Are Coated Bullets Allowed?

[Marshal Flint 48]

Hi, I am just getting back into SASS and I just wanted to make sure that Coated Bullets are allowed before I start reloading a bunch.  I rifled through the rules and I must have missed it.  Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Marshal Flint

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 681]

Polymer and moly coated are just fine.

Scarlett sells a mean little red polymer bullet!

[Rooster Ron Wayne 1,325]

Yep

 

[Marshal Flint 48]

I am looking at Acme Coated Bullets

 

The 45 Colt 200 RNFP coated bullet is hard cast with 92-6-2 certified alloy and is then coated with HI-Tek Coating and heat cured.  The coating and heat curing process is done 3 times to ensure consistency. 

 

Edited January 17 by Marshal Flint

[McCandless 1,346]

REVOLVER AND RIFLE AMMUNITION -

Moly-Disulfide, polymer coated bullets, or equivalents are acceptable.

SHB Vers 24.1 pg 27

 

 

Edited January 17 by McCandless

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 681]

Don't know how hard that is compared to most "Cowboy" bullets but "hard cast" is not really needed for the steel ringin' we do.

Hi-Tek coating is great though; many use it.

[Marshal Flint 48]

8 minutes ago, McCandless said:

REVOLVER AND RIFLE AMMUNITION -

Moly-Disulfide, polymer coated bullets, or equivalents are acceptable.

SHB Vers 24.1 pg 27

 

 

Thank you!  I will make a note of it

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 1,959]

That (92-6-2) is a hard alloy, comes in at about 16 Brinnell hardness.  The poly coating will help make the bullet fit the grooves of the barrel well enough, that you should not get the normal problems with gas-cutting leading that an uncoated hard lead bullet will cause with our very low (target load) type velocities.   That 92-6-2 alloy was developed to be about the lowest cost alloy that would handle magnum pistol velocities (1400 FPS) and lower rifle velocities (up to about 1600 FPS), so it's rather a bit of overkill for cowboy shooting.   Casters use it because it is "pretty close" for a wide range of pistol applications, and it sure ships well, even when bullets are dump-packed in a box.

 

Good luck, GJ 

[Marshal Flint 48]

Thank you everyone for your help I really appreciate that

[Tequila Chase 347]

@Marshal Flint what caliber are you loading?  

[Marshal Flint 48]

6 minutes ago, Tequila Chase said:

@Marshal Flint what caliber are you loading?  

.45 Colt

[Tequila Chase 347]

There are lots of suppliers for .45's.  If you go to a big match there'll be vendors who are also SASS shooters.  Try Bullets by Scarlett she'll have everything you'll need and then some.  Keep your powder dry and have fun.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz 5,613]

24 minutes ago, Marshal Flint said:

Thank you everyone for your help I really appreciate that

 

Coated bullets also keep your dies clean. 

OLG 

[Dude Slade 37]

1 hour ago, Marshal Flint said:

I am looking at Acme Coated Bullets

 

The 45 Colt 200 RNFP coated bullet is hard cast with 92-6-2 certified alloy and is then coated with HI-Tek Coating and heat cured.  The coating and heat curing process is done 3 times to ensure consistency. 

 

These are the exact bullets I've been shooting exclusively since last fall. They're great... you can't go wrong with these. I load them over 5.5 grains of Trail Boss.

 

You can get the same bullets from Bullets by Scarlett, and help out a fellow cowgirl at the same time.

[Mustang Gregg 124]

Just so they ain't "coated" with another metal, like copper!!

MG

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 425]

11 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

 

Coated bullets also keep your dies clean. 

OLG 

 and your hands cleaner too 

[Marshal Flint 48]

Thank you all for your input and help!

[Attica Jack #23953 192]

I switched over to Hi-tec coated bullets last year for everything I reload for.   Cowboy 44 mags, 45/70 Sharps, and 45 ACP.  I use ACME bullets, but there are several other companies that make them.  The thing I like most about them is you don't have all the lube to clean off of your reloading dies, after a reload session.  They are supposed to give a few more FPS and your ammo, and cut down on leading.  I don't really care about getting a few more FPS from my loads, and leading has never been a problem.  Try them...you will not be sorry.   They do have a different smell when shot.

 

[Dusty Devil Dale 359]

On 1/17/2020 at 9:18 AM, The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 said:

Don't know how hard that is compared to most "Cowboy" bullets but "hard cast" is not really needed for the steel ringin' we do.

Hi-Tek coating is great though; many use it.

I have a Uberti '73 that just doesn't like coated bullets.  Sometimes they stick while Chambering and at other times, they fail to withdraw under extractor tension, causing jambs.  The same gun handles uncoated lead just fine. 

 So before buying a huge bunch,  I'd seriously recommend making a small order, or borrowing from a friend and working some through YOUR guns, to be sure.  

[Attica Jack #23953 192]

Dusty Devil Dale        That seems like a strange problem while using Hi-tec coated bullets.  Are you using some home made hi-tec bullets?  The ones I use you can't even scratch the coating off with your finger nail......just seems odd.

 

[COLORADO JACKSON 91]

18 hours ago, Dusty Devil Dale said:

I have a Uberti '73 that just doesn't like coated bullets.  Sometimes they stick while Chambering and at other times, they fail to withdraw under extractor tension, causing jambs.  The same gun handles uncoated lead just fine. 

 So before buying a huge bunch,  I'd seriously recommend making a small order, or borrowing from a friend and working some through YOUR guns, to be sure.  

It’s not the bullet, it’s the gun

[Sedalia Dave 6,339]

20 hours ago, Dusty Devil Dale said:

I have a Uberti '73 that just doesn't like coated bullets.  Sometimes they stick while Chambering and at other times, they fail to withdraw under extractor tension, causing jambs.  The same gun handles uncoated lead just fine. 

 So before buying a huge bunch,  I'd seriously recommend making a small order, or borrowing from a friend and working some through YOUR guns, to be sure.  

 

Where are you getting these bullets and what caliber?

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736 139]

There are powder coated bullets out there that are different then then the hi tek coating.

[Sedalia Dave 6,339]

1 hour ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

There are powder coated bullets out there that are different then then the hi tek coating.

 

I know several people that powder coat their own bullets with supplies bought from Harbor Freight and none of them have any issues. The caveat is that you have to do the job properly. If you don't then the entire process is a waste of time.

[Dusty Devil Dale 359]

11 hours ago, Attica Jack #23953 said:

Dusty Devil Dale        That seems like a strange problem while using Hi-tec coated bullets.  Are you using some home made hi-tec bullets?  The ones I use you can't even scratch the coating off with your finger nail......just seems odd.

 

This particular gun is a Uberti-Baretta 1873 replica.  It is unusually  tight in the chamber, which makes it sensitive to poly coatings, as well as bullet crimp.  The slightest burr left on a round, or banana bend stops bullets from chambering smoothly, which slows things down, and sometimes they even jamb solidly, requiring a squib rod.  

I've tried coated bullets from several prominent commercial sources (prefer not to name them here).  It isn't the bullets that cause the problem, it is the gun. 

[Cat Brules 724]

I suggest that you get a knowledgable gunsmith to polish the chamber of your weapon.

 

Cat Brules