Montana Gold vs Zero

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codefour

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In my .40 and .45, I have been using Zero bullets with good results. The problem is I am running low on stock in the garage. I can not find anyone who has them in stock.

I was considering using Montana Gold next. The owner of Powder Valley told me MG's are brass jackets that are very hard bullets that rapidly increas barrel wear. I was wondering if this was true.?

Does anyone have any information to confirm this.? I was just wondering before I place an order. Thanks in advance.
 
How much do you shoot? USPSA shooters go through MG by the tens of thousands and while they may accelerate wear, the cost of a new barrel is small compared to 50k loaded bullets.

Also, Powder Valley does not carry MG. ;)

For 45, I use Precision Bullets, the coating does not allow any leading.
 
Montana Gold isn't the only manufacturer to use brass as a jacket. There are even companies that use solid brass bullets. It won't tear up barrels too bad. In fact, you would have to shoot thousands and thousands and thousands of each before you would be able to tell a difference between which ones wear out barrels quicker.
 
I have a Sig P-229 that has had at least 30,000 Montana Gold bullets shot through it and the only wear on the barrel is on the outside where the slide has polished it.

A CZ 75 SP-01 with close to 20,000 rounds through it and same results, no appreciable wear.

If you clean your firearm regularly MG Bullets won't wear the barrel any faster than any other.
 
I'd love to have the Zero or Montana Gold truck back up to my garage every 6 months. Can you say heaven?
 
The owner of Powder Valley told me MG's are brass jackets that are very hard bullets that rapidly increas barrel wear.
Click to expand...

I've purchased stuff from PV and I've used plenty of MG bullets. I would say that anything that "rapidly increses barrel wear" would have to be very hard indeed, and brass just isn't that hard.

Now I won't say that anyone is full of it, since I didn't actually hear anyone say anything, but I will say that statement is a pile of crock. MG's are good bullets.
 
Been shooting A LOT of MG brass jacketed bullets the past 16 years with no barrel wear issues.

If you are concerned I would suggest you give MG a call and ask them.

This is first time I ever heard this.
 
Heres the real question - becasue they are brass and not more copper, what is the change in muzzle velocity?
 
Gadzooks Mike said:
Does Powder Valley sell Zero bullets and not Montana Gold, perchance?
Click to expand...

The sure do although they are "Out of Stock" on ALL Zero pistol bullets. They put down the MG bullets but don't have any Zero's to sell.
 
Brass or copper are both quite a bit softer than steel.
While I guess it is possible for a softer metal (under considerable pressure) to cause wear (eventually) to a harder metal, it's really not a concern for me...when the barrel is worn out, then I will replace it.

Honestly, I have heard of 6mm and .22-250 barrels being shot out, but my impression is that is a function of powder and incredibly high pressures/temperatures.

I have not heard of the barrel being a point of wear even in .44 Magnum pistol loads.

Waiting to hear other opinions...
 
i gave up trying to buy zeros, used Precision Delta and now they are out, just bought a case of MG. I might just stick with them. These smaller companies might think about getting with the program. I hear they are catering to ammo manuifacturers, is that true? If so MG will be geting all my future business since they seem to keep reloaders in ind and sponsor shooting sports - which Zero does not do.

BTW - I know the diffrence in guilding metals - how about answering the question and not being so smart :)
 
frankge said:
BTW - I know the diffrence in guilding metals - how about answering the question and not being so smart :)
Click to expand...

I was being nice. It is hard to take seriously a question of which alloy of brass will wear the barrel more. Therefore, I was answering that the premise behind the OP's question was not valid.

I did not add that many cartridge makers offer yellow brass jacketed bullets. Remington, Magtech, and S&B come to mind. I also did not add that I have shot 9k of them so far. I thought it would be pointless because others had already mentioned this with far more rounds down range.

There are many military forces that use mild steel jacketed bullets that are only plated to eliminate corrosion. This is done in rifles, not just pistols. I have several of these rifles and none exhibit abnormal wear of the bore.

Therefore, from the experience of others as well as my own, I can say that there is no discernible increased wear from using yellow brass jacketed bullets.
 
err uhhh, my question was in regard to velocity - btw I shoot a ton of steel and corrosive ammo through my 7.62x39 AR so I'm not picky about what I send down the barrel.
 
For me, I've shot a lot of the MG 124gr CMJ using light loads. To get about the same 130PF as the Zero 124 FMJ, I used exactly the same load with a slightler longer OAL for the Zero bullet.

For the 124gr MG JHP (conical nose shape) I use exactly the same load and OAL (1.10") as the Zero 125JHP (traditional ogive shape) . Both chrono very close to the same speed. I have fired more than 30K rds through this pistol. Most were these two MG and Zero bullets

This is out of a CZ with a 4.72" bbl using Vit n320 powder.
FWIW: My #1 bullet preference is the Zero 125 JHP, #2/#3 is the MG 124CMJ OR the new Berry's HBRN
 
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Ummm, I think we are drifting from the OP, which was whether Montana Gold's "brass" jacketed bullets cause "rapidly increased" barrel wear. I am a fan of Powder Valley but I think that statement is hogwash.

codefour said:
I was considering using Montana Gold next. The owner of Powder Valley told me MG's are brass jackets that are very hard bullets that rapidly increas barrel wear. I was wondering if this was true.?

Does anyone have any information to confirm this.? I was just wondering before I place an order. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
bds, you're right.

I was trying to say that the same load will push the two similar (MG & Zero) bullets to the same speed, so the friction doesn't change significantly.

I'm not sure what PV meant by "rapidly", but I've shot a bunch of MG and have had no apparent bbl wear.
.
 
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