Hbn bullet coating

[Dusty]

I have seen several forums showing the process of impact coating in pill bottles. I have used this method successfully, but would like to do larger batches. Has anyone ever done it directly in a vibratory tumbler?

 

[former naval person]

Yes. Works well. Just the bottles half filled with bullets and HBn. Takes a lot less HBn than you think. I put a piece of tape around the cap and neck to help keep the top screwed on. Turn it on and let'er rip. I usually run about an hour. More or less.

 

[pjparker]

If I understand correctly, you want to dispense with the pill bottles and go straight into the tumbler bowl with bullets and hbn. You will want a clean, dedicated bowl, just for bullet coating. It should work just fine that way, the only drawback I could see is if the weight of a large quantity of bullets is heavier than the vibratory machine was designed to handle. May not get the vibratory action required to adequately plate the bullets. Experimentation on optimum quantity would be in order.

Having said all of the above, I will come clean and say that I do not have a vibratory machine, but if I did I would be looking at the same things, as stated. What I HAVE experienced is that if overload my RCBS rotary tumbler, the drive cylinders on the machine start to slip on the plastic drum and nothing gets plated. Even with adding non-slip rubber coatings to drive wheel and drum, payload is not as great as one might think. Big drum, lots of bullets = way too heavy.

Paul

 

[jmorris]

Maybe this but hbn vs moly?

Lyman Products Your Primary Source for Reloading Equipment

 

[former naval person]

No. Do not dispense with the bottles. Put the bullets in bottles. Square glass works best. Think pint or quart preserve type bottles. Grocery store has them. Half full of bullets, 1 or a little less teaspoon of HBn. Screw the tops on well and put a bit of masking tape around the seam to ensure that the top does not come off. Put the bottles in the tumbler...side by side. 3 fit in my tumbler. Your results may vary. Turn it on and go eat supper and talk to your wife. Come back in 2 to 12 hours. Impact plating is the key. Let them impact as long as you wish. Won't hurt the bullets for a longish time. I dump them on a big towel, gather the ends, and see-saw them back and forth about 25 times. You'll need to wash the towel after two or three dumps. JMHO

 

[USMC-FURY]

FORGET the tape, use vitamin/pill bottles with child safe lids that will stay on, u can use bottles 1st (2hrs) then wipe bullets then put em in tumbler without the bottles n let them smash into each other to get that grey glass shine! (20 mins)

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