Copper plated vs. jacketed.

[LynnMassGuy]

What is the difference between a 125 grain jacketed bullet and a 125 grain copper plated bullet. Why are the load recipes different. I just fired a 100 rounds of .38 special using the load data for a 125 grain jacketed bullets and they worked very well but I am thinking that perhaps that was incorrect. The bullets I am using are copper jacketed. Copper jacketed as opposed to what other jacket material? I'm confused. I thought I had covered all of my bases. I read and read some more but this got past me. Did I screw up? If so, a little or a lot? Thanks.

John
LMG

 

[stans]

Copper jacketed bullets are made by forming a cup out of a copper-nickle alloy, then the lead is swaged into the cup and the bullet is given its final shape and size.

Plated bullets are made by putting a very thin copper plating over a swaged lead bullet.

Copper jacketed bullets have a much harder and thicker jacket than the plated bullets.

It is best to use reloading data for lead bullets when using plated bullets. This is because the plated bullets have a lower coefficient of friction than jacketed and tend to behave more like plain lead.

It is also recommended that plated bullets not be driven faster than around 1200 feet per second. Higher velocities or rough bores can strip the plating off of a plated bullet resulting in copper and lead fouling as well as poor accuracy.

Also, be careful when crimping plated bullets, it is easy to puncture and tear the plating if crimped too hard.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

Thankyou for clearing that up. I appreciate your time.

John
LMG