[actionflies]

Anyone use Ranier 230gr. bullets to load 45 ACP and does it have any feeding problems?

[SatCong]

So far, I have god luck in my three 1911's in 45ACP, 230grain and 200swc. I have use them in my 10mm to. Good luck.:)

[azredhawk44]

I've used them... never cared for them too much. I've put them in 45acp, 400corbon, 357magnum and 44magnum.

I like Berry's better, but that could have just been because I started reloading with Rainier bullets and had some less than desirable results for the first year or so. By the time I tried Berry's, I had learned a lot more about reloading and had better success.

It's probably purely superstition, but I will not be going back to Rainiers.:rolleyes:

[trueblue1776]

I use the .400 165 HP's, Ranier recommends to use loads 10% below max at the very most, the rounds are not copper jacketed, even though they look it.

I love them, they are relatively inexpensive and run like mad, the HP rounds expand well in wet phone books under medium power loads. IMO they are the best deal running at the moment.

[jr81452]

they work for plinking and function fine. however i have tried them in 9mm .40s&w, and 45auto and they tend to vary by 5-10 grains from the listed weight and are not consistent (+/- 3gr or more) even within the same batch. hollow points vary even more.

[Walkalong]

Ranier 230 Gr. RN is a poor bullet.. Their 200 Gr. FP & HP are poor as well. Ranier's 200 Gr. SWC is a great bullet. The Berry's 230 Gr. RN is very good. It feeds much better than the Ranier 230 RN and is very accurate. :)

[SatCong]

In my Les Bears 200 grains feeds very well, and in my one Colt.:)

[bigcim]

I have no problems with them other than out of a batch of 300 reloaded Ill get 2 or 3 that the brass has dug into the bullet when seating

[Steve in PA]

Been using the Rainier's for over two years in my .45acp. Sig P-220. I have several thousands rounds with those bullets and never had a problem or issue. Can't figure out why people don't like them. Sounds more like a gun issue than a bullet issue.

I use the Rainiers for .380, 9mm and the .45, many thousands of rounds of each shot, without any problems.

[Mark whiz]

My preferred target load for my Milspec 1911-A1 uses Ranier 200gr SWCs - sub 1" groups at 15yds are worth keeping. :)

[Johnny Guest]

I was mainly looking for a way to keep from fouling the Cutts Compensator on my Thompson SMG with lead bullet loads. Real FMJ bullets become a bit expensive whin you're shooting 400 or so for one full auto match. I found that plated bullets - - Usually Ranier or Berry's -- with about 5.6 of W-231 is a good load - - Enough recoil to function the gun, mild enough to not beat it up.

A side benefit is that they shoot really well in my pistols as well - - Colt Government Model, National Match, Commander, S&W 1917, and my son's Kimber.

I'm not blindly brand-loyal. It's just that I can usually find the Ranier bullets for somewhat less money than Berry's, and always for less than Speer's TMJ.

I also like the Ranier plated 200 gr. SWC bullet in pistols. I use the same powder charge and the same seating die setting. This bullet has (+/-) exactly the same nose design as the H&G #68 and Saeco 068 designs. They were originated so that the shoulder and meplat edges meet feed ramp and chamber of a 1911 the same as a 230 ball bullet. I use the RN bullet seating stem, and it works as if by magic. :p

I have no problems with them other than out of a batch of 300 reloaded Ill get 2 or 3 that the brass has dug into the bullet when seating. I've had this happen. I've found that I must remember that these are NOT FMJ bullets - - I must bell the case slightly more than with FMJ - - More like what I use for lead bullets.. It is also necessary to seat and crimp in two different operations. If the die starts applying the taper crimp while the ram is still moving upward, you frequently tear off some of the plating.

Best,
Johnny

[Phil A]

Raniers were fine for me in the 45ACP. However, they were not as accurate as West Coast/X-treme in higher pressure cartridges such as the .357 or 44Mag. - Phil

[ECLIPSE45ACP]

Raniers were fine for me in the 45ACP. However, they were not as accurate as West Coast/X-treme in higher pressure cartridges such as the .357 or 44Mag. - Phil

Plated bullets are not meant to be shot at magum velocities.:banghead: It is reccomeded that they be kep under 1200 FPS. I load them in 9mm, .40, and .45 and have had great success with the raniers. When loading my . 357 magnum I use FMJ, not plated.

[Phil A]

Raniers were fine for me in the 45ACP. However, they were not as accurate as West Coast/X-treme in higher pressure cartridges such as the .357 or 44Mag. - Phil

Update:
Good point. I should add that the .357 and 44 mag plated are being used only for lower level loads (jacketed or gas checked cast for higher pressure loads). Still with an accurate revolver and Contender, I can clearly see the difference in accuracy of the two brands.

However, within the same plated brand, I would not expect a lot of difference in bullet performance between a 124 gr .356 9mm and a 125 gr .357 loaded to the same peak pressure level. Both cartridges are rated to almost 2X the 45ACP pressure level. - Phil