Loading Hi-tek coated bullets versus conventional waxed or tumble lube.

I just got a case of the 160 grain bullets with Hi-tek coating. I've loaded the same bullet in both tumble lube and standard wax with the same powder drop. Will I have to adjust my drop for Hi-tek?

I load Hi-tek and std lubes the exact same way.

Zane,  Try them the same way first.  On occasion an additional 1/10th might be needed but probably not.  I load those at 3.7 bullseye with great results in my frame mount and open sighted guns.  Nice and soft.  Shot a 99-7x last week too with them.

I've loaded several different brands of coated .45's, mostly 185 and 200 gr SWC, and some double ended 148 gr .38's. Loaded on same press with same settings as for uncoated lead. I tested using a ransom rest, but could get none of them to group as well as uncoated lead.

Thanks guys, I'll try my standard load. What I'm hoping is that I can use them indoors for less smoke. My local indoor range doesn't have good enough ventilation to allow me to shoot 45 waxed loads.

AllAces wrote:I've loaded several different brands of coated .45's, mostly 185 and 200 gr SWC, and some double ended 148 gr .38's. Loaded on same press with same settings as for uncoated lead. I tested using a ransom rest, but could get none of them to group as well as uncoated lead.

Try some Brazos Bullets coated.  We still have more testing to do, but all initial tests show no difference in group size.

Getting excellent groups with Brazos.   One gun gets under 2" @ 50 yards for 5 shots hand held on a Hyscore pistol rest.    

I was a bullet caster for years.   Then in 2006, I had high lead levels.  Now I purchase coated.   Less smoke indoors and outdoors.

David

Brazos 160 is the same bullet that was cast by Dardas and is cast by Bob's Bullets from the Magma Engineering mold. I do not know about others coated bullets but Brazos 160s with their HiTek coating group exactly the same as the lubed 160s from the Magma mold loaded exactly the same as the regular 160's. A very accurate tight grouping bullet profile at 50yds when cast properly and loaded properly.

What was the crimp setting? Another post recommended .463. I normally use a .469 crimp. Thanks

kohlerpartsgod wrote:What was the crimp setting? Another post recommended .463. I normally use a .469 crimp. Thanks

.463-.464 is what I use for 160s  - it is the only bullet I crimp that tight

Well I loaded them same as waxed, 4.6 WST at .463" crimp. Shot just fine. Got about 2500 to play with now.

Lightfoot wrote:Zane,  Try them the same way first.  On occasion an additional 1/10th might be needed but probably not.  I load those at 3.7 bullseye with great results in my frame mount and open sighted guns.  Nice and soft.  Shot a 99-7x last week too with them.

I wonder if you have any chrono data for that load or others? What recoil spring weight did you use?

Used a Shooting Chrony at 15 feet.
Below was with 180 gr  SWC Flat Base with a bhn 13  and Hi Tek coating Crimp .464-.466


My data from last Saturday  with 3.7 gr avg 702 fps  and  4.0 gr. avg 724 fps

Looking to run about 750 fps if I load 4.5 

PS I like the Hi Tek and flat base bullet.

45 ACP	Handload	180	LSWC bhn 13 HI TEK Flat base	Brazos Bullet	WLP	BULLSEYE	3.7	702.5	51	713	688	702	699	714	722	725	694	674	694
45 ACP	Handload	180	LSWC bhn 13 HI TEK Flat base	Brazos Bullet	WLP	BULLSEYE	4	724.3	46	717	705	736	751	722	716	721	727	720	728

zanemoseley wrote:Well I loaded them same as waxed, 4.6 WST at .463" crimp. Shot just fine. Got about 2500 to play with now.

That seems like a pretty hot load