So...I ordered my first Hi-Tek coated lead from Summit City Bullets - 124gr RN. High praise from 76 Highboy Reloading on the tube, so I gave it a go. I have always loaded and shot jacketed or plated, and recently, Frangible. Neve lead, powder coated lead or Hi-Tek coated lead.
First impressions...well, that sucks.
First, I have never had to expand 9mm cases that much. I actually ran out of room with my Lyman expander die, which is a stepped expander. I had to resize all of them again using my Hornady dies after shaving the first three bullets.
Second, they weren't inexpensive, they were just "available". At 13.6c each I could easily order jacket OR plated, and just wait on delivery. In fact, Everglades ammo has 9mm and 380 ACP in stock, so I placed a new order.
Third, after seating to 1.075" (shortest ever for me in a RN bullet, they only plunk in one barrel...my Kimber Micro 9. They pass my Lyman ammo checker, but not my Lyman or my Shooter's Box ammo gauges. I was convinced that my Honor Guard proof barrel wouldn't plunk...it's very tight...but I thought my Hellcat would...alas, no. My Beretta eats anything, so I didn't even try it, but I will before shooting, as well as my G2C.
Fourth, they are quite lumpy...I thought that these bullets were swaged or resized after coating, but if they are, it's not an effective process. Though I'm exaggerating a bit, the texture is more like a Chicken Nugget, smooth, but uneven.
I only loaded 50 rounds over 700-X. I didn't bother with a ladder as these are not loaded to max, and my experience with 700-X is that it tends to run soft, but thermally hot.
Anyone else with coated experience have any feedback?
First impressions...well, that sucks.
First, I have never had to expand 9mm cases that much. I actually ran out of room with my Lyman expander die, which is a stepped expander. I had to resize all of them again using my Hornady dies after shaving the first three bullets.
Second, they weren't inexpensive, they were just "available". At 13.6c each I could easily order jacket OR plated, and just wait on delivery. In fact, Everglades ammo has 9mm and 380 ACP in stock, so I placed a new order.
Third, after seating to 1.075" (shortest ever for me in a RN bullet, they only plunk in one barrel...my Kimber Micro 9. They pass my Lyman ammo checker, but not my Lyman or my Shooter's Box ammo gauges. I was convinced that my Honor Guard proof barrel wouldn't plunk...it's very tight...but I thought my Hellcat would...alas, no. My Beretta eats anything, so I didn't even try it, but I will before shooting, as well as my G2C.
Fourth, they are quite lumpy...I thought that these bullets were swaged or resized after coating, but if they are, it's not an effective process. Though I'm exaggerating a bit, the texture is more like a Chicken Nugget, smooth, but uneven.
I only loaded 50 rounds over 700-X. I didn't bother with a ladder as these are not loaded to max, and my experience with 700-X is that it tends to run soft, but thermally hot.
Anyone else with coated experience have any feedback?