Outstanding info there Mr. Rosewood,
I size .356 after pour, preheat at 200 degrees, into coffee can with Eastwood Hot Powder Coat. Tumble by hand while oven preheats to 450 degrees, allow coating to melt and flow. Turn oven to 400 degrees for 20 minutes, then 375 for 20 minutes. Cold water quench.
I can't seem to get full coverage. I don't know how to induce a static charge into bullets for powder covering.
The bullets in the pictures are what I turned out today. Not total failure but far from perfect.
Dub, I've already tried the male striper route. Thought they was going to kill me before I could run out of Sunny Acres. Those rascals can move on those walkers.
Thank you so much. I do have the Lee push through sized die and use it. Like I mentioned my issue is better coverage for the powder. Looks like I'm fixin to eat some cool whip which I don't like and buy me some air soft bb's.Ray, I’d go with .356. 1 to 2 thousandths additional growth of the bullet is to be expected. I’ve been powder coating for years. Normally cast bullets have some size inconsistencies when cast. Keeping the heat source level helps with that. Quality powder coating has worked better for me than the Harbor Freight offerings. After powder coating, the bullets are slicker than just a plain case bullet, and I run them thru the Lee push thru die. I’d rather shoot powder coated than sized lubed bullets. You should wind up with .356 diameter, great shooting, clean bullets. I won my single stack division in a USPSA match once with my home cast 452 bullets. It made the W that much better. Good shooting to you sir.View attachment 1304926
Do you use parchment paper. They don't stick to it. At least that's been my experience so far.I do stand mine up, but have seen some folks that just toss on tray. I have had them stick if they touch and some times have flashing hanging off. After baking, let cool to touch, then knock them over, tend to stick a bit to tray.
Rosewood