question about copper plated bullets please

[realmswalker]

I loaded up some rounds of 150 grain copper plated bullets at 49 grains of 4064 with imr 4064 for my m1 garand 30-06.

I just found out that copper plated bullets should not be loaded the same as FMJ bullets because of the thin jacket and should not be pushed to more than 1700 fps.

With this load i get around 2700 FPS. Should I pull all these bullets and not shoot them, or will it be ok?

 

[dmazur]

If the plating is thin, it might provide some protection against leading the barrel.

The cautionary note sounds right. If you have too much pressure behind it, it can cut through the plating and give the same results as a lead bullet.

Lead bullets can't be pushed with as hot a loads as jacketed bullets, if I understand the mechanics correctly, even with gas-checks.

And it sounds like the thin copper plated bullets may not provide the protection a gas-check provides...

I'd pull them and use jacketed bullets for the Garand. (It isn't a 1903A3 and it won't run right with greatly reduced "plinking" loads)

Another danger is that the plating/lead may wind up in the gas cylinder and create a real mess.

 

[Sunray]

Plated bullets are loaded with cast bullet data. Shooting 'em with jacketed data might cause the plating to come off.

 

[rcmodel]

150 grain copper plated bullets at 49 grains of 4064

Plated bulets also have a softer core then jacketed bullets, and will slug up at lower pressure.
That could raise pressure at already high pressure.

I wouldn't shoot those loads in a Garand if it was me.
Just not worth risking op rod damage.

rc

 

[jwr747]

as a friend of mine found out,hot rodding plated bullets WILL CAUSE LEADING.he said he thought he would never get that barrel clean. jwr