chiltech500 said:
I don't really know the difference between plated and jacketed bullets
When I shot USPSA matches, I did accuracy comparison between jacketed bullets (Montana Gold) and plated bullets (Berry's/Rainier) in 9mm/40S&W/45ACP.
What I was told by more experienced regional shooters and my reloading/shooting mentor (who shot bullseye matches) was that FMJ with soft lead base expanded better to seal with the barrel than plated bullets with harder lead alloy core that really did not expand so FMJ produced more consistent muzzle velocities and lower SD to produce greater accuracy.
With plated bullets, accuracy trend tended to increase as I approached mid range jacketed load data but shot groups got larger as I approached near max load data. So I started out using FMJ for my match loads.
Then in subsequent years, more and more match shooters started to switch to JHP citing cleaner loads when using compensators, less lead exposure from jacketing covering the bullet base, longer bullet base that produced greater rotational stability in flight, deeper bullet seating for more consistent chamber pressures, use of slightly less powder charge than comparable FMJ loads (yes, many match shooters are squeaky frugal), etc. I did some FMJ vs JHP comparison tests and JHP loads shot comparable or slightly better so I switched to JHP bullets for match loads.
When Berry's MFG released hollow based plated bullets that were thicker plated, they produced more accurate 9mm loads with Bullseye/Titegroup/W231/HP-38 powders than Winchester FMJ bullet so I would say Berry's hollow base plated bullets are exception to jacketed bullets being more accurate than plated bullets.
But now Winchester sells hollow based FMJ so I may need to do some more comparison accuracy tests.
I'm trying to achieve "Bullseye" type accuracy at 25 yds without breaking the bank
RMR is selling pulled 9mm 115 gr hollow based FMJ at $95/1000 with free shipping -
http://shop.rmrbullets.com/9mm-115-...-FMJ-PULLED-1000-Ct-9mm-HBRN-FMJ-115-1000.htm
Although I got better accuracy with 9mm SWC bullets from Dardas/Missouri compared to RN bullets, I would also try JHP bullets. RMR is also selling pulled 9mm 115 gr JHP for $105/1000 -
http://shop.rmrbullets.com/9mm-115-...PULLED-1000-Count-9mm-115-JHP-Pul-1000-Ct.htm
As for Berry's hollow based plated bullets, Powder Valley has 115 gr HBRN-TP for $79/1000, 124 gr HBFP-TP for $78/1000 and HBRN-TP for $83/1000 -
http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/
anyone has compared coated Bayou or similar vs jacketed for accuracy
As to coated lead bullet accuracy, I think most "action pistol" match shooters use them as cheaper alternative to jacketed bullets but less smoke than lead loads and not particularly for greater accuracy.
Most bullseye match loads are lower powder charge loads that require softer lead bullets oversized to the barrel with preferably flat based bullets for better sealing of high pressure gas. I think you may do better with regular lead SWC bullets with longest bullet base that are flat based (like Dardas 9mm SWC) than coated bullets.
Dardas offers 5% THR discount with promo code
HIGHROAD and sells 126 gr flat base SWC for $56/1000 with .356"/.357"/.358" sizing -
http://www.dardascastbullets.com/mm...=dardas&Product_Code=91261000&Category_Code=9