Coating is a + for speed =less smoke-and leading and cleaner. When I bench- for me lead is more accurate. Do any bullseye shooters win with plated or coated? I started reloading before coated so all my equipment has to do with lube. I shoot plated in my super and 9mm. Forest R on the Cast Boolit Forum seems to have the most knowledge for coated. If you use lube-bullseye-and Unique you get smoke but it wipes off the gun easy enough.

 

I would add a little more $ and get RMR bullets, they are quite accurate and affordable and no smoke. I did some minor work on a gun for a friend, he gave me a 500ct box of Blue Bullets, loaded up 50 rounds to try out, after shooting them I gave the rest away, but then it also depends on how far you normally shoot and most of my shooting is at 50 yards.

I used to shoot ZERO bullets, but their price went up quite a bit lately, so I just switched to RMR after shooting this, not as good as ZERO but very good for the price.
BTW, they do not have 148DE wadcutter, but they have 147 Flat Point. Also AT THE MOMENT they have 10% discount code : SMALLBUSINESS, and they have discount on just about every holidays.

 

I have been shooting coated in competition for years. I have used bayou, blue bullets, and recently summit city. Not much smoke and never leads my barrels. You do need to check them in your barrel. Sometimes they stick and you have to shorten the oal a little.

 

I have been using standard cast with lube for 50+ years, and when I get the casting bench and time, I will return to that. For the interim, I use the plated bullets for 9, .38 Super, and .45 Auto. I don't have a problem with leading and the smoke of the lube doesn't bother me after all these decades.

 

I'm agnostic. We used to use Lee Alox to coat lead bullets, but I decided it's not even worth the mess or effort. I can do with or without coated lead bullets for reloading. I do prefer copper-plated lead .22LR bullets!

 

As an alternative, Xtreme has plated 148 gr wadcutters for .10 ($99/1000).

 

Looks good until you check the shipping charges. $34 shipping pushes the cost up to $0.13 per bullet. I can get a 5% discount at Missouri Bullet and S&S is within driving distance. I got time, possibly someone will offer free shipping over the Holidays.

Grumpy

 

I got a box of 500 of these from SNS:

.38/.357 158 Grain Round Nose - Red Coated - 500ct

38/357 158 Gr Semi WadCutter

www.snscasting.com

The coating is brittle. I don't even crimp these anymore to avoid damaging the coating. Will not buy them again.

 

I have a few S&S red coated bullets in other calibers, and I've had issues with the seating stem "cutting into" the coating when seating them. That's why I'm leery about the coating and crimping.

Grumpy

 

For bullseye shooting I prefer the traditionally lubed cast bullet, which have given me very good accuracy. For bulk ammo, used mostly on steel plates, I like the bulk coated bullets.

 

I use both, but much prefer powder-coated bullets.

 

Coated are nicer indoors. I prefer non-coated outdoors in my 1911s. All other guns it’s coated if it’s lead. I’ll pay for Zeros if I want accuracy over utility but sometimes I just don’t need it.

 

I cast powder coat 45/70 - 45 ACP - 308 the list goes on never messed with any store bought High Tech coated bullets - although in my uneducated subjective opinion coated non lube cast bullets are great .

 

I've used lubed and moly coated bullets for years and have only used coated bullets in the past few years. Top issue for me is having the typical wax lube building up in my dies over time. Second issue is the smoke which is odd given it is supposed to be "smokeless" powder. My last purchase was from Bear Creek (moly coated) which offered free shipping over $140. They have maybe 4-148 gr. bullets @ $44.50/500.

 

They show three 148gr wadcutters (quick look so I could have missed one). They use FedEx flat rate for under $140 orders, so 1,000 would be $44.50 x 2 + $19.00 S&H = $108.00, so just under $0.11 per bullet. All styles appear to not have crimping grooves or cannelures, so taper crimping would do (and I do have the 38/357 taper crimp die). At the velocities these run, a taper crimp would be perfect.

Grumpy

 

I loaded only conventionally cast/lubed bullets in the early '90s, but haven't loaded any since.
The accumulation of residue in the gun, and in the dies, was more hassle than the cost savings justified.
My preferences in coated bullets was Precision or Bear Creek, but I've been happy with Blue Bullets recently.

 

Made the switch years ago to Hi-Tek coated from lubed lead for volume shooting.
Not going back to lubed unless I can't find the bullet I want in coated. So far that hasn't happened.
I still have significant lubed lead stock that I just don't want to load until I run low on coated. I keep ordering coated, so not sure when that will be.
Way cleaner loading and shooting Hi-Tek coated and the faint burned wire smell on humid windless days is a bonus.

 

I am fairly well supplied with 200gr lswc (both types) but not much on hand with 230gr lrn.

Took advantage of the Back Friday sale at Brass Monkey Bullets and ordered a case of 230gr lrn in their “Stormtrooper” coating.

Evidently they have sold a pile of inventory…..all they had plus much more.

This song gets stuck in my head every time I see Brass Monkey mentioned....

 

Xtreme has 148 dewc's plated for 10 cents a pop with free shipping + tax if you buy three x500 boxes. Just an accuracy tip--If you have a bevel base wad cutter with ugly ends-you can seat flush and roll crimp the end to make round.

 

I need to check out Brass Monkey Bullets! Sounds like a company FJ probably has stock in. That and Chiquita. 😆

 

Never tried brass monkey bullets. The coatings do look nice. Prices seems to be like other coated.

I have not touched/handled any brass in a while. You've been busy processing/sorting 9mm brass every weekend.. so the "monkeybutt" moniker is a better description of you.

 

Hard Cast Bullets 6/3/24

My source for cast bullets for over 15 years. Mike is in Western Penn. but it's only 40 minute drive for me.

 

Mike also adds shipping! I’m sure his stuff is good, but there’s a bunch of that out there.

 

Wow !!!!

Brass Monkey Bullets worked crazy fast !!!!!!!!


I placed an order for a case of 230gr rn on last Saturday evening.

My local post office tracking showed them out for deliver yesterday (Wednesday).....they didn't run the route. Tracking for an expected thumb safety also showed out for delivery yesterday.

At 7:30-ish PM tonight (Thursday)....the guy ran the route and delivered them to the front door.

Absolutely the fastest I have ever seen this occur. Clearly BMB processed the order pronto, but the fact that USPS was able to deliver this superheavy box so swiftly....even including the one day delay....unreal.


They arrived in a postal box that was extremely well taped on all seams. I'd say the outer box alone was "burst proof"....but I've seen USPS bust more than a couple bullet shipments to me. 💪

The out box was taped better than anything I've received prior from any shipper. 👍

An inner box was revealed once I cut the outer open. It was also strategically taped. 🤙

Cutting the inner box open revealed a well tied bag containing the bullets.

I should also state these were bought during the holiday sale and they sent an email stating there may possible be delays as they'd sold way more bullets than anticipated.

Looking forward to getting some loaded and run through a couple guns.

 

Wow !!!!

Brass Monkey Bullets worked crazy fast !!!!!!!!


I placed an order for a case of 230gr rn on last Saturday evening.







Cutting the inner box open revealed a well tied bag containing the bullets.

View attachment 744276 View attachment 744277 View attachment 744278


Looking forward to getting some loaded and run through a couple guns.

They resemble snake eggs.😊

 

I’m gonna have to buy some now! I’ll send FJ the sticker so he can put it on his rollsizer. Operator and equipment will be in harmony…🐒

 

Quit getting so excited.... just because they look like dodo bird eggs and remind you before you hatched.

 

Dub, let us know how you like them. I missed the sale and just now signed up for their emails. Their pricing seems similar to Blue Bullets. I have two cases of BB 230 gr RN’s ordered but no sales at all, just a price increase before Thanksgiving and another price increase coming the first of the year.