Enamel coated bullet, method of making an enamel coated bullet

1. A method for manufacturing an enamel-coated bullet, said method comprising the steps of:

a. casting a bullet from a metal material;

b. quenching the cast bullet;

c. applying a lubricant to the bullet;

d. sizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber;

e. rinsing the bullet in a solvent;

f. applying an enamel coating to the bullet, said coating comprising:

i. about 1 part by volume lacquer thinner;

ii. about 1.5 parts by volume hardener; and

iii. about 2.5 parts by volume epoxy paint;

g. contacting the bullet with a moving fluid for a sufficient time that the bullet becomes substantially dry;

h. heating the bullet in an oven at a temperature of between about 150 and about 250° F. for a time between 20 and 45 minutes;

i. applying a lubricant to the coated bullet; and

j. resizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber; wherein the coating further comprises between about 0.5 and about 2 volume percent of a dry lubricant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein steps f through h, inclusive, are repeated before proceeding to step i.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant of steps c and i is paste wax.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enamel coated bullet is supported by a substrate before the application of hot fluid, wherein the substrate is nonreactive to constituents of the enamel coating.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the substrate comprises a non-stick surface which defines transverse pores adapted to allow passage of fluid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metal material is selected from the group consisting of lead and lead alloys.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the lead alloy is comprised of about 2 weight percent tin, about 6 weight percent antimony, and about 92 weight percent lead.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid is nonreactive to constituents of the enamel coating.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of air, argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof.

10. An enamel coated bullet made according to the method of claim 1 .

11. A method for manufacturing an enamel-coated bullet, said method comprising the steps of:

a. casting a bullet from a metal material;

b. quenching the cast bullet;

c. applying a lubricant to the bullet;

d. sizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber;

e. rinsing the bullet in a solvent;

f. applying an enamel coating to the bullet, said coating comprising:

i. about 1 part by volume lacquer thinner;

ii. about 1.5 parts by volume hardener; and

iii. about 2.5 parts by volume epoxy paint;

g. contacting the bullet with a moving fluid for a sufficient time that the bullet becomes substantially dry;

h. heating the bullet in an oven at a temperature of between about 150 and about 250° F. for a time between 20 and 45 minutes;

i. applying a lubricant to the coated bullet; and

j. resizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber wherein the coating further comprises between about 0.5 and about 2 volume percent of a dry lubricant; and wherein the dry lubricant is graphite.

12. A method for manufacturing an enamel-coated bullet, said method comprising the steps of:

a. casting a bullet from a metal material;

b. quenching the cast bullet;

c. applying a lubricant to the bullet;

d. sizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber;

e. rinsing the bullet in a solvent;

f. heat treating the bullet at a temperature between 320° F. and 400° F. for a time of between 30 minutes and 60 minutes;

g. applying an enamel coating to the bullet, said coating comprising:

i. about 1 part by volume lacquer thinner;

ii. about 1.5 parts by volume hardener; and

iii. about 2.5 parts by volume epoxy paint;

h. contacting the bullet with a moving fluid for a sufficient time that they become substantially dry;

i. heating the bullet in an oven at a temperature of between about 150 and about 250° F. for a time between 20 and 45 minutes;

j. applying a lubricant to the coated bullet; and

k. resizing the bullet to the appropriate caliber.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the bullet is rinsed in a solvent after heat treating.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the bullet is allowed to harden for at least about 48 hours after being rinsed in a solvent.