Hi-Tek Coated Bullets

[TRSmith]

If anyone is looking for some nice, Hi-Tek coated bullets at a reasonable price, check out Hoosier Bullets and Training. 92% Lead, 6% Antimony, 2% Tin and BHN 16.

[mikld]

Thanks TR. I've been looking for RNFP 230 gr. 45 cal. or RNFP 125 gr 9mm as I have quite a few RN...

[ER_STL]

Do they include primers? If so I'd order 10k 124gr bullets tomorrow... :D

[Tennessee Jed]

I've been a very loyal customer of Hoosier Bullets for several months now. Their hi-tek 45 acp 230 RN bullet is one of the few coated bullets I can fire in my HK USP without leaving coating in the barrel. It may not be the prettiest bullet, but it's reasonable, usually in stock, very prompt shipping, and quite accurate in my pistol.

[Jamie]

I've been a very loyal customer of Hoosier Bullets for several months now. Their hi-tek 45 acp 230 RN bullet is one of the few coated bullets I can fire in my HK USP without leaving coating in the barrel. It may not be the prettiest bullet, but it's reasonable, usually in stock, very prompt shipping, and quite accurate in my pistol.

Thank you.
I ordered 1000 of their 125 gr 9mm this morning and have already received a shipping notice. Great price as well.
Looking forward to trying them out.

[Tennessee Jed]

Thank you.
I ordered 1000 of their 125 gr 9mm this morning and have already received a shipping notice. Great price as well.
Looking forward to trying them out.

I hope they work for you.

[TRSmith]

Do they include primers? If so I'd order 10k 124gr bullets tomorrow... :D

No primers, just the coated lead part...nice try!

[TRSmith]

Thank you.
I ordered 1000 of their 125 gr 9mm this morning and have already received a shipping notice. Great price as well.
Looking forward to trying them out.

What's really cool is less handling of lead, and supposedly less smoke from the wax lubricant on regular cast bullets.

[TRSmith]

I've been a very loyal customer of Hoosier Bullets for several months now. Their hi-tek 45 acp 230 RN bullet is one of the few coated bullets I can fire in my HK USP without leaving coating in the barrel. It may not be the prettiest bullet, but it's reasonable, usually in stock, very prompt shipping, and quite accurate in my pistol.

I agree...my new goto bullet barn!

[Jamie]

What's really cool is less handling of lead, and supposedly less smoke from the wax lubricant on regular cast bullets.

100% great point.

A couple of friends and I cast, powder coated, and loaded/shot around 30k of bullets we made a few years back. Very clean and minimal smoke across several powders. Things kinda fell apart on our efforts the past few years... life in general, family obligations, and now COVID.

At this price point, coupled with actually being available, I am really looking forward to trying these out.

I just received notification they have some 147's available. Might just have to try some of those as well. :)

[olstyn]

This thread popping up again made me actually take a look at what they have available, and while it's not bad, their pricing is not particularly special, either. Their 124 grain round nose 9mm is ~0.8 cents/bullet more than I paid on Black Friday last year for Blue Bullets 125 grain truncated cone, so I'm unlikely to switch. Blue Bullets seem to run the same sale just about every year on Black Friday, so I just stock up then (2020 excepted, of course).

[Jamie]

This thread popping up again made me actually take a look at what they have available, and while it's not bad, their pricing is not particularly special, either. Their 124 grain round nose 9mm is ~0.8 cents/bullet more than I paid on Black Friday last year for Blue Bullets 125 grain truncated cone, so I'm unlikely to switch. Blue Bullets seem to run the same sale just about every year on Black Friday, so I just stock up then (2020 excepted, of course).

I certainly took advantage of the 2019 Black Friday specials as I'm certain many here did. But looking at current availability and pricing, and the potential for restrictions as we see what unfolds with the incoming administration, I think these bullets look like a viable alternative.
I calculate these loads at around $130.00/1000 based on the price I paid for the components. Certainly that'd be more at today's pricing for powder and primers.

I've recently purchased a few thousand, several actually, from RMR (Rocky Mountain Reload) and have been very pleased with them. But I like having options :)

Blue Bullets have a solid rep,their pricing looks good,so I guess I may need to look that way as well.

[olstyn]

I've recently purchased a few thousand, several actually, from RMR (Rocky Mountain Reload) and have been very pleased with them. But I like having options :)

Blue Bullets have a solid rep,their pricing looks good,so I guess I may need to look that way as well.

I agree that it's always nice to have more options. In the event that Blues become unavailable at some point, or that their pricing changes in a way I don't like, I'll definitely consider Hoosier.

[Jamie]

I received my 124 gr RN Hi-Tek coated bullets from Hoosier's a few days ago. Thanks again for the head's up TRSmith.

This is my first experience with this type of coating.They look great. I'll load a few today and hope to hit the local range tomorrow and try them out.

[olstyn]

This is my first experience with this type of coating.They look great. I'll load a few today and hope to hit the local range tomorrow and try them out.

Please let us know how they work out for you. Load data and guns used would be nice as well, just to get the full picture.

[Jamie]

Please let us know how they work out for you. Load data and guns used would be nice as well, just to get the full picture.

Absolutely.

My initial loads will be:

5.0 grs Unique and 5.4 grs Unique (That's what's in the hopper on my 550 right now).

Winchester Small Pistol Primers

OAL 1.160"

I don't have access to an outdoor range this weekend to set up my chrono though.

Gun will be my well worn Glock 19 and S&W Shield, offhand. Planned ranges are 3-15 yards.

My skills are weak compared to many here, but I should have a relative idea of their accuracy and certainly should be able to determine functionality.

[Jamie]

Here's the update on the Hi-Tek 125 gr RN 9mm.

Both loads functioned with no issues in my 9mm Shield and my G19.

The Shield seemed to prefer the 5.0 gr load. I may try some at 5.2 grs just to see how I like them.

Unique at 5.4 grs using a 124 gr PC or plated bullet historically has given me 1125-1150 fps iirc.

No smoke and no mes other than what Unique always leaves. But I find it minimal. Perhaps after 35 years or so of using Unique I just find it normal.

I'll try and attach a couple of pics.


Please ignore the notes about RMR and Everglades...previous range notes.
This is my 1st 2 shots at 15 yards...of course the group opened significantly because...I need to pay better attention to basics...
65617

G 19 at 15 yards. Shooting around 1 round every 1-2 seconds. I would need my RMR 17 to be able to hit any further out. These ole eyes struggle... ;)
65619

S&W Shield at 5 yards
65618

I have a thousand of the 147 gr Hi-Teks coming. I've had great luck with 147 gr rounds using AmSel in the past.

Most of my handloading will be with Unique as that's what I have the most of on hand. I do have some TiteGroup, W-231, AA# 2 and AA#5 around, but not in the amounts I have Unique.

Thanks again for the head's up on these bullets and Hoosiers TRSmith and Tennessee Jed

[TRSmith]

100% great point.

A couple of friends and I cast, powder coated, and loaded/shot around 30k of bullets we made a few years back. Very clean and minimal smoke across several powders. Things kinda fell apart on our efforts the past few years... life in general, family obligations, and now COVID.

At this price point, coupled with actually being available, I am really looking forward to trying these out.

I just received notification they have some 147's available. Might just have to try some of those as well. :)

Jamie, I just saw your Hi-Tek range pictures...any tips for a rookie who can barely hit the paper at 10 yards? I shoot great at home with a laser bullet, but marksmanship eludes me under battle conditions. Glad to hear you're getting some success with the Hoosier Hi-Teks...I will be trying my 38 coated 158s this week, and I still probably won't hit anything! (Ha)

[olstyn]

Looks like pretty good results. Last time I was loading 124 gr bullets with Unique was quite a few years ago with Montana Gold JHPs, and I was only using 4.7 grains of Unique, so 5.4 sounds a bit warm to me with a 124 grain bullet, but I was also targeting 1040-1050 FPS / ~130 PF for USPSA Minor, and that load's OAL was 1.075", so not directly comparable for several reasons.

As far as Unique's relative dirtiness goes, I used to use it exclusively, and I didn't think it was too bad then, but then I tried VV N320, and N320 is just a whole other world. I went from cleaning after every or every other range trip/match to cleaning more like every 1500-2500 rounds. Part of that was a a realization that it just wasn't important to have the gun be spotless, but it's also that Unique *is* significantly dirtier than N320.

[Jamie]

Jamie, I just saw your Hi-Tek range pictures...any tips for a rookie who can barely hit the paper at 10 yards? I shoot great at home with a laser bullet, but marksmanship eludes me under battle conditions. Glad to hear you're getting some success with the Hoosier Hi-Teks...I will be trying my 38 coated 158s this week, and I still probably won't hit anything! (Ha)

LOL. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. But learning to improve my shooting is why I'm here on P-F! There are many, many folks much better qualified than I am to offer suggestions. I'm just a struggling old guy :)

I've spent the majority of the past 12-13 months shooting my LCR's and 686. I just gathered all of the equipment needed to start casting 158 gr .38/.357, but I'm tempted to try some of the Hoosier Hi-Tek's .

Thank you again.
Jamie

[Jamie]

Looks like pretty good results. Last time I was loading 124 gr bullets with Unique was quite a few years ago with Montana Gold JHPs, and I was only using 4.7 grains of Unique, so 5.4 sounds a bit warm to me with a 124 grain bullet, but I was also targeting 1040-1050 FPS / ~130 PF for USPSA Minor, and that load's OAL was 1.075", so not directly comparable for several reasons.

As far as Unique's relative dirtiness goes, I used to use it exclusively, and I didn't think it was too bad then, but then I tried VV N320, and N320 is just a whole other world. I went from cleaning after every or every other range trip/match to cleaning more like every 1500-2500 rounds. Part of that was a a realization that it just wasn't important to have the gun be spotless, but it's also that Unique *is* significantly dirtier than N320.

Thank you.

I just checked some notes from 2015. I chrono'd some 124 gr Rainiers using 5.5 grs Unique and they averaged 1119 fps out of my G19. (138 PF?)
I agree that the 5.5 is probably more than I need and may well stick to the 5.0. My Shield certainly prefers the 5.0.
I need to get out and chrono these things.

I've used N320 and Cleanshot (or whatever it's called now) with great results. Very clean burning powders.

I probably should clean my guns more thoroughly, but a boresnake and a little lube is my lazy-man's default.

[Jamie]

Just an update.
I received my 147 gr 9mm bullets from Hoosier's a couple of days ago.
From the USPS tracking site, it looks like they did quite a bit of traveling around for several days ;)