Hi-Tek Bullets

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Pcfishslayer

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I was able to get a sample 50 Prairie Fire arms Hi-Tek 45 swc. They shot flawlessly through my xds with 3.3" barrel. I loaded 5.1g of HP-38. I probably shocked a few other shooters at the range when I started getting excited and started getting a little loud as I couldn't contain my excitement as I was shooting through other holes. This combo was an extremely tight group. I couldn't be happier. Much better than the factory Winchester I was comparing them too.

My one slight concern was that I had a slight bit of leading. Cleaned up without problem. The bullets are coated and velocities shouldn't be extreme because of the short barrel. The projectiles that I had them send were .452. They will size them to .451 at customers request. Do any of you think that the slightly larger size may have lead to a tighter fit (brand new gun)?

Just trying to figure out the cause of leading and weather its worth it to get the 451's next.
Thanks for any insight or advise!
 
If I had to choose a bullet over my home cast wonders, it would be Hi-Tek coated (I've shot mebbe 1,000 in my 45 ACP and 9mm). I have PCed some for all the cast bullets I make, both rifle and handguns, and they work pretty well to, but I have not done any in the last few months. Since the bullets are soft lead under the coating, .001" over "normal" bullet size won't make any difference (as long as the cartridges chamber).

Perhaps you are seeing fouling from the coating and not lead. Also, if the coating is cut through by a crimp or shaved when seating some leading may occur...
 
I did consider the possibility of some being shaved seating the bullet. I do know that I had a few. I didn't think too much of it because of the barrel length and lower velocity.
Sorry if my question seems a little basic but I haven't been loading for long. Do you think a wider flare on the case could prevent that?
Thanks again!
 
I was having the same issue of shaving with hi tech, but only with .45 ACP. I shoot a similar load in the same gun(5.4gr), I finally just used my seat/crimp die to seat only and picked up a Lee factory crimp die to finish it off. Haven't had a shaving issue since. Hope that helps.


Cam
 
The BEST answer to your question aboitvsizing is that you should slug your bore. A bullet to small will (could) actually lead the barrel worse due to lack of obturation/cutting. If you do go the route of smaller bullets Id suggest starting with the smallest lot you can buy and try them, proceed after that based on the results you found with the smaller bullets.
 
Flair just enough to be able to start the bullet and then make sure you are just taking the belling off when you seat the bullet. Crimp just enough so that you don't get bullet setback. To test this take a loaded round and push on it. You don't want the bullet to back up into the case.

I use a slight taper crimp on mine and have fired over 20,000 rounds this year with no leading.
 
Thanks for all input. I am going to separate the seating and crimping while just crimping enough to prevent bullet from moving. I feel better now hearing all this advise.
Thanks again!
 
Flare as much as you need to get good shootable ammo even if it's 1/8". You will be removing the flare with the taper crimp die (not crimping, just "deflaring") anyway. For now don't worry about case life (how many reloads can you get if you flare big or flare minimal? 5? 10? Want non-leading ammo or long lasting cases?), 45 ACP brass is easy to find and cheap (I've found a bunch at the range, free) so get ammo that will work now and worry about case life later...

FWIW, I have found enough brass at the "range" to prolly not purchase 45 ACP brass again. I have 200 cases, new, that I bought 18 years ago that I haven't opened, 'cause I'm still using mostly brass I've found or from a few factory rounds I've shot...
 
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