Hi everyone,
I cast my own 9mm bullets and electroplate them with copper at home. When firing them, I notice a small but clearly visible white cloud coming from the muzzle. It looks more like water vapor than typical powder smoke and dissipates quickly. There are no visible residues left on the cases, barrel, or other parts.
Here are some details about my process and observations:
I clean the bare lead bullets with hot water and baking soda for 10 minutes, followed by white vinegar and salt for 2 minutes.
I electroplate them in a bath made with demineralized water, acid, and copper sulfate.
After plating, I rinse them with tap water, dry them, and polish them in a tumbler using citric acid and dish soap, followed by another rinse.
I have tried different powders, including Vectan A1, BA 9½, and Vihtavuori N320. The smoke occurs regardless of the powder.
Factory CamPro Red copper-plated bullets fired with N320 produce little to no visible smoke.
Cleaning my homemade plated bullets with isopropyl alcohol after plating did not solve the problem.
The smoke is visible mainly near the muzzle, only when the shot is fired.
The cloud is not huge, but it is noticeable enough that other shooters have commented on it.
Has anyone experienced something similar with homemade electroplated bullets? Could residual chemicals from the plating bath or the pre-plating cleaning process cause this, or might there be another explanation?
I’m trying to understand the possible cause rather than assume it is a particular chemical or component. Any relevant experience or suggestions for safely identifying the source would be appreciated.