Set me straight - please...

[renaissance]

I need a refresher course in terminology.

I had been given to understand that:

1) "Copper Plated", meant hard cast lead that had been electroplated with copper.

2) Full metal jacketed (FMJ) meant a hollow copper shell that had been "stuffed with swagged (= softer) lead - The lead was exposed at the base



Now:
I see TNT reloading advertises "copper coated" and in the same line calls it "FMJ" -
Whats the story here -
I have e-mailed them (twice) and not recieved an answer!

3) Is there such a thing as a "fully enclosed" bullet which is NOT plated (I'm having trouble imagining how such a thing could be manufactured, but) I seem to recall reading about such a thing.

While we are on the subject:
What resuslts have any of you out there had with using
"Copper Plated" soft swagged lead in GLOCK ?

 

[Jeeper]

There are fully copper bullets that arent plated. Some manufacterers do a normal FMJ and then shove a disc of copper over where was normally lead on the bottom. It is evident that they did this when you look at them. Copper coated seems to imply plated to me. Smoe people like the plated bullets but I dont. I never had my luck with accuracy out of them.

 

[larryw]

I love plated bullets; prefer West Coast (harder core, thicker plating). I shoot them out of my USP 45, which has the same polygonal bore as your Glock. No leading, no mess, no smoke, no problems.

If you drive some plated bullets too hard, you'll get accuacy problems (using fast powders to achieve high speeds will deform the heel). Try a lighter load or slower powder. 4.3gr of WST behind a 200gr SWC gives me one hole 5-shot groups at 25 yards (from a rest).

 

[Mal H]

renaissance - As far as the terminology goes, I think you've got it straight. I'd bet dollars to doughnuts (although doughnuts cost about a dollar these days), that the bullets on the T&T site are plated and not FMJ in the usual sense of the term.

 

[Poodleshooter]

TNT sells both plated and real FMJ bullets for most handgun calibers. You really need to see a picture to be able to tell the difference. Real FMJ's are smoother and generally "hold a polish" better, whereas most run of the mill plated bullets tend to a duller, rougher finish.