Bulk bullets for 40S&W, loads Plated or not?

[Wildbillz]

Hi All
I have seen several adds for bulk bullets that call the TMJ, are they plated or do they have the thicker jackets like an FMJ?

Can the plated bullets be pushed to full loads or would I have to load them down a bit?

I am trying to find some decent 180grn or 155grn bullets for a 40S&W load. Noting to fancy its just going to be range ammo. Any recomdations?

Thanks
WB

 

[cfullgraf]

Plated bullets should say they are plated. Jacketed bullets should say they are jacketed.

Jacketed bullets can have all of the lead covered by the installation of a copper disc on the base of the bullet and sealed by the other jacket.

Generally, the plating on plated bullets fully covers the lead.

Plated bullets generally have a speed restriction of about 1200 fps although there are some specialized applications like 30 Carbine bullets that have a higher speed restriction due to thicker plating. Check with the manufacturer.

Whether you have to load plated bullets down or not depends on the speed you are thinking of running.

Generally, plated bullets require a slightly different load than the equivalent jacket bullet at the same speed. Again, check with the manufacturer. Some powder companies are beginning to include plated bullets in their data.

Hope this helps.

 

[Walkalong]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6195350&postcount=11

I have shot plenty of plated, as well as jacketed, in the .40, but am now .40'less. 2 or 3 K bullets still laying around though. Might need them some day.

 

[LiveLife]

Alliant Techsystems (ATK), spun off from Honeywell, owns Federal/CCI/Speer and obtained the registered trademark ® for TMJ in 1989. If you see TMJ (for Total Metal Jacket) marked on the ammunition box, it probably/should be Speer plated bullets. Some companies have gone to using CMJ to note Complete Metal Jacket.

Jacketed bullets can have all of the lead covered by the installation of a copper disc on the base of the bullet and sealed by the other jacket.

Like the FMJ with a disc base on the right.

This is factory CCI 45ACP round that used TMJ bullet.

Can the plated bullets be pushed to full loads or would I have to load them down a bit? ... I am trying to find some decent 180grn or 155grn bullets for a 40S&W load. Noting to fancy its just going to be range ammo. Any recomdations?

I typically use lead load data or start-to-mid range jacketed load data as recommended by plated bullet manufacturers like Berry's and Rainier.

I have used Rainier, Berry's, PowerBond and X-Treme plated bullets and for range practice ammo, recommend them all as they have shot well for me in my pistols (just buy the lowest priced bullets). If you have oversized factory barrel (larger than .400" groove diameter), I would recommend the larger diameter Berry's bullets sized at .401" (compared to more typical .400") to minimize high pressure gas leakage and for greater accuracy.

There happens to be a thread with listing of vendors for 40S&W bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7818641#post7818641

 

[longdayjake]

I sell both regular plated and pulled TMJ. On my website I specify that TMJ are made by Speer. Speer TMJ are supposedly plated to the thickness of a regular jacket. So, TMJ bullets are supposed to be able to be shot at the same velocities as a regular jacketed bullet whereas regular plated bullets may be limited to around 1200 fps. The regular plated ones that I sell are x-treme which are supposedly plated thicker than berry's, rainier, etc. I have loaded some .357 as hot as I could possibly get them (somewhere around 1400 fps from my 4" barrel) and they shot well with no problems. So, if you see some plated bullets marked TMJ make sure that they are speer before you take the plunge. Not all plated bullets are created equal.

That said, if you are just using them for plinking and you would like a good price, I think it would be really hard to beat the deal I have on pulled jacketed FMJ. Check them out here > http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/product.sc?productId=76&categoryId=15

I'm hoping to get some more 180 grainers next week.

 

[Walkalong]

I do not know who else does it, but Hornady makes some "FMJ" bullets with the disc on the bottom to eliminate powder burning the lead base.

.45 & 9MM

 

[solvability]

Hornady Action Pistol bullets have the disc on the base - they are excellent bullets but a bit too expensive. If you shoot a Hollow Point Jacketed it will have a jacketed base and reduce lead in the air - the Montana Gold JHP Bullets are very popular and excellent bullets - good price if purchased in case lots. Precision Delta has cheaper jacketed bullets - a lot of us have gone to moly coated lead and they work well too and are cheaper than plated or jacketed. I have not found plated to be cheaper than jacketed.

 

[Wildbillz]

longdayjake

I sell both regular plated and pulled TMJ. On my website I specify that TMJ are made by Speer. Speer TMJ are supposedly plated to the thickness of a regular jacket. So, TMJ bullets are supposed to be able to be shot at the same velocities as a regular jacketed bullet whereas regular plated bullets may be limited to around 1200 fps. The regular plated ones that I sell are x-treme which are supposedly plated thicker than berry's, rainier, etc. I have loaded some .357 as hot as I could possibly get them (somewhere around 1400 fps from my 4" barrel) and they shot well with no problems. So, if you see some plated bullets marked TMJ make sure that they are speer before you take the plunge. Not all plated bullets are created equal.

That said, if you are just using them for plinking and you would like a good price, I think it would be really hard to beat the deal I have on pulled jacketed FMJ. Check them out here > http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/produ...&categoryId=15

I'm hoping to get some more 180 grainers next week.

Hi LDJ
It was the 380acp on your sight that got me to ask the question. The 155grns look good but I was hoping for 180s. I may hold out a week or so and see if you get the other ones in.

Thanks
WB

 

[zeke]

Have had very good results with Rainer 155 flatpoints and unique in BHP and S&W 646