Best 243 bullet for deer?

[Scott E Ames]

Always an interesting read when a thread goes over a decade.

 

[Orange Dust]

Always an interesting read when a thread goes over a decade.

No playing with hammers for me yet but I got a killer deal on some of the long discontinued Barnes X - not tsx - 75 grain .243 flat base bullets on auction. People griped about them building pressure too fast and fouling bad…I plated them really nicely with HEX BORON NITRIDE and plan to use a copper eraser powder, probably 4451 as I have some currently, and see how she does!

1+ on the HBN. That stuff IS fairy dust. Everything moly was touted to be. I also learned all HBN is not equal. I have had better luck with Tubb's than anyone else's. I use it on everything except hollow points for hunting. I had some trouble with it plugging some of them. Had to dig it out of a few and check every one. Maybe I use too much, or let them shake too long. I hunt with tipped bullets just because of that. I also had trouble getting it to stick well to Bergers for some reason. Heating the bullets helped. Maybe I need "Schooled." Sticks like crazy to Hornadys and Noslers.

 

[Calvin45]

1+ on the HBN. That stuff IS fairy dust. Everything moly was touted to be. I also learned all HBN is not equal. I have had better luck with Tubb's than anyone else's. I use it on everything except hollow points for hunting. I had some trouble with it plugging some of them. Had to dig it out of a few and check every one. Maybe I use too much, or let them shake too long. I hunt with tipped bullets just because of that. I also had trouble getting it to stick well to Bergers for some reason. Heating the bullets helped. Maybe I need "Schooled." Sticks like crazy to Hornadys and Noslers.

I've learned a lot about the process these last few years and have had some issues too. Here's some things I've been learning for anyon who sees this here.

Lesson 1 was to wipe the bullets off thoroughly after. It doesn't hurt anything to leave them all powdery looking as far as the rifle goes but it can play hell with uniformity of seating depth over time as the excess powder does come off inside the seating dies! I know it can make a person wonder if they actually changed anything when there's no visible coating like moly BUT if you put a properly impact plated hbn bullet beside a naked one the difference is noticeable, the shine/lustre is all different, kind of muted on the coated bullet.

Lesson 2 was that you need heat and real impacting. I always wash the bullets with dishsoap and water first to remove any grease (even from my handling them). After thoroughly rinsing they go on a cookie sheet and bake at anywhere from 180-280 (not with plastic tips) for a while. Then they either go just loose with the hbn powder and bbs in a vibratory tumbler (works good with smaller bullets) or i put them in a mason jar (like for canning, can take the heat) with the powder and bbs, duct tape the lid on, then wrap that jar up in a heavy blanket and duct tape that blanket balled up tight and into the clothes dryer for an hour (not heated cycle) - this has proven the most effective method for
Larger bullets. Generates very undeniable "impacts" for plating and not just coating.

Lesson 3 was that The addition of media helped for me. When I started I had my stockpile of supplies but literally NO MONEY to get more supplies of any kind, was in a tight place in life. What I had on hand where shotshells and it wasn't goose season. So I honestly cut open a bunch of steel shotshells and my plating media is, I think, about a good handful of #2 steel shot. Be sure to thoroughly soap and water wash the bbs. Didn't know how oily the inside of a shotshell was until then.

Lesson four was that almost always you use way too much powder the first few times you try this haha.

Absolutely I believe it's not all equal…mine is just cheap cosmetic stuff I found online BUT it's been working, I was sure to get the <.7 micron size. At larger that 2.5 (I think, don't quote me) micron grain the stuff becomes a nasty abrasive!

 

[Orange Dust]

I tried the steel shot. Got tiny puck marks all over the bullets. I use a pill bottle the size in Tubbs kit. Tried more than one at a time and it was a no go. I have tried heat, but not that much heat. I really think my biggest issue is the 20 year old vibrator. That is an issue I've just never fixed because I don't load nearly as much centerfire ammo as I used to LOL. We used to tumble cases in a home concrete mixer. Sold it years ago. I've had the best luck coating 30cal and .22cal bullets together. 30cal bullets are really tough to coat without some kind of carrier. I never really had an issue with bullets less than about 7MM or so. Problem is I hunt with mostly 7MM or larger for long range where the HBN really shines. BTW to clean after coating I put them in an old tube style athletic sock and rub them really good from the outside. Works pretty well.

 

[Orange Dust]

I've learned a lot about the process these last few years and have had some issues too. Here's some things I've been learning for anyon who sees this here.

Lesson 1 was to wipe the bullets off thoroughly after. It doesn't hurt anything to leave them all powdery looking as far as the rifle goes but it can play hell with uniformity of seating depth over time as the excess powder does come off inside the seating dies! I know it can make a person wonder if they actually changed anything when there's no visible coating like moly BUT if you put a properly impact plated hbn bullet beside a naked one the difference is noticeable, the shine/lustre is all different, kind of muted on the coated bullet.

Lesson 2 was that you need heat and real impacting. I always wash the bullets with dishsoap and water first to remove any grease (even from my handling them). After thoroughly rinsing they go on a cookie sheet and bake at anywhere from 180-280 (not with plastic tips) for a while. Then they either go just loose with the hbn powder and bbs in a vibratory tumbler (works good with smaller bullets) or i put them in a mason jar (like for canning, can take the heat) with the powder and bbs, duct tape the lid on, then wrap that jar up in a heavy blanket and duct tape that blanket balled up tight and into the clothes dryer for an hour (not heated cycle) - this has proven the most effective method for
Larger bullets. Generates very undeniable "impacts" for plating and not just coating.

Lesson 3 was that The addition of media helped for me. When I started I had my stockpile of supplies but literally NO MONEY to get more supplies of any kind, was in a tight place in life. What I had on hand where shotshells and it wasn't goose season. So I honestly cut open a bunch of steel shotshells and my plating media is, I think, about a good handful of #2 steel shot. Be sure to thoroughly soap and water wash the bbs. Didn't know how oily the inside of a shotshell was until then.

Lesson four was that almost always you use way too much powder the first few times you try this haha.

Absolutely I believe it's not all equal…mine is just cheap cosmetic stuff I found online BUT it's been working, I was sure to get the <.7 micron size. At larger that 2.5 (I think, don't quote me) micron grain the stuff becomes a nasty abrasive!

I will say one thing. You are One Brave Dude. If that glass jar ever breaks in your wife's dryer you are toast! If it was my wife and her new dryer you could be shot just for using it loading shells LOL!

 

[Calvin45]

I tried the steel shot. Got tiny puck marks all over the bullets. I use a pill bottle the size in Tubbs kit. Tried more than one at a time and it was a no go. I have tried heat, but not that much heat. I really think my biggest issue is the 20 year old vibrator. That is an issue I've just never fixed because I don't load nearly as much centerfire ammo as I used to LOL. We used to tumble cases in a home concrete mixer. Sold it years ago. I've had the best luck coating 30cal and .22cal bullets together. 30cal bullets are really tough to coat without some kind of carrier. I never really had an issue with bullets less than about 7MM or so. Problem is I hunt with mostly 7MM or larger for long range where the HBN really shines. BTW to clean after coating I put them in an old tube style athletic sock and rub them really good from the outside. Works pretty well.

I do note the tiniest little marks from the shot but in all my shooting have not observed that it actually affects anything at all. Also yes, absolutely 30 cal is trickier to coat. All ive coated (but there's been a lot of these) are 6mms and 30s and the 6mms do seem to plate much more easily than the 30s. I'll have to try doing them together, thanks for the idea.

 

[Calvin45]

I will say one thing. You are One Brave Dude. If that glass jar ever breaks in your wife's dryer you are toast! If it was my wife and her new dryer you could be shot just for using it loading shells LOL!

I got that thing duct taped so tight in that blanket it ain't happening and even if it did the glass would have nowhere to go. But I appreciate your concern. Full confession: she doesn't know about this "technique" of mine, I engage in the practice at select times haha

 

[Orange Dust]

I got that thing duct taped so tight in that blanket it ain't happening and even if it did the glass would have nowhere to go. But I appreciate your concern. Full confession: she doesn't know about this "technique" of mine, I engage in the practice at select times haha

Like I said, "You one Brave Dude!"

 

[Calvin45]

I will say one thing. You are One Brave Dude. If that glass jar ever breaks in your wife's dryer you are toast! If it was my wife and her new dryer you could be shot just for using it loading shells LOL!

Though I have also had "inquiries" as to "why the hell does our four year old tell me you were putting YOUR bullets on MY COOKIE SHEETS!!!!????

 

[Orange Dust]

Though I have also had "inquiries" as to "why the hell does our four year old tell me you were putting YOUR bullets on MY COOKIE SHEETS!!!!????

I feel your pain but it is nothing like her finding a few BB's rattling in her dryer LOL

 

[Orange Dust]

I have been known to track shot into the house from loading shotgun shells. Just wait and see what she says after stepping on a BBB barefooted on a tile floor. I wouldn't know, but if I did I could not put it in print.

 

[Orange Dust]

Though I have also had "inquiries" as to "why the hell does our four year old tell me you were putting YOUR bullets on MY COOKIE SHEETS!!!!????

tell her you will never use the cookie sheet again. Make sure son is not around and use cake pans. Works just as well and you won't have to lie to her.

 

[Calvin45]

The pla

tell her you will never use the cookie sheet again. Make sure son is not around and use cake pans. Works just as well and you won't have to lie to her.

Hahahaha. The problem is my son tells her in an excited way. Because after they're tumbled he likes to help me…we dump it all back on the sheet and he assists by holding the magnet and passing over the bullets with it to pick up all the bbs. He loves it so much. I don't wish to discourage this haha.

 

[Orange Dust]

The pla

Hahahaha. The problem is my son tells her in an excited way. Because after they're tumbled he likes to help me…we dump it all back on the sheet and he assists by holding the magnet and passing over the bullets with it to pick up all the bbs. He loves it so much. I don't wish to discourage this haha.

You are just "Paying for your Raisin". My kids told on me so many times I cannot count. They still do and the youngest is nearly 30 LOL. And I'm just playing with you. I wouldn't have had it any other way. My best hunting buddies are still my girls.