Basic Bullet Powder Coating

In this video I go over the basics of bullet powder coating, showing what you need and how to get started powder coating your own bullets.

[@jamespollard1670]

That was a good explanation of PC'ing . It's what method works for you . I prefer the basket method myself .

[@johnshandloading7907]

Good stuff James. As long as we get good results, that is what matters.

[@echosreloadingchamber7306]

Dang the whole crew is over here I'm glad I stopped by and subscribe to this channel. Really nice job on the powder coating. Echo

[@johnshandloading7907]

Hey Echo, thanks for joining us.

[@jesseboutdoors]

Good video. I like seeing how different everyone does it.

[@johnshandloading7907]

Yes it is cool. So many options and you learn things from each person. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@DavePoidvin]

Love the video and the character names. Dave & The Girls

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thanks Dave. I hope the humor comes through and sometimes I wonder if it does. Thank you for joining me on my journey and the positive comment.

[@smsgtbulldog]

Fabulous video!!! I’m an Eastwood tweezer geezer. I’ll also load then in a plastic cartridge tray nose down then flip them over. Touch up with an artist brush or my finger coated in powder

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thank you for the kind comment. I appreciate you watching. I have some plastic trays and always planned on using them to keep the bullets lined up. I need to do that.

[@Squib1911]

Standing up to trolls right out of the gate. Good explanation on your process.

[@johnshandloading7907]

As soon as I started explaining I could hear someone saying "the way you do it is wrong" so I had to tell anyone who was listening, there are a multitude of ways to get good results. I am trying to help others and get good results myself, that is all. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@Squib1911]

@@johnshandloading7907 I think you did a good job with the disclaimers throughout the video.

[@georgiaboy4410]

Good job. Simple and yet good results👍🏻

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thanks. I just want them to shoot well and not foul my barrel. Thanks for watching and commenting @Georgiaboy44.

[@benjaminharmon6070]

Thank you for the video. I love the way your bullets turn out!

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thanks for watching. I hope your powder coat comes out well. Trial and error will get you good results from my experience.

[@leadsmith5873]

Hey John! The method you are using is exactly what I was after. I just decided to use the pasta strainer to sift away excess powder. Funny you bring up Tweezer Geezer and Basket Cases lol. I heard that one first from LeverAction Gypsy. Your bullets look great! Thanks for posting that link. I melted a few bases when I was heat treating and trying to dial in my oven temps.

[@bisleyblackhawk1288]

Charles Erby sadly passed away a month ago…he will be missed 😕🙁☹️😞😔…your channel and content are 100%👍👍👍

[@johnshandloading7907]

Yes. Charlie was my friend and a good man. I am glad I got to know him but it hurts to lose him.

[@hidhshsj123]

I like to throw them straight from the oven into a bucket of water to maybe recover some lost BHN from the coating. And I also have that ice cube tray it does an all right job but I prefer to stand them on end on a tray.

[@johnshandloading7907]

I water quench my rifle bullets from the oven. I haven't seemed to need to harden the pistol bullets any more than they are right out of the oven, in fact the last 230 gr RN bullets I pulled form the berm were very intact still and had not mushroomed or deformed like they do most of the time. I was actually surprised at how hard they are. I may try water quenching my next batch of 9MM bullets and comparing them to the unquenched. Bullet obturation can get messed up if they are not soft enough. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@mtslyh]

Those look fantastic. Thanks for the tutorial. You have a new subscriber!

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thank you for the kind comment. I am trying to help others and I am grateful for the sub.

[@jamesvatter5729]

Solid video. Your end result shows I should try being a "tweezer geezer!" I was definitely one of those "mushroom makers" on my first attempt.

[@johnshandloading7907]

It happens to most people. There is definitely more than one way to get good results. Good luck and thank you for the kind comment.

[@mckwilly]

good stuff, little differences among coaters, for example I tried a #5 plastic yogurt deal, it's kinda slim unlike a whip cream bowl, so I filled it a 3rd full boolitts was conservative with adding powder and wow it all stuck great and usually the humidity makes me run 2 coats but these were good...I was very against basket until I tried it ....

[@johnshandloading7907]

I love the idea of the basket for big loads of handgun bullets. I need to try it. I used to be more particular about all the little spots and freckles but now I don't think I care anymore.

[@mckwilly]

@@johnshandloading7907 howdy sir, hey what's the name of the grey powder that stuff loons great Jesse B sent some 9mm with it ..I like it !

[@johnshandloading7907]

@@mckwilly It is just a mix of industrial powder coats. I don't know the name or manufacturer, just that it is leftover powder. It works well.

[@mckwilly]

@@johnshandloading7907 gotcha 👍

[@ocean374]

Thanks for sharing simple always works I’m a stand up and tweezer guy 😂

[@johnshandloading7907]

@ocean374 you are a stand up guy for sure. Keep smiling friend.

[@novicereloader]

Great video, man. I have been using nitrile gloves to pull them out. It works very well, but the tweezers may make a little less mess.

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thanks. It is all trial and error and figuring out what you like and what works best for you. I was trying to explain the process I use and different ways people do it and also have a little humor. I think the humor is lost sometimes. Thank you for commenting.

[@kingpin7673]

Nice

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thanks

[@mikemuhlbach2951]

Thanks I learned a lot

[@johnshandloading7907]

I am glad it was helpful. Thank you for letting me know.

[@mikemuhlbach2951]

@@johnshandloading7907 do you have videos of you doing the casting?

[@johnshandloading7907]

@@mikemuhlbach2951 I had one once and youtube took it down. They don't allow them. If you look at the reloaders network website there should be some videos there. My one that was taken down here is listed under my page at the reloaders network.

[@Gunmonkey5]

Ive noticed that airsoft bbs are helpful in areas that are more humid.

[@nycreloader]

John great video. Like you said it really doesn’t matter which method you use. Whatever works for you. With that said airsoft bbs seem to create a better coating because of the additional static build up. Let’s look at the science of it. Why do we put bullets in powder coat in a #5 container? Answer so when we toss them around and shake them static build up from the kinetic energy as they move through the powder against the plastic sides of the container. Imagine if you had airsoft bbs in the mix would it not make more sense that there is an increased contact with static building plastic that would be greater than just the smooth sides of a container? Answer again is yes. So then people say hey NYC I coated these bullets fine with out using them I and I say enjoy them. If you want to shake them less and have even better looking bullets use airsoft bbs to generate a much greater amount of static electricity ⚡️ that is what makes the powder stick to an object. Hence a powder coating gun simply creates static while it shoots powder. Don’t believe me? Pour powder coat in a glass.. then pour it on your bullets and see how well it sticks. Again do what you want and if your results are acceptable for you then forget everything I just said lol.

[@johnshandloading7907]

I totally agree with you. The results are what matters and the results speak for themselves. Adding the airsoft bbs definitely makes it stick better and come out smoother. Thank you for watching and for the great comments.

[@johnshandloading7907]

Also - if you could - please send me an email at [e-mail] - I have something I want to run by you. Thanks.

[@toneeclark399]

Looks very good Thanks

[@KurtOnoIR]

I was just looking for differences between containers. Ive noticed my Tupperware doesn't work as well as a cool whip container. Very strange. I have to try the bbs now too. I should add ive used prismatic only, good results with lazer bronze and Claret and worst was ford blue. The only 3 I tried so far. The lazer bronze is my favorite, coats thick and even every time. Definitely a tweezer geezer lol

[@johnshandloading7907]

Trial and error definitely involved when doing this. Finding a color you like that coats well is good. I have also noticed that sometimes people just have difficulty with certain combinations of bullet, powder coat and containers. I saw better coverage with the air soft bbs and have had best luck with cool whip containers. Even though other containers have a 5 maybe the shape and size of the cool whip bowl helps. Not sure. Good luck.

[@johnshandloading7907]

@Dwight Dutton Thanks for telling me that. Good to know.

[@Boomofprejudice]

Nice Video! You attributed the clumps to humidity, If you used a dehumidifier would that help stop the clumps from forming?

[@johnshandloading7907]

I actually think it is more of long term humidity slowly building up over time. The powder has been in the container over a year. Also - the humidity outside when setting up the oven and trays etc. can be an issue. But 'yes' a dehumidifier would make less humidity inside and may help keep moisture level down. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@SuperBadbri]

ive tried many ways like alot of these videos. and it just doesnt work for me.. then i seen a high tek video and tried that with my regular harbor frieght powder and it works..with few little changes,your right what ever works for someone.....

[@mikelwalters6505]

hello friend. looks like a professional job to me, of course I'm a novice reloader. is the harbor freight powder coat paint good.

[@johnshandloading7907]

Thank you! The harbor freight paint is not good. The red was passable when brand new but does not coat near as well as the nicer powder coats. I think I name several brands in my other powder coating video. I need to go back and watch it to be sure. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@johnshandloading7907]

So powder coat brands that are good: Eastwood paint, PaintballKingdom.com, and powderbuythepound, are the ones most people use with great results. I mention them starting at 4:28 of this video, not easy to understand what I say though. Good luck.

[@mikelwalters6505]

​@@johnshandloading7907 Hello John Thanks for responding you are actually the only reloading You- tuber that has responded to my question. you say that Eastwood's a good paint I'm looking at the copper penny color, you think that would be good results.Thanks God bless.

[@johnshandloading7907]

@@mikelwalters6505 ​ @Mikel Walters some guys use copper penny. The ford light blue and the dark blue seem to be really good colors. Bright/dark red works well in every brand I have seen.

[@SuperBadbri]

i use needle nose plyers,, a pliers guyer, ha i guess..

[@madewithscraps]

Yup. Me 2. A set of the Harbor Freight small Needle Nose are far better for me than the tweezers I tired initially. This set of pliers now resides in the small toaster oven with the remainder of coating utensils.

[@anankekashada1991]

We don;t have cool whip here. I am screwed again.

[@johnshandloading7907]

There are lots of other containers you can use. I would just try one and see what happens. Have a great day.

[@larryguevara3350]

I'm lazy .I just scoot and shoot.tweeizer are for geezers .happy clamper.

[@madewithscraps]

Do you size after coating? I found a large difference and variation when I sized mine. I used weight checking to verify my findings. I find that the sized coated bullets are very accurate, compared to non sized. I also find more uniform coating when I stand the bullets up in the oven. I can watch the flow move evenly. Fun, cheap entertainment for retirees-LOL.

[@jimdial1015]

Do u resize after oven

[@johnshandloading7907]

Yes. I cast, powder coat then size them. I have a different video where I show that process. Thank you for asking.

[@SuperBadbri]

20 + mins you said but what temp.??

[@madewithscraps]

I have tried many different temps, although mostly follow the powder coat manufacturers recommendations. Most of my Eastwood recommends 400 degrees for 20 minutes, but we could question what they are using for size of object and application is with the static gun. I have also placed at 400 until I notice the coating beginning to flow, then reduced it to 350 for the remainder of time, usually 15 mins. Supposedly this could keep the BPN up, but I cold water quench immediately from the oven. All of my coatings have passed the Smash Test, with ease, so don't pay much attention to Scientifics other than powder charges and chronograph specs. My loads, depending on caliber, are 15-35 fps faster than the jacketed or standard non coated lead. Recently I have been able to mix different brands and colors of powders to save on purchase of color for my caliber I.D. I have also discovered differences of adhesion difficulty and hardness in different colors of my Eastwood powders. A rinse in Denatured Alcohol, then sun drying before coating makes all the difference in the world for my projects. The Alcohol is far superior to Acetone. Hope this helps. All these videos are very good sources of others progress and coating procedures. Thanks Everybody!

[@deserteagle77773]

what is the properties of this powder ?

[@dumpsterfire6351]

Powder 😂

[@richardkeithplank3472]

Nope it’s just wrong, lol

[@johnshandloading7907]

LOL