I guess you guys have started something with the powdercoat

[deerslayer303]

The Powdercoated bullets are now mass produced. Federal is now producing factory powdercoated ammo. Well they say its polymer coated as that term is better for marketing than "powdercoated" So pat yourselves on the back you just helped Federal with free R&D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjjPentuv7Y

 

[FrankenMauser]

Federal was arguably the first to do it commercially, with their "NyClad" line of ammo back in the '70s (maybe even the '60s?).

 

[deerslayer303]

Yeah, I have quite a few boxes of NyClad .38s.

 

[CowTowner]

Wasn't the Black Talon a "coated" bullet as well? Although, that was a coated copper jacketed bullet, it was Teflon and something coated, right?

 

[Beagle333]

Wikipedia

Black Talons included a Lubalox coating, a proprietary oxide process. Though widely misreported to be Teflon, molybdenum disulfide, or wax, the ammo has an unusual black appearance compared to other copper-jacketed or lead bullets. The black appearance was due to the oxidized copper jacket. This Lubalox coating was to protect the barrel rifling, and did not give the bullet armor-piercing capabilities. This coating is still widely used on many of Winchester's rifle bullets today.

 

[FrankenMauser]

Yep, Lubalox is a surface treatment (chemical alteration of the base metal), rather than a "coating".
As Beagle pointed out, it's pretty much just an oxide layer - somewhat similar to bluing.

Winchester still uses it on some rifle bullets, as well as the SXT (Black Talon) "law enforcement" loads.