Plated vs. Jacketed Question

[technetium99m]

Hello all! I shoot IPSC regularly (single stack 45 ACP). My chosen load is a 200 grain JHP at around 875 - 900 fps (I know, way over power factor). I am trying to find a cheaper alternative for regular practice at an indoor range. I have found the 200 grain plated bullets (Rainiers mainly) to be far cheaper. My question pertains to reloading them. I use 6.4 grains of Unique to reliably hit 875 - 900 with 200 grain JHP's. Looking at Rainiers website, they reccomend using cast lead reloading data for the plated bullets, or to decrease powder charge by 10% from the jacketed bullet data. According to Alliant, max load for a 200 grain JHP is 7.1 grains, but the max load for a 200 grain LSW is 5.1. What is a guy to do? Well, a local friend tells me that his load for the 200 grain Rainiers is 6 grains. Is this reasonable? What say you all? Any recommended starting loads for Unique and the 200 grain Rainiers?

 

[71Commander]

200gr SWC

Alliant Blue Dot 8.3 662 11,400 Alliant Blue Dot 11.5 1014 20,700 1.275"
Alliant Bullseye 4.0 649 11,600 Alliant Bullseye 6.0 969 20,100
Alliant Unique 4.9 606 8,500 Alliant Unique 7.5 980 20,100
Hodgdon HP-38 4.4 640 8,800 Hodgdon HP-38 6.6 940 20,400
Hodgdon HS-6 7.3 660 10,800 Hodgdon HS-6 10.3 1000 20,600
Hodgdon Clays 3.9 692 12,800 Hodgdon Clays 4.9 850 20,200
Winchester 231 4.6 647 10,100 Winchester 231 6.6 941 20,000

From Raniers data chart.

 

[DragonFire]

You might want to look at X-treme bullets. They are plated, but have a heavy enough plating so that you can (and they recommend that you use load data for jacketed bullets). It makes things a bit more straightforward.


I guess I don't understand your problem. Going by your numbers, the manual's load is 7.1, and taking Ranier's recommendation take off 10% and you get about 6.4. So you're friend's suggestion of 6 grains sounds reasonable. If you're worried about the max load for a lead round, I think you're mixing apples & oranges.

There are other considerations when using lead besides pressure, like leading your barrel at "higher" velocities, and BC of the bullet. But you aren't using lead bullets, you're using plated, so the loads for leads not really apply.

No matter what the manuals say, you have to use some caution and common sense. Using the manual at a starting point, it appears that you'd be under max with loads in the 6.0 to 6.4 range. Why not load a few (say 10) of various powder weights (I vary mine by .2 grains) and chrono them? See which ones give you the velocity and accuracy you want. You should also see any signs of too much pressure.

DISCLAIMER:I'm going by your numbes and didn't reference any load manuals. The common sense approach to reloading still applies (as it always should) but if the actual load numbers are in error, it's because your misstated them).

 

[evan price]

I use Rainier plated 230RN and found that as long as you use minimal crimp they perform well at FMJ levels. Too much crimp cuts the plating and it will strip off at higher velocities.

 

[Fourbits]

Thanks 71Commander. I'm looking at using HP38/W231 as my "universal" powder. I've been using Bullseye and Unique for years. Yor data set is just what I needed!!!

 

[technetium99m]

I loaded 10 of the 200 grain plated bullets with 6 grains of Unique and all went great, around 825 - 850 or so. Thanks for all the help guys!!

 

[LotI]

Most likely the load for the 200gr. lead bullet is for target velocity...usually in the 800 fps range for 45 Auto. It puts it in the accurate realm, not max pressure. Alliant does this on their website for 45 and 38Spl.

Some load books will specifically say this, others just think that you don't want to shoot lead any faster.