How much oversize for coated bullets?

[igolfat8]

How much oversize do you run your powder coated pistol bullets over the barrels slug diameter in 9mm, .40 and .45? +.001", .0015", .002" or ??? I am just moving into powder coated bullets from cast lead. I have always run my cast lead +.002" over slug diameter with excellent results in .40 and .45. However, I don't have any experience with PC pills... yet.

[dave33]

I go a minimum of .001 over but always go .002 over if its a posibility. My barrel slugs .3555 and always order .357 coated lead unless its not an option offered by the company Im ordering from.

[bowenbuilt]

They have to be a minimum of .001 over groove diameter for me and .002 is even better if your gun will chamber them.

[moonman16]

Sometimes you'll be limited by the manufacturers offerings, unless you coat your own castings.

[Bamboo]

Some suppliers like Bayou will let you request specific diameters.

Also, many offer the same bullet profiles in 9mm/38 super at .356" diameter, and .357/.38 special at .358".

I've had good results using .358 bullets in my 9mm guns. If you get hang ups because of the larger diameter you can get the chamber throated to accommodate lead bullets. Beven Gram has a reamer special made for the slightly larger lead bullets and his fee for reaming a chamber is very reasonable.