Plated Bullets and Barrel Wear

[GuitarsAndGuns]

I know jacketed bullets are harder on a barrel than lead, but what about plated? I am having very good luck with X-Treme plated bullets and get them for a great price at my LGS, and I am a little tired of the smoke and difficulties in cleaning that goes along with shooting a lot of hard cast bullets. I do realize it takes a lot of shooting to wear out a barrel but some guns aren't easily replaced. Thanks for any assistance or explanations anyone can offer, it is very much appreciated.

 

[rcmodel]

There will be no noticeable difference between pure copper plated bullets, and copper alloy jacketed bullets.

Except, it is likely you will, or can, load jacketed bullets hotter then you can load plated bullets.

Which will accelerate bore wear.

However, as you noted, it will take a awful lot of shooting of either type to wear out a handgun barrel.

If you are really concerned?
Shoot only grease lubed lead cast bullets.

You cannot wear out a barrel in a lifetime of shooting using them.

rc

 

[armsmaster270]

Ordinance steel is way harder than copper.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

If you want the best of both worlds try coated cast boolits. I'm using Gator Snots (Bayou Bullets, owned by Jerry Miculek's brother Donnie) and they are freaking great. No leading, no lead smoke (although a slight hint of burning plastic is noticeable if you are shooting indoors) and I've managed to find 2 really accurate load for my 9mm that use only 3.0 and 3.4 grs of w231. I haven't chronoed em yet but from what I understand they are lower viscosity than even well lubed lead so they handle faster powders a bit better at heavy for caliber weights and also get higher velocity supposedly making it easier to meet PF. Wish I had some actually lead to test against but I might have access to a chrono tomorrow.

Getting back to the subject I'm guessing they cause as much barrel wear as lead (basically nill), although I would like to see somebody with a bit more experience with me weigh in on that.

 

[sexybeast]

I don't think you ought to worry about wearing out the barrel on any of your pistols. I have 35k through my G17 and I can't find any signs of wear on the inside of the barrel, outside yes.
Barrels don't pit and corrode because of corrosive primers and the heat produced is nothing near what a rifle barrel goes through.
Lot of other parts will need replacing first.
A local range here has a few guns with a million rounds through them with original barrels. The military got quite a few rounds through their 1911's too before rebuiliding them.