Brass Jacketed Bullets at RMR

[DMW1116]

Rocky Mountain Reloading has 158 grain brass jacketed bullets for 38/357 calibers. I am looking for such a bullet to try for 357. However I am unfamiliar with the use of brass vs copper for bullet jackets. Are there any issues related to brass jackets? Someone told me they will wear a barrel faster than copper jackets though I don’t know why that would be true.

Has anyone tried these bullets specifically? They do not have a cannelure. Do they require a taper crimp or something like the Lee Factory Crimp Die? How are they for accuracy?

 

[IMtheNRA]

In my experience, 9mm brass jacketed bullets from Montana Gold required a lower powder charge to maintain the same velocity and recoil feel as my usual copper FMJ. They were also less accurate in all but one of my 9mm pistols. Fine for IPSC, Steel Challenge, and the like, but certainly not Bullseye material. I also found a large variation in cartridge overall length which I think is due to a huge variation in ogive placement of those bullets.

If RMR is selling Montana Gold as their own brand, and production quality of MG has not improved, then you might find the same results.

The lack of cannelure means you can only taper crimp these bullets. If your intent is to use them in 357 Magnum loads, they will pull out in the cylinder unless you load and fire them one at a time.

 

[LiveLife]

https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets/pistol/357-38/357-38-158-gr-fmj-round-nose-flat-point/

FYI, Armscor also sells bulk brass jacketed bullets.

I have shot brass jacketed Montana Gold and Remington Golden Saber for decades and load them same as copper jacketed bullets.

When I shot USPSA in the 90s, there was some discussion that slightly harder brass jacket may wear out the rifling in barrels faster than copper jacket to affect accuracy but over the years, especially with factory barrels that are surface hardened (Like Glock, M&P, etc.), discussions died down. I sold my Glock 17 after 120,000 rounds were shot through and concerned with loss of accuracy but another match shooter bought it and after testing for accuracy, happily continued shooting USPSA matches.

 

[lordpaxman]

I’ve not used the RMR brass bullets but I’ve reloaded Montana Golds which claim a brass jacket. Yes, brass is technically harder than copper, but still softer than your steel barrel. I wasn’t worried about premature wear given how soft both metals are. There are even claims about brass being a better metal for controlled expansion - like Remington Sabres. I know a few open shooters who use MG exclusively and haven’t seen any premature wear problems. Good luck.

 

[AJC1]

I looked at those same bullets and was curious how much a canalure tool was.. still need to check. If your shooting something like a contender it should work fine

https://www.buffaloarms.com/bullet-cannelure-tool-4d12000.html
Seems its 130 dollars

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've loaded a lot of .357 Magnum up to upper mid range with a taper crimp. I have not had any trouble with bullet setback.
I monitor the neck tension my dies are producing and I also use a Redding dual ring die for resizing.
The Redding die gives me a tad bit more neck tension that the other dies I have. The neck tension is running at 60lbs plus so I have no concerns with bullet setback with upper midrange loads with a taper crimp.

I looked at those same bullets and was curious how much a canalure tool was.. still need to check. If your shooting something like a contender it should work fine

https://www.buffaloarms.com/bullet-cannelure-tool-4d12000.html
Seems its 130 dollars

I looked at those also and thought with the kind of reloading I do it may come in handy. But apparently not handy enough because I never parted with the money to buy one. I looked around and I guess I couldn't find enough work for it to justify buying one.
I would still like to have one though.

 

[AJC1]

I've loaded a lot of .357 Magnum up to upper mid range with a taper crimp. I have not had any trouble with bullet setback.
I monitor the neck tension my dies are producing and I also use a Redding dual ring die for resizing.
The Redding die gives me a tad bit more neck tension that the other dies I have. The neck tension is running at 60lbs plus so I have no concerns with bullet setback with upper midrange loads with a taper crimp.



I looked at those also and thought with the kind of reloading I do it may come in handy. But apparently not handy enough because I never parted with the money to buy one. I looked around and I guess I couldn't find enough work for it to justify buying one.
I would still like to have one though.

More or less useful than a consentricity tool.

 

[packetloss]

In my experience, 9mm brass jacketed bullets from Montana Gold required a lower powder charge to maintain the same velocity and recoil feel as my usual copper FMJ. They were also less accurate in all but one of my 9mm pistols. Fine for IPSC, Steel Challenge, and the like, but certainly not Bullseye material. I also found a large variation in cartridge overall length which I think is due to a huge variation in ogive placement of those bullets.

I've been shooting 9mm MG 124 grain JHP bullets (over 12K so far) and this has not been my experience. Powder charge is the same as copper and no issues at all with accuracy. I also don't find much variation in the cartridge overall length.

 

[mcb]

As others have, I have shot heaps of Montana Gold brass jacketed bullets over the years and never had and issue or some much difference between that and copper jacket bullets. I liked them until they got too expensive.

 

[packetloss]

As others have, I have shot heaps of Montana Gold brass jacketed bullets over the years and never had and issue or some much difference between that and copper jacket bullets. I liked them until they got too expensive.

What have you found that are noticeably cheaper (right now I'm mostly shooting JHP which in bulk are just a little over .09 a projectile)? I used use RMR till they became mostly unavailable plus no bulk discount and more expensive than MG.

 

[mcb]

What have you found that are noticeably cheaper (right now I'm mostly shooting JHP which in bulk are just a little over .09 a projectile)? I used use RMR till they became mostly unavailable plus no bulk discount and more expensive than MG.

My shooting has changed some since then. When I was shooting lots of MG I was shooting 180gr 40 cal bullets in an XD and S&W 610. For awhile I switched to Armscor, but their 40 cal bullets were really bad QC though I still like their 45 cal. When I switched to and 8-shot revolver I switch to shooting polymer coated 160gr .357 bullets from IbejiHeads. I have not shot much 40S&W recently not enough to need to buy more reloading supplies. I have recently started loading 124 gr 9mm bullets from IbejiHead too.

 

[bluetopper]

I've shot the Armscor brass jacket 158gr bullets plenty out of a 357 Maximum contender at max power at 100 yards and they grouped better than any I ever tried.

 

[forrest r]

Myself I prefer brass jackets over copper jackets in the pistols & revolvers. Higher velocities for the same weight/powder. Never noticed that the brass bullets were any less accurate then their copper counterparts. But then again I really don't ask a lot out of them. 3" @ 100yds is my max distance & all the accuracy I need any more.

I've owned/used cannelure tools for decades, home made and store bought. Well worth every penny the ability to put a cannelure where you & as deep as you want it is priceless.