Change in Rainier Bullets?

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King_Hugh

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Hi, I was doing some research tonight as I plan to start working up my first .45 ACP loads.

I have some Rainier 200 gr projectiles so I went to the Rainier Ballistics web site to confirm some of what I though I knew...

I have a print out from about a year ago from their FAQ that says to follow lead data...but tonight the same FAQ says to follow jacketed load data and there is no mention of lead data at all.

Has there been a change to the Rainier bullets?

Thanks.
 
Well, they used to publish data (Well over lead data) on the website, then changed to say lead data, and now seem to have gone back to pretty much what they used to say. So, they have changed their advise, but not the bullets as far as I know.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050502161132/www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataAA.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20050502124831/http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataMW.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20050316140755/www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataVV.htm
 
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Seems Rainier is following in the footsteps of Berry's

Berry's has AFAIK always said use low to mid range jacketed data.

This advice may not be the opinion of this website.
YMMV, etc, etc ;)
 
I've always used low-mid jacketed data with Rainier bullets in .45acp. I used lead data my first time working up loads with them and couldn't get reliable function in my 1911. I worked up a mid range load with Bullseye that was awesome, and I haven't considered using lead data with them since.
 
Maybe too many complaints about bullets getting stuck in bores from people trying to make ultra light loads with lead data.
 
For any given velocity plated bullets will take less powder to get there than jacketed.

Use a chrono and work up like normal. Just know that when you use the jacketed starting load you're probably starting a little closer to what would be a mid-range plated load.
 
I have shot a Rainier with max jacketed data. It was an obvious overcharge in one of my guns. It shot fine in another. So yeah, use jacketed data but be careful going past the lower half of jacketed data.
 
I am going to say 75%, but yes, as you get up there in jacketed data, be extra watchful.

The good news is there is more plated data out there than ever before, including that old data that I linked to, so that helps.
 
Thanks for the replies everybody...I appreciate you all taking the time to help a newbie!

Just to be sure I'm understanding the "Why's"..

A plated bullet will take less of a powder charge to get the job done than a jacketed round because the jacketed round would be harder, thus harder to push down the barrel and creating more pressure? Yes?
 
I wonder what it is about plated bullets that they don't recommend them at max charges in magnum handgun caliber loads. 44 Mag and 357 for instance.
 
Walkalong said:
Well, they used to publish data (Well over lead data) on the website, then changed to say lead data, and now seem to have gone back to pretty much what they used to say. So, they have changed their advise, but not the bullets as far as I know.
Click to expand...
Unless Rainier Ballistics increased the copper plating from .004", not sure about the 1500 fps rating. MidwayUSA still shows .004" thickness with 1500 fps :confused::scrutiny: - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-plated-round-nose

My experience with regular thickness plated bullets (.0035"-.008") is that accuracy starts to fall above mid range jacketed load data. I use full jacketed load data with Speer TMJ/Gold Dot (yes, they are plated bullets), Berry's Hollow Base Thick Plated and Rocky Mountain Reloading Hardcore Match bullets with no loss of accuracy - www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=761471

Below is a listing of plating thickness and rated fps as best as I could find.

Speer TMJ: .015" - http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/handgun/plinker/tmj.aspx
Rocky Mountain Reloading HM Thick Plated: .012"-.014" (rated to 1500 fps) - http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/9mm-...73FC182726A6894DC5430243EC4092.m1plqscsfapp06
Berry's Thick Plated (TP) : .012" (rated to 1500 fps) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9589491#post9589491
PowerBond: .010"-.011" (rated to 1300 fps) - http://www.bms.highbornoutdoors.com/index.php?_a=category&cat_id=14
Berry's Regular: .0035"-.008" (rated to 1250 fps) - http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-q12-c1-How_thick_is_the_jacket_on_your_bullets.aspx
Rainier: .004" (rated to 1500 fps) - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-plated-round-nose
X-Treme: Can't find any reference for plating thickness but rates the regular plated bullets to 1200 fps and "Heavy Plate Concave Base" plated bullets to 1500 fps - http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
 
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