rainier/berry's plated bullets advantage?

[slick001]

hello,
I am fairly new to reloading , finally got my progressive press set up and about to start cranking out some pistol bullets, slow and safely of course!

I have stocked up on cast lead bullets in 9mm, but about to stock up on .45s. I have a 1K rounds of Rainier plated laying around that i thought i would start with first.

I am concerned with the lead hazards and will take the precautions loading and will only be shooting these outdoors, so not really to concerned with much lead exposure.

however, looking at the Rainier website, where they are trying to sell you on Lead Safe bullets, they say that even most FMJ bullets still give you much exposure to lead while shooting becuase even a FMJ isn't fully covered on bottom of bullet.

so if this is the case, what advantage is a thin plated bullet at all? it might not lead up the barell and gun quite as bad, but other than that why would i pay more for plated bullets rather than just go with lead? maybe you dont get the exposure on your thumb while loading magazines?

Maybe I am missing something else???

 

[FullEffect1911]

From what I've heard some indoor ranges require a fully encapsulated bullet. This can be done with normal jacketed bullets, but is easier to accomplish with plating.

As long as you wash your hands well after handling lead you should be just fine. Also keep in mind that there is lead vapor from ignited primers that shouldn't be inhaled if it can be avoided.

Other issues may be bores with polygonal rifling which warn against shooting lead bullets. As the build up supposedly has no place to really go when compared to conventional rifling. So pressures may build up as they get shot. I've read about people ignoring this warning but it's probably best to just heed the manufacturer.

Lastly if you are opposed to have a "cloud" of burning lubricant after you fire then plated it a good alternative to lead.

I personally like how they load when compared to lead, though I use both.

Oh and PS: Welcome to THR!

 

[k4swb]

Some jacketed bullets have an exposed lead base. Plated bullets usually do not.
Shoot whichever your gun likes and keep your hands and other parts washed.

I've shot lead for years and it's never affected me....affected me........affected me.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Lastly if you are opposed to have a "cloud" of burning lubricant after you fire then plated it a good alternative to lead.

This is the main reason I load plated.

Also, it appeases the wife when she sees nice shiny "safe" copper plated bullets versus having to listen to her......ummm.....concerns.....about lead exposure.

 

[Walkalong]

You can't hurt those 9MM Raniers with any sane 9MM load.

The advantage of them was back in the day when they were priced a little more than lead and way less than jacketed. If you are willing to buy 2K to 3K at a time you can buy jacketed for the same price these days. Ranier priced themselves out of the market for me some years ago. I discovered Berrys then and switched to them, but in the last year or so they are not such a great deal anymore compared to jacketed. I have gone to shooting the Precision 200 Gr SWC in .45. They shoot great, make no smoke to speak of, and are a cheaper alternative to jacketed or plated.

These days with some indoor ranges requiring totally enclosed bullets, plated are on option, but jacketed HP's and SP's with the base covered do the same thing. It isn't about you thumb touching the lead while loading the mag, it is about the powder burning the lead base and putting lead in the air.

Welcome to THR

 

[BullfrogKen]

They used to be a lot cheaper than jacketed. I still use plated bullets often. Plated bullets are popular at some ranges that mandate fully enclosed/ no exposed lead bullets.

 

[rfwobbly]

Slick -
Welcome to THR and Reloading !

Between 45ACP and 9x19, I'd advise you to start with the 45. It's a lower pressure round and is much more forgiving. While lead is less expensive, it isn't always easy or straightforward to reload. I'd highly suggest as a newbie to start with plated or jacketed and move up to lead once you have your process nailed down.

Any time you start a new (to you) bullet, you want to make a test cartridge that just has the bullet and case (no powder; no primer). You can play with that safely and work out the kinks before you end up having to un-load a hundred rounds.

Just go slow and keep lots of notes on each bullet. By the end of the year you will have reloaded 20-30 different bullets and there's no way to remember all that.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Welcome to The High Road.
Some of the lead exposure comes from the base of the bullet being heated during firing, some from the lead in the primer, so a plated bullet eliminates the lead bullet base from melting/vaporizing like it does with a FMJ or lead bullet.
It also reduces the lead you have to clean out of the barrel.
In every .45 auto I've owned I got leading to some degree. What bothered me was using a brush with solvent and seeing that spray in the air each time the brush cleared the muzzle atomizing the lead/solvent mixture.
With plated bullets I can clean my bores with just patches wetted with FP-10. No spray.

I really like Rainier and Berry's bullets in .45acp and 9mm. I use the plated 200 grain SWC's almost exclusively in my Sig P220 and get great 25 yard accuracy and a clean gun. I get better accuracy with the plated SWC's than I do with FMJ's.

In 9mm and .38 Super I've driven Rainiers over 1,150 and 1,250 respectively with no issues.

 

[ChuckB]

I shot lead in indoor competition for a while. I soon realized that after about three shots in succession, I couldn't make out the target clearly- too much smoke from the lube. Outdoors- not a big deal. But I won't shoot lead inside now. I use Berry's for two reasons. First, they work just fine in my handguns. Second, with the covered bullet base (as previously noted), there is no lead at all from the bullet itself.

Chuck

 

[sniper5]

I just like em because their cleaner to work with and cost less than jacketed. Not interested in getting into molding.

 

[rangerphil]

FWIW, I find that I can buy jacketed bullets from Precision Delta for less than virtually all the plated bullets I have seen. Delta's FMJ bullets are totally encapsulated.

 

[Berry's MFG]

Any jacketed bullet has to have the lead swaged into the jacket from either the nose (HP) or the base, a jacketed bullet can't be totally encased.

 

[slick001]

Thanks for all the replies and the welcome to the forum and reloading.

I'm starting with the 45s and plated, and definately will keep good notes. We don't have an indoor range close, so have stockpiled led bullets, but will probably switch over to plated over time.

I did purchase Lone Wolf barrels for 2 of my glocks years ago, better safe than sorry with the Kaboom rumors!

I will definately look at going with the plated next time around , especially to practice with my carry gun, as to keep the lower half of my 1911 from leading up so bad and needing thorough cleaning after each shooting.

not so sure i would ever want to get into molding either, seems like a real pain to get into, especially to crank out any kind of volume of bullets, but if the cost saving are really there, maybe worth looking into one day!

I can't believe how much reloading equipment and components have gone up in the last 10 years, I got most of my reloading stuff 10yrs ago, components 5yrs ago, and between moving twice, kids, and other stuff, just never got it all set up and going. If I hadn't had it all, it would be tough to go out and buy at todays prices. I'm stocking up 15k more of .45s and then should hopefully have all the components to last for a few years!

Also, good to see a Berry's mfg rep on here, I am sure that he is helpful to answer many questions, certainly will be looking at them for next order.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[GLOOB]

You could lick your cast bullets and get less exposure then what you get from breathing the fumes from shooting in a poorly ventilated indoor range. There's lead in most primers, plus what vaporizes at the base of an exposed bullet.

Some FMJ bullets have a "gas check." This means they have a circular bit of jacket added to cover the exposed base.