Slightly off topic: has anyone tested the expansion of Rainier/Berry's plated hollowpoints? I would think expansion would be at least as good as conventional jacketed designs, since their softness should lead to ready deformation. However, I don't know if this is true or not.
In my unscientific testing, they did not perform as well as most conventional hollow points. I tried some 230 grain .45 hollowpoints, over a relatively stout load of Unique, (approximately 850 fps, from a 5" barrel). Firing into water filled OJ cartons and heavily soaked newspaper showed little sign of expansion, while several conventional JHPs showed classic mushrooms.
The same was also true with some 158 grain JHPs I tested.
Its also hard to get their velocity up higher, as their thin plate of copper doesn't always mesh well with higher velocity.
Now, out of a .50 Beowulf, the Rainier hollow point does indeed expand!
The lead in the plated bullets contains a high percentage of antimony. Plated bullets can be made which will expand, (Gold Dot), but the Rainier offerings, with a few exceptions, do not seem to perform as well as their conventional competition.
This has been my experience. I would love to find out that things have changed.