Plated Bullets

[Walkalong]

I’m interested in this thread because I would like to try berry’s bullets but am unsure how to use them in a recipe. I’ve not seen any recipes that specify plated bullets specifically.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...en-bullet-is-not-listed.791254/#post-10068925

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/380-plated-data.818632/#post-10500159

Makers have changed their advise on loading plated bullets over the years, can't seem to make up their minds.

There is plated data out there now though. Vihtavuori has some, Hodgdon has some.......Rule3 has linked to some.

 

[Toprudder]

Accurate (Western) has data for many of the Berry's, Rainier, and Speer TMJ bullets. I have heard that if you call Xtreme and ask about load data, they will say to reference the Speer TMJ data. I have found the Speer data to correlate well with my results.

 

[Riccochet]

One thing to take in to consideration with Berry's plated bullets, specifically the hollow base ones, is they are longer than a FMJ and lead version of the same weight. You'll need to account for that when determining your COL.

 

[kcofohio]

I’m interested in this thread because I would like to try berry’s bullets but am unsure how to use them in a recipe. I’ve not seen any recipes that specify plated bullets specifically.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Hodgdon list some Berry's in 9 & 40.

http://www.ramshot.com/load-data/
On this site, click on the link in red. They list several of Berry's and Rainier bullets.

 

[Jack B.]

I’m interested in this thread because I would like to try berry’s bullets but am unsure how to use them in a recipe. I’ve not seen any recipes that specify plated bullets specifically.

From the Hodgdon web site on reloading education. Lead bullets and copper plated lead bullets yield very similar pressure and velocity results, so when the weights are the same, the same data may be used for each.

 

[Eugen]

There have been so many informative replies and choices of bullet types. But, as a novice reloader, i think I have developed a bad case of "choice anxiety" trying to decide which are best for me.

 

[kcofohio]

There have been so many informative replies and choices of bullet types. But, as a novice reloader, i think I have developed a bad case of "choice anxiety" trying to decide which are best for me.

Depending on your time and spare change, it can be an adventure to search for "your" load. If you know what bullet weight your gun likes, it'll be helpful in your selection.

Berry's offers some of the widest variety of plated bullets with free shipping on orders over $75. Or you can look up their bullets at Powder Valley Inc. It is hit and miss whether a bullet you're interested in will be in stock at PV, but if you watch, the savings on larger orders are there.

Rocky Mountain Reloading (RMR) has a more limited selection of their own plated bullets. But all of their bullets ship for free and they offer THR members a 5% discount.

As long as a reloader realizes that plated bullets are in general, thinner layered than jacketed. Lighter crimping is better as to not damage or deform the plating.

Main thing is to enjoy reloading safely.

 

[ATLDave]

Don't overthink it. Plated are softer than jacketed... they generally won't raise pressures quite as much, and some of them can't be driven too hard before the plating starts to fail. The plating failure isn't really a safety issue, just an accuracy one. Plated aren't quite as low-friction as lead or poly-coated, so they will usually exit a touch slower than the same weight lubed lead bullet over the same charge of the same powder. At the very low end, there is slightly more chance of sticking a sub 650-fps plated bullet in the bore than a bare lead one if you get a too-light powder charge.

Basically, if you are shooting "middle of the road" loads in service-calibers (9, 38, 40, 45), you are unlikely to have to do much differently loading plated. They're pretty vanilla unless you are trying to push them really hard or really soft.

 

[kmw1954]

I shoot exclusively plated bullets in my autoloaders, 380, 9mm, 45acp. All use a tapper crimp and over-all length can very greatly from gun to gun. I haven't tried shooting cast lead yet in my reloads partly because of the difficulties many have with cast lead in the 9mm because of barrel size tolerances. I have just recently started with the 45acp and after I have some loads worked out I will most likely then try some cast lead in the 45 and maybe the 380..

As suggested, look into Western Powders and you will find many listed loads for plated bullets.