Plated Bullets

[Mikee Loxxer]

Last night I stayed up too late and was watching Guns and Ammo TV on The Sportsman’s Channel. Wayne van Zwoll was interviewing a representative from Federal Cartridge about bullets that previously were only available in factory ammo now being offered as components. They mentioned that the Federal Fusion bullet which Wayne noted is a plated bullet. I have used their 180 grain .30’06 load on mule deer in the past to great effect and would like to consider using these as a projectiles in some of my loads.

What are the disadvantages of plated bullets? Does one have to be concerned about bore leading when pushing them to rifle velocities?

 

[rcmodel]

No.
Obviously, there is no concern of bore leading at rifle velocity or Federal would not be loading them in factory rifle ammo.

The Federal Fusion and other premium grade plated bullets like the Speer Gold dot handgun bullets have much thicker plating then the economy plinking bullets from Rainer & Berry.

Those thin plated bullets have a velocity limit of 1,200 FPS in handgun loads.
Berry plated rifle bullets are rated between 1,700 - 1,950 depending on caliber.

There are no such limits on Federal Fusion bullets.

rc

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Thanks for the response with regard to the difference between premium and economy plated bullets rc! I figured that Federal would never load factory rifle ammo with these bullets if leading was probable.

 

[Walkalong]

For years makers of premium "plated" bullets called them "bonded" and other such terms. They really are a cut above the average plated bullet designed for plinking and light target shooting.