Rainier Bullets, et al.

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coloradokevin

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Okay, so I've never actually used plated bullets before, and have always shot jacketed bullets through my Glocks.

Does anyone have experience with Rainier bullets (or other plated designs) in Glock pistols? Should I stick with the jacketed bullets in these guns due to the well-known stock-Glock lead aversion, or are plated bullets safe to use in my factory barrels? (For what its worth, I'm loading for .45ACP, .45GAP, and .40 S&W... I'm just tired of paying a fortune for bullets)

While I've got you here, do any of you know who has a good deal going on bulk .451 caliber bullets these days (185-230 grain range)?


THANKS!
 
I know this isn't the answer to your question, but you could get a rifled aftermarket barrel. It would soon pay for itself.

Excellent hard cast 147 gn 9mm bullets from Missouri Bullet (for example) are $28.00 per 500; their 170 gn SWC in .40 is $32.00 per 500.
 
Rainier recommends that you load the plated ammo like it is lead. i have reloaded and shot alot of rainier bullets, in alot of different guns including glocks, 1911's, xd's and many more. i have had no issues.
 
You'll be just fine using plated bullets in your Glock barrel. I've gone through thousands in 9MM, .40 and .45. I use Rainier but Berrys or Frontier will be fine as well. Just avoid top-end data for jacketed bullets...lead data or mid-range jacketed data is just fine. A rule of thumb is to keep them under 1200 FPS.

One issue to avoid is over-crimping them. Plated bullets are "softer" than true jacketed bullets since the plating is thinner. Use a gentle taper crimp that is sufficient to remove the bell on the case mouth...NOT enough to crimp deeply into the bullet which can ruin accuracy. When first setting up your crimp die, pull a couple of seated bullets...a slightly visible crimp ring is OK but if it cuts deeply and can be easily felt with the finger, back off the crimp die.
 
They caused higher pressures in my H & K P7M8. They did fine in guns with rifled barrels.
 
Do a search on the BrianEnos forum. A lot of folks there reloading and shooting tons of bullets. What I found over there is there are lots of folks shooting plated bullets through glock barrels. For peace of mind do your own research though.
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/
 
Considerations

Well, a couple thoughts here.

I'm one of those unwashed heathens that shoots lead in his Glocks :neener: anyway.

I like Raniers, but they have priced themselves into stupidity:uhoh: as far as I'm concerned.

Why pay 90% or more the price of jacketed bullets :scrutiny: for plated ones? A couple years ago there was a real price difference between Ranier and bulk Rem or Winchester, et al, but not anymore.:banghead: I can still find Berry's at lower prices.

I don't buy Ranier anymore. I buy cheap cast like missouribullets.com for the 'high volume, low end price' ammo and buy name brand bulk packs of jacketed for loads where it makes a difference.
 
I like Raniers, but they have priced themselves into stupidity as far as I'm concerned.

Why pay 90% or more the price of jacketed bullets for plated ones? A couple years ago there was a real price difference between Ranier and bulk Rem or Winchester, et al, but not anymore. I can still find Berry's at lower prices.
I agree. Just a couple years ago Rainiers made sense. Now they're ridiculously priced, at least where I used to get them (Cabelas and Midway). Of course the prices were changing all the time when lead was going up but now that it's crashed the prices have been very stable at the old levels. :banghead:
 
every once in a while there is a deal to be had at midway usa, if they have them in stock. ie 3000rds of 155gr for $288 shipped.
 
So, in reading these responses, I guess I do still see some debate over whether or not these are safe to use in Glock factory style barrels (with their unconventional rifling technique)...

schmecky may be on to something with the recommendation of getting an aftermarket barrel. I've been avoiding this for a while, as I like to shoot my gun as it is. But, lead is much cheaper than jacketed, and I'm trying to shoot cheaper so I can shoot more!
 
Does anyone have experience with Rainier bullets (or other plated designs) in Glock pistols

I've shot thousands though my G23 without a problem. As our club buys Berry's in bulk for members, many who have Glocks I'd say they were fine. I've shot lead through mine without a problem although no more than 50 or so mind rounds.
 
Plated bullets are fine in stock Glock barrels.

Ranier says to load them "like" lead bullets.
Not that they will possibly cause leading like lead bullets.

Berry says to load theirs with mid-range jacketed bullet data.

From a Glock barrel standpoint, they are copper jacketed (encapsulated) bullets.

From a reloaders standpoint, you use lead bullet load data because they are softer then cup & core jacketed bullets and will not stand as high a velocity.

With that said, at last count, I can buy bulk Remington or Winchester 9mm jacketed bullets cheaper then I can buy Rainer or Berry plated bullets.
SO, why buy them then?

rcmodel
 
So, in reading these responses, I guess I do still see some debate over whether or not these are safe to use in Glock factory style barrels (with their unconventional rifling technique)...

schmecky may be on to something with the recommendation of getting an aftermarket barrel. I've been avoiding this for a while, as I like to shoot my gun as it is. But, lead is much cheaper than jacketed, and I'm trying to shoot cheaper so I can shoot more!

There is nothing...absolutely nothing, wrong with using plated bullets in a Glock OEM barrel. From BERRYS website:

*Can I shoot your plated bullets in my Glock?


Yes. We have a large contingent of loyal Glock shooters using our bullets. The plating is thick enough that you will not get lead fouling in your bore, which is the nemesis of polygonal barrels.

Countless millions of these bullets are used without issue by competitive shooters using every barrel type and manufacturer imaginable. As stated by others, the only significant downside to their use is the price gap between jacketed and plated has narrowed significantly in recent months. I still shoot a lot of Rainier in my Glocks but now use Zero JHP's about half the time for that very reason.
 
Thanks for the additional responses everyone! Those last few posts clarified this issue for me.

The real question now simply concerns who has the cheapest bullets these day! As Rcmodel pointed out, I'm not planning to pay more for plated bullets than I would for jacketed... I just haven't found any screaming deals anywhere as of late!
 
But, lead is much cheaper than jacketed, and I'm trying to shoot cheaper so I can shoot more!

You've got it. This is my situation, cheaper = more shooting. If you shoot enough, cast bullets will actually pay for an aftermarket barrel.

Plated/jacted bullets typically run about $130.00 per 1,000; hard cast are $68.00 per 1,000, a difference of $62.00.

How much is an aftermarket barrel?
 
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