Polymer Coated Bullets In Micro-Groove Barrels

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  • Last Post 19 December 2020
mashburn posted this 17 December 2020

Hello to all,

I've been powder coating bullets for about a year and a half and have been having some great results in Ballard type rifling in rifles and handguns. Now, the question is, how many of you polymer coating people have shot coated bullets in micro-groove barrels. I would like to hear your results and any major problems that you ran into. My  first micro-groove rifle to start with will be a Marlin lever action .375. I know little about marlin micro-groove barrels but looking at the bore of my Marlin .375, the rifling looks more pronounced than, say a marlin 336 in 30-30 for example. Some of you Marlin experts, help me out. Is there a difference in the micro-groove  rifling found in different Marlin rifles.?

I've shot some groups with my .17 Mashburn rifle with gas checked, powder coated bullets that are un-beleivable. I've been intending to post some pictures of these groups but am afraid that a lot of you won't believe them. So, if I ever get nervy enough, I'll post them.

Thanks,

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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Spindrift posted this 18 December 2020

Hello, Mashburn!

I’m glad to hear you’ve had success with your coated bullets in general, and particularily your exciting .17-cal project! I hope you post some photos, I would sure be interested- and would never challenge your credibility, of course.

 

My limited experience with coated bullets in micro-groove barrels is limited to a few hundred shots through a borrowed Marlin .30-30. With my regular  lube, I experienced deterioration of accuracy after maybe 25 shots (without cleaning). PC bullets worked perfectly, and the Marlin will see nothing but PC bullets in the future. 

 

So, if my very limited experience is an indication, MG barrels and PC bullets are as made for each other. The loads were jacketed bullet, «book loads». 

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4and1 posted this 18 December 2020

I can't see any downside to powder coating. If accuracy is less than bare-lubed bullets, doing some load development should get things back on track, provided the barrel isn't lead fouled.

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BigMan54 posted this 19 December 2020

I've run a few hundred PC'd thru My daughter's 1980's Era Marlin 1894CS. Used the Lee # 358-158-RF and a few #358477 cast of COWW sized at .358 in a Lee push thru die then PC'd . Used Eastwood  Squirrel Gray.

Accuracy seemed to be about the same as same bullets run thru a Lube-sizer .358 with 50/50 lube. 2 inches at 50yrds from the bench over issue iron sights. Best I can do these days.

Bore just had carbon fouling, no trace of leading or "color" on a tight fitting patch. Not able to recover bullets at my range. 

Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.

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mashburn posted this 19 December 2020

Hello Spindrift,

Thanks for the response and information .Were the coated bullets you fired PB or GC and any information on velocity?  Did you have any lead fouling when the accuracy dropped off or just powder fouling? After you put the information and photos on the forum a few months ago on the process of seating gas checks, I tried that method and since have seated all of my GC's by your method. It works great. Seats every gc perfectly square. I found an old lee push through die, the early ones with the big flat end on the rod that you drove through with a hammer or your fist, which had been laying around for years waiting on something to do. I had a newer push through die of the same caliber that screwed into the press. I put the old big headed rod in the newer die with a little bit of thick lube to keep it in the die. I checked the squareness of this rig and it checked out good and man is that the only way to fly when seating checks. Thanks for putting that on the forum. I'm held up on any more .17 shooting for a while. I got most of my bullets mixed up. Different alloys and some water cooled and air cooled bullets do to a spill got all mixed. I'm going to throw them in a scrap can and cast some more known alloy bullets. what a mess up.

You have me all fired up to get started on the ..375.

Thanks again,

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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mashburn posted this 19 December 2020

Hello BigMan54,

Were these bullets PB or GC and any idea of the velocities. Sounds like a successful cartridge. bore fouling from powder residue is much easier to live with. Also, does the squirrel gray Eeastwood paint adhere easily when using the shaker box method?

Thanks again.

Mashburn

David a. Cogburn

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