Signs of core/jacket separation in plated bullets?

[mercervillerental]

I'm just about to start my first round of loading with plated bullets. What are the signs of core/jacket separation that I should be looking for if I'm just shooting paper? I do not chase velocity so I don't expect any problems but just curious what the signs of problems would be.

 

[Walkalong]

The "core" cannot separate from the "jacket" because there is no jacket. The copper is electroplated to the lead core. Unless you over crimp, or run them too fast, you should not have issues.

If you have issues with plating coming off etc it would show as little tiny holes on the target away from the bullet hole. I have never experienced it myself.

What caliber?

 

[Riomouse911]

Indeed, the copper plating doesn't hold together like a thick copper jacket so you won't see large holes in the paper or a whole jacket lodged inside game.

Fire plated bullets at lead bullet velocities and you will (almost) never have such an issue. (I have learned never say never!)

Some bullet makers state their plated bullets can run somewhat faster than regular lead bullet loads, so check the website if your supplier to see if this holds true for them.

I have just ordered some coated bullets from Eggleston munitions, I can't wait to see how these perform when compared to plated or lead bullets.

 

[Walkalong]

Fire plated bullets at lead bullet velocities and you will (almost) never have such an issue

They can take more than lead bullet data and not have issues. I have no idea why some people think plated bullets are so fragile. Most plated bullets are rated to 1200 FPS and others to 1500 FPS. The only issue I have ever had with a plated bullet was a revolver with rough throats that did not align well with the bore.

Average 1257 FPS from a revolver with no issues.

 

[mcb]

This is from several years ago. I was trying to work up a load for Berry's 180 RS 40 cal plated bullets for use in my XD-40. I was trying to get to USPSA Major power factor. With a 180gr bullet that is at least 917 fps. Just about the time I got them going fast enough for Major I started getting strange bullet holes in the targets. Come to figure out that strips of the plating was peeling off the sides of the bullets but still remaining attached at the base of the bullet. This gave the bullet holes fingers. Seems some barrels/riflings will do it to plated bullets and some do not. In my case I could never get the Berry's to not peel at Major velocities from my XD though I never had an issue when shooting the same bullets/loads in my S&W 610. I switched back to jacketed bullets for my XD.

 

[Walkalong]

That is kind of weird. One sharp land? It is what it is though, and something was happening. Maybe a bad batch? I had some X-Treme 200 gr .45 RN that would bunch up the plating when seating if I did not flare more than usual. I haven't had that issue with any other X-Tremes or other plated bullets, so I chalked it up to a bad batch. Rascals shot well though.

I have been loading the X-Treme 180 Gr HP in .40 for my kids with no issues and clean holes in paper.

 

[mcb]

That is kind of weird. One sharp land? It is what it is though, and something was happening. Maybe a bad batch? I had some X-Treme 200 gr .45 RN that would bunch up the plating when seating if I did not flare more than usual. I haven't had that issue with any other X-Tremes or other plated bullets, so I chalked it up to a bad batch. Rascals shot well though.

I have been loading the X-Treme 180 Gr HP in .40 for my kids with no issues and clean holes in paper.

I had some with two fingers and IIRC one bullet hole with three but the overwhelming number of them were as pictured above.

 

[Dudedog]

MCB, Interesting on the Berrys's in your XD but they were ok with the same load in your SW.

I normally load 9mm around 1030-1050 (125PF + a bit) but have shot RMR Hardcore plated at 1200 with no issues.

No issues with the Berrys (some), or Xtremes (couple 1000), or RMR (10000+) I have shot in 9mm at 1050ish.
No issues with RMR 100s or Xtreme 100s at 1300ish in 9mm. (couple 1000)
No issues with plated in my .45s.
RMRs I shot in .357 seemed fine at up to 1200 as well.

Plating can be damaged by over crimping, never had an issue with it myself and of course it's important to remember not all plated bullets are created equal.
BDS had a thread showing plating thickness for some samples and some have plating quite a bit thicker than others.

As noted above I would think any "funny" not "clean" bullets holes would indicate some type of issue.

Most likely you can load and shoot them and not have an issue, they are not super fragile or hard to load IMO.

 

[Riomouse911]

I've had plating scrape when it wasn't belled enough, but I figured that out after one or two cases caught the plating and scraped some of it off.

I run my lead and plated-lead loads at moderate to high-moderate velocities, I rarely push it with the majority of my loads. With good jacketed bullets I will load some to just under max in the rounds I could hunt with (44 mag, 41 mag, 454 Casull, etc.)