Plated -VS- FMJ bullets?

[Wildbillz]

Hi All
I was looking at bullets for 9mm reloads. Cost wise there is not a lot of differance in the FMJ bullets ($80. Per K http://www.goldenwestbrass.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=4 ) and the Plated ones ($80.88 Per K http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14474-c11-g8-b0-p0-9mm_115gr_RN_DS.aspx ) Is there any reason to choose the Plated over the FMJ? I would guess they use the same ammount of powder as the FMJ ones?

Thanks
WB

 

[Walkalong]

If they are the same price there is no reason to buy the plated bullet, unless it is a bullet you just happen to like and have loads worked up with.

Powder charges for plated are not exactly the same as for jacketed. Another reason to buy the FMJ at the same price is more load data.

OTOH, if you can save money, plated are just fine for general plinking.

 

[32dgrz]

I buy Precision Delta jacketed mostly.
When I do buy Berry's I get them from this source http://www.tjconevera.com/berrys-bullets.html

 

[tactikel]

My closest indoor range mandated no exposed lead bullets. Plated were the only option. Loading data for lead bullets is useful for plated bullets. If for plinking or target shooting they are fine. For any serious use jacketed (fmj or hollow points) are preferred.

 

[CZDave]

Precision Delta
http://www.precisiondelta.com

9mm Luger 115gr FMJ Bullets (Price Includes Shipping) $74.00 Per 1000

This looks like a good price.
Does anyone know of a better deal on FMJ bullets?

 

[PO2Hammer]

Good plated bullets will probably be more accurate than cheap jacketed ones, at least they are with .45acp target loads.
$80 for jacketed is a good sale price, does it include shipping costs like Berry's?

 

[MrOldLude]

Powder Valley sells Berry's 115gr plated RN bullets for $60.80 per 1000 +shipping.

 

[CZDave]

I checked out Powder Valley and found BERRYS 9MM (.356) 115 GR RN-DS (1000).
Isn't .356 the diameter of a lead bullet?

 

[LiveLife]

Isn't .356 the diameter of a lead bullet?

Most plated bullets like Berry's and PowerBond are sized between lead and jacketed bullets at .3555" but we effectively treat them as .356" and use lead load data (BTW, Rainier bullets are sized at .355"). Doing so will give you more safety margin with your reloads.

Good plated bullets will probably be more accurate than cheap jacketed ones, at least they are with .45acp target loads.

True. You know what? Good lead reloads will sometimes be more accurate than average/cheap jacketed bullets. My Missouri Bullets lead 45ACP target loads will outshoot most factory FMJ loads.

 

[Walkalong]

No piss poor jacket to affect the bullets flight.

Lead can be very very accurate.

Jacketed bullet manufacturers go through a lot of trouble to get/make the most concentric jackets they can to make their match bullets.

Where do the lessor quality jackets go?

 

[PO2Hammer]

I checked out Powder Valley and found BERRYS 9MM (.356) 115 GR RN-DS (1000).
Isn't .356 the diameter of a lead bullet?

.356" is what Berry's uses for 9mm, I also use Rainier .356" .38 Super bullets and .356" Hornady HAP bullets in 9mm.

 

[LiveLife]

Rainier Ballistics website shows .355" for 9mm and .356" for 38 Super.

 

[LiveLife]

And PowerBond's website is showing .3555" for their 9mm bullets.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I've never noticed any difference between .355" and .356" in HK, Sig, Glock, T/C single shot and Marlin carbines in 9mm.
BTW, the Hornady HAP bullets measure .3567" with my micrometer. No unusual pressure signs or changes in velocity when switching back and forth between diameters.
We would be lucky if our barrels were consistently held to +/- .001" tolerances.

 

[LiveLife]

As many have experienced, plating process has improved over the decades and now can withstand higher powder charges/velocities.

For reloading practices in general, with .3555" - .356" plated bullets, it is a good idea to use .356" lead load data due to tighter bullet-to-barrel fit they provide, which results in higher chamber pressures.

Most plated bullet manufacturers also recommend that we use the lower lead load data.

I think for many new reloaders starting out who lack the experience to load at the near max/max load data range, I think being on the safer side of load data is a good idea. IMHO

 

[PO2Hammer]

Lead can be very very accurate.

I've never tried lead in .45acp, I was looking at Magnus swaged .452 SWC's.
Have you tried any of those?
What's your preference in .452 SWC's?

 

[LiveLife]

My favorite target lead load now is Missouri Bullets 18 BHN 200 gr SWC with 5.0 gr of W231/HP38 loaded at 1.25"-1.265" OAL. It's been producing consistent sub 1" 5-shot groups at 7-10 yards.

My new favorite plinking lead load is same bullet with 4.0 gr of Promo/Red Dot. Below are sample shot groups shot at 10-15 yards.

 

[billybob44]

I checked out Powder Valley and found BERRYS 9MM (.356) 115 GR RN-DS (1000).
Isn't .356 the diameter of a lead bullet?

Yes it is. The plated bullets are usually the same diameter as cast. I get plated when I can buy them right. Otherwise I cast/shoot my wheel weight cast, and buy the jacketed for my better/warmer loads.

 

[918v]

9mm barrels vary in groove diameter by as much as .003". My Sig has a .357" groove diameter. My Berettas too. Only Colt, S&W and Ruger maintain the .355" dimension. This debate about .355" vs .356" is silly.

 

[buck460XVR]

Good plated bullets will probably be more accurate than cheap jacketed ones.

......and what works well for one guy/one gun don't necessarily work well for everyone/every gun. You won't know till you try. One reason I recommend buyin' bullets in small quantities or "sampler packs" till you find what works the best for you and your gun. Getting a thousand bullets for $5 cheaper than another brand/kind ain't much of a deal if they fly all over outta your gun with your loads. Sometimes accuracy/performance comes at a price, this is especially true with bullets. Everyone's expectations of accuracy/performance can be different also. So is intended use. One of my most accurate SD loads outta my Colt 5'' Government is with Berry's plated bullets. For hunting velocities outta my magnum revolvers, I don't even consider plated.

 

[Walkalong]

I've never tried lead in .45acp, I was looking at Magnus swaged .452 SWC's.
Have you tried any of those?

I usd to shoot Magnus bullets in 9MM, .44 Spl, .44 Mag, & .45 ACP. They make good bullets. They use standard molds used by many bullet makers.

These look familiar?

 

[PO2Hammer]

These look familiar?

Yup!
I also found these button nose 185's there.
With a BHN of 18, would you expect success (no leading, accuracy) at roughly 850 fps?
I'm using a plated 185 that looks suspiciously similar with your N310 recipe (thank you BTW).
My Sig P220 ST seems to be up to the task, and I'm hot on it's heels with my trigger pulling.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Walkalong]

Missouri Bullet Company has great feedback here. Give them a try.

 

[Hondo 60]

I'm with Walkalong. MBC has great products & even better service.

 

[Seedtick]

Originally Posted by buck460XVR
For hunting velocities outta my magnum revolvers, I don't even consider plated.

I've had really good luck with the PowerBonds I've been getting from Jacob at Rocky Mountain Reloading.

I'm using his plated 125 and 158 grainers in .357 Ruger Only loads and I load em up just like I do jacketed bullets. They are working great and even chrony a little bit faster than identical jacketed bullet loads.

Now I've not tried any other calibers yet but I wouldn't think there would be any problems. (well, with pistol calibers anyway) I don't know if they would work for a hunting bullet cause I've not tried to recover any, magnum loads, to see how they perform. We have caught some that were launched from a shorty 38 Special (LCR) and those almost look like you could load em and shoot em again. : /

Seedtick