Loading plated bullets to +P jacketed data

[Stormin.40]

I realize that plated bullets are supose to be loaded with lead data, however, I assumed this was referring to the velocity restraints plated bullets have so I went ahead and worked up a load in .38 special for my 642 snubnose using 125 gr FP plated bullets from berry's mfg. These shot well and I settled on 4.5gr of titegroup. I then decided that I would like to have some +P target stuff for self defense training/practice to make sure I was used to the recoil.

Is it safe to work up +P ammo with plated bullets? I have only loaded up 10 round with 4.7gr titegroup and 20 rounds of 4.8gr titegroup. +P data max for 125gr JFP is 5.0gr titegroup per Hodgon, standard pressure max is 4.6gr. I don't plan to go to max but thought 4.8 or 4.9 might produce similar kick to speer gold dot +p. I plan to chrony them when the weather gets warmer.

 

[ranger335v]

"Is it safe to work up +P ammo with plated bullets?"

Certainly, you won't blow anything up. And you'll learn something about soft bullets too.

 

[armoredman]

There's this thing that happens when plated bullets are pushed past the envelope they were designed for...

 

[Muddydogs]

I realize that plated bullets are suppose to be loaded with lead data, however, I assumed this was referring to the velocity restraints plated bullets have so I went ahead and worked up a load in .38 special for my 642 snubnose using 125 gr FP plated bullets from berry's mfg. QUOTE]

So what is your question?

Plated bullets like Berrys and Rainer have velocity restraints because when shot to fast and hard they can come apart which leads to barrel leading and poor accuracy not to mention pressure problems. Speer and other company's also make plated bullets but these bullets have thicker jackets and can withstand higher velocity's. Not all plated bullets are the same.

Why don't you check out places that sell pulled bullets? For the cost and hassle of plated bullets I find I can purchase pulled .40 cal bullets at lower prices then platted.

Check out Rocky Mountain Reloading. I realize these are not 125gr bullets but RMR has 158gr FN bullets that are plated but able to handle higher velocity's for $104 1000 and 158gr jacketed hollow points for $119 a 1000. All price include shipping.

Berrys are $89.00 a 1000 plus shipping and worrying about keeping at lower velocity's. Not hard to see were the value is.

These days light plated bullets just aren't worth the money. When they first came out they were a good bullet between lead and jacketed with an in between price. The price they are now makes them an over priced pain in the rear. If you just want to make some low end plinker's then by all means use them but all to often guys purchase these bullets then decide that low end plinker's are really not doing anything for there practice and training so they then want to drive them harder then they should be. If you want light plinking rounds get a 22 and shoot cheap light plinker's.

 

[armoredman]

On the other hand, Berry's bullets loaded properly can turn in some good results, as this target also shows at 200 yards.



The moral of the story is plated bullets can work just fine used right, but if you want to go plus P velocities, stick with jacketed. If you want to really save money, cast your own - I am willing to bet I can beat the prices of pulled bullets with my home cast ones.

 

[Muddydogs]

On the other hand, Berry's bullets loaded properly can turn in some good results, as this target also shows at 200 yards.



The moral of the story is plated bullets can work just fine used right, but if you want to go plus P velocities, stick with jacketed. If you want to really save money, cast your own - I am willing to bet I can beat the prices of pulled bullets with my home cast ones.

I don't doubt that at all. My Dad got into casting and I have shot some of his bullets which go good. I have not stepped into casting and not sure for the amount I shoot the cost of equipment would be worth it. I do scrounge lead when I can just in case.

 

[Stormin.40]

I am not hitting the velocity max shooting out of a snubnose. If velocity is the only reason not to load with Jacketed data then I should be fine, bullet jump may come into play as well since my crimp is minimal as I don't want to pierce the plating. I will be checking accuracy and measure for bullet jump, if they funtion and are reasonably accurate I think I will keep a few around.

I will check out the pulled bullets, they didn't seem that cheap when I last looked? In my 642 I pretty much stick with lead, I have loaded 158gr SWC to +P but didn't have published +P data for 125gr LRNFP.

 

[LiveLife]

Berry's Hollow Base Thick Plated (HB-TP) bullets are rated at 1450 fps. Perhaps Berry's MFG could offer them for heavy .357 loads?

 

[Walkalong]

The Powerbond 125 HP will take +P .38 pressure/velocity (I suspect their 158 would too), and the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC will take +P .38 Pressure/velocity, at least in my guns using appropriate powders. I use a medium to heavy taper crimp. I shot the X-Treme 158 at an Avg 1308 FPS from a 6" .357 the other day, with excellent accuracy. I am going to drop it down a hair though, just for recoil reduction.

 

[longdayjake]

I agree with what walkalong said. I have sold powerbond in the past and I currently sell x-treme and those are the only two plated companies (aside from speer tmj) that I think make a plated bullet well enough to be used at magnum or +p velocities. The plating is thicker than berrys or rainier and seems to handle a little more.

 

[Berry's MFG]

We will probably re-vamp some of the magnum revolver calibers this year to include a Thick Plate version.

 

[longdayjake]

Well, thats good to hear.