Anybody try Speer's Plastic Training Bullets?

[Dave R]

I've been perusing Speer's No 13 reloading manual, and the page on these things finally came to my attention. Its at the end of the pistol section.

Plastic bullets sized to ride on the rifling, rather than engaged by it. Use no powder, only large pistol primer for propellant. Reload by re-priming and pressing in the plastic bullets by hand. Simple and inexpensive.

Sounds like the perfect thing for shooting in the garage...

OTOH, nothing on their website about them. Makes me wonder if they're still around? Anybody try them?

 

[Dave R]

These critters here.

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/315781

Must be still around. Two reviews at the Midway site. One loved 'em, one hated 'em. Said they dropped through his barrel and keyholed.

To be fair, Speer says they don't work with all guns. Should be easy to push in the barrel, but stay in when turned upside down. They guy who hated 'em must have a slightly large bore...

Anyway, have any of you tried 'em?

 

[Edward429451]

I have a bunch of them. They are ok for emergencies in the garage when I can't make it up to the range. A big box filled with old towels or sheets is good for catching them. Safety glasses are preferred, they will ricochete quite well if box is missed.

 

[Sven]

How synchronous, I saw this section of the manual tonight for the first time.

Since they do not shoot to POA, Speer recommends setting up a separate aiming point higher on the wall... seems like a lot of work for a little practice. Where I live, the range isn't that far away, and I want my weapon to cycle when I practice.

That guys comment about out of spec measurements he took makes me concerned.

 

[Kamicosmos]

My local store has a couple bags of them. I don't really see the point. Especially if they aren't shooting to POA...then really...what's the point?

Heh...what's the point...that's good.

 

[Edward429451]

Especially if they aren't shooting to POA...then really...what's the point?

They're not THAT bad, they don't shoot completely sideways..I like to think of them as dry fire practice with a bang. Actually, I dont use them very much. I've never had the law called on me for it, but you know how wives can be with making loud bangs around the homestead. About 10 ft will give you good enough groups to cure the range jones.

I also have some little rubber ones that slip all the way into the case, flush with the mouth. They last longer than the plastic ones, but bounce more.

 

[Grump]

If they work like the wax bullets I've tried, they are also ideal for getting mice that take refuge behind the furniture. Deadly inside of 8 feet, and far less risky to the walls than birdshot cartridges from your handgun.

 

[Dave R]

Edward, do you have more info, or a source, for the rubber ones?

what's the point?

"Dry fire with a bang", thats a good one. Practice draw/sight picture/trigger pull drills in the garage? Shoot for $1.70 per hundred (cost of primers), and no range fee? POI is not critical for "dry fire drills".

 

[HankB]

I've tried the Speer plastic bullets in revolvers, and they're OK out to maybe 30 feet. They use special plastic cases.

I've been using the "X-Ring" rubber bullets lately - they sort of look like oversized air rifle pellets - and those seem to work better. They shoot very close to point of impact out of my 9mm across the diagonal of my garage. You load them in regular primed cases that have had the flash hold drilled out a bit. (Don't load "real" ammo in cases with drilled out flash holes.)

They won't function the action, but they're quiet and suitable for "draw and fire" or malfunction drills.

The rubber bullets are available from Dillon Precision, and maybe MidwayUSA.

 

[444]

I have been shooting the Speer plastic bullets for years. I presently have them in .38 Special and .44 . I just recently bought a couple hundred from Midway. I planned to use them to teach a friends wife to shoot. I intended to use them in her garage vs. cardboard silhouettes. I don't think the difference in PoA/POI will be all that great with the silhouette. I see a couple advantages to this. First of all she doesn't have to leave home and get someone to watch the kids. Husband can watch kids in the house. Second there is no recoil and they arn't loud. Lastly, they are cheap since you are only paying for a primer after the inital purchase. I think it would allow her to learn the fundamentals of shooting without a lot of effort.
I have done some shooting in the house with these in various calibers and the POI wasn't all that far flung. I certainly can keep them on paper across the room.
I have also tried wax bullets. I personally think they are a lot of work compared to the plastic bullets. But, I suppose you could get a system down that would make it easier.

 

[Dave R]

Hmmm, Midway has the X-Ring rubber bullets. There are more reviews on them and the reviews are better. Maybe that's the way to go.

 

[dodgestdshift]

I used them many years ago in my S&W 28 357 Magnum revolver. I had problems with the primers backing out of the cases after a few of the cartridges in the cylinder were fired. I was using normal cases, so I used a drill and opened the flash hole some (make sure these don't get into your normal loads), but I had to remove the fired cases after three shots or it would tie up the gun. Since it was fun to shoot, I lived with the problem but you should be aware of it.

 

[444]

The ones being sold now (Speer) have a plastic case and a plastic bullet.
You buy the two seperately. If the bullet hits something hard, it will be damaged. So, you can buy more bullets to go with your cases.

 

[Edward429451]

Edward, do you have more info, or a source, for the rubber ones?

I got mine at a gunshow but now that they mentioned it, they are X ring bullets, They look like a big black air rifle pellet. I only use them in 45 so far. I wonder if they make the rubber ones in 44?

Practice draw/sight picture/trigger pull drills in the garage?

That's exactly how I was using them. One shot at a time from concealment.

 

[Oracle]

I have the old kind, in .45 caliber. I use them as indoor practice rounds with my .45 Colt revolver. I had to drill out the primer hole in the cases I use them with (which are clearly marked with magic marker), so that I wouldn't get primer setback, but other than that, they work just fine. A pretty neat concept, IMHO.

 

[sm]

I deny any knowledge of Speer black bullets being used in a 1911 style and model 10 in my gunsmith's barn on a wet rainy day that "allegedly" gave some mice a headache. I deny any alleged comments about grown men having fun. I don't know what happened to those primers/ plastic bullets...sure there was that many to start with...I think someone miscounted...
Nope never happened...

 

[444]

Rubber Bullets: http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/713633

Plastic Bullets: http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/315781

 

[Dave R]

Found some of the plastic Speers in-stock at a store. Tried them out and will post range report separately.

I think the rubber X-ring's will be better, but no one in town has them, so I'll have to order them online.