Coated bullets|Winchester Hunting, Shooting & Reloading|Forum|Winchester Collector

426crown said
FYI–I have had a hard time locating 40 caliber lead 260 grain for 40-65 and 40-82. I just got 25 to test in both calibers.

sending you their website for your perusal–Bill

https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/aboutourbullets

  

I use these but don’t have enough testing experience to provide any sort of definitive report.  I have about ten variations of their bullets.  It turns out I had been using their .32-20 bullets for over ten years – and hadn’t realized it (they worked fine in my various .32-20 rifles).

They are a very interesting bullet in that they are not just coated (which is a minor aspect to them) but they are, “encapsulated.” That is, they have a thin skin that covers them. This is a photo from their website that shows how the lead can be melted out of the skin.  

They have been making bullets since the early 90’s.  Their claims about the bullets not causing leading, little need to clean bores after using them, are intriguing.  Here’s their description:

Bear Creek Supply bullets (BCS) undergo a very unique coating application process that allows lead bullets to perform to their full potential. This coating is a strong, high-temperature polymer containing a mix of proprietary lubricants that is permanently bonded to the bullet and is not a simple tumble-on dry powder coating like that which is utilized for jacketed rifle bullet use. Because of the unique properties that makeup our coating, BCS bullets have the lowest bullet-to-bore friction of any projectiles available on the market today. This coating creates a hard shell that is chemically and physically bonded to the bullet and because of this, lead never touches the bore, it gets rid of human contact with lead during the loading process, and it eliminates leading in the barrel of the gun so the need for bore cleaning is practically gone.

​

Our customers have fired thousands of  rounds through various guns without ever cleaning the bore, or needing to. When you use our bullets and the right load combination, you’ll be surprised at how clean the bore stays. Run a dry patch or two through it after use and you might never need to do anything else. You can brush the bore with a brass brush, but this is usually unnecessary.

For these reasons, one of the biggest advantages of using BCS bullets is cleanliness. Clean to handle, clean to load, clean to use. The small amount of black you get on your fingers is harmless, and this molybdenum-disulfide washes off easily and is a good reminder that using BCS bullets will keep everything else clean.  

​

Another advantage of  BCS coated bullets is lack of wear on the barrel. Jacketed bullets will eventually wear out a barrel. It is common for competitive shooters to realize accuracy loss at around 10,000 rounds of jacketed ammo and barrel replacement by 30,000 rnds. Lead bullets, coated or uncoated, will never wear out a barrel. 

​

About 1990, we recognized the great desire that many other handloaders had to load ammunition for obsolete cartridges. We shared that desire and we shared the frustration of not being able to find bullets to load in such rounds. We bought out a retiring bullet maker. Subsequently, using his equipment and coating process, and by adding an array of new and unique equipment, we have been able to offer a wide selection of bullets for such cartridges. We understand the importance of sticking with original designs, nose shapes and diameters, in order to work well in old guns. We have been very creative with our product line and have added many unique bullet designs.  As time permits, we keep expanding the BCS line to cover more and more applications. If you don’t see what you need, call us with a request (209)-874-4322. 

​

We hope that you’ll find a Bear Creek bullet that you can enjoy using.

​

Sincerely,

The folks at Bear Creek

Sounds like the spiel for Hi-Tek coatings, which a lot of cast bullet companies use.  I’ve been using factory Hi-Tek coated bullets for around a decade from a couple of companies in both modern high-velocity, high-pressure calibers as well as older originally-black-powder calibers.  I’m mainly using Missouri Bullet Company bullets because they’re local and do a veteran discount, but I’ve also used Hi-Tek coated bullets from Palmetto Projectiles (now out of business) and Leatherhead Bullets (also now out of business).  I’ve never had ANY leading from a commercially coated bullet, regardless of what that coating is–be it a name-brand coating like Hi-Tek or basic powdercoat from a small local company buying from Powder by the Pound.  Even the ones I’ve coated myself only leaded when I screwed up the coating during initial experimentation but once I figured out a working dry-tumble method and baking procedure, no more leading.

As to their claims about no barrel wear…friction from the bullet’s kind of the least of your concerns, and I’ve yet to see a barrel die from worn out rifling.  Usually even the low pressure low velocity low powder capacity straightwall calibers will erode the throat or the owner will bell the muzzle end from cleaning long before there’s even noticeable wear mid-bore.  Great for marketing, kind of a nonissue in the real world.

steve004 said

Geoffrey A. Tomlinson said

Sounds like the spiel for Hi-Tek coatings, which a lot of cast bullet companies use.  I’ve been using factory Hi-Tek coated bullets for around a decade from a couple of companies in both modern high-velocity, high-pressure calibers as well as older originally-black-powder calibers.  I’m mainly using Missouri Bullet Company bullets because they’re local and do a veteran discount, but I’ve also used Hi-Tek coated bullets from Palmetto Projectiles (now out of business) and Leatherhead Bullets (also now out of business).  I’ve never had ANY leading from a commercially coated bullet, regardless of what that coating is–be it a name-brand coating like Hi-Tek or basic powdercoat from a small local company buying from Powder by the Pound.  Even the ones I’ve coated myself only leaded when I screwed up the coating during initial experimentation but once I figured out a working dry-tumble method and baking procedure, no more leading.

As to their claims about no barrel wear…friction from the bullet’s kind of the least of your concerns, and I’ve yet to see a barrel die from worn out rifling.  Usually even the low pressure low velocity low powder capacity straightwall calibers will erode the throat or the owner will bell the muzzle end from cleaning long before there’s even noticeable wear mid-bore.  Great for marketing, kind of a nonissue in the real world.

  

Geoffrey –

I appreciate you sharing your experience and thoughts.  I am wondering if the Bear Creek process has any notable difference from the other coated bullets you mention.  For example, if you heat one of these coated bullets, does the lead melt out of it and a capsule remains standing – as happens with the Bear Creek bullets?

  

Regular powder coating, whether I did it myself or bought commercial ones, will not–the powdercoat will burn away first, it’s basically vinyl.

I’ve not tried with Hi Tek, but the coating stays adhered even if you smash the bullet with a hammer or vise, it won’t separate even off a severely mangled bullet.