You can also go coated with lead bullets too, such as the Hi-tek coated bullets Missouri Bullet Co. sells for loading the S&W 500. The bullet is completely coated with the Hi-tek polymer with no exposed lead. And my experience with the Hi-tek coating is that it holds up well at higher velocities than plated bullets. I don't own any .500 caliber weapon, but I have shot the MBC .357 140 Zinger bullets at over 1900 ft/sec out of my Rossi carbine without any failure of the coating or leading in the barrel. That stuff is tough. And there are also folks that use powder coating on hard cast bullets that give excellent results too but I've never personally tried any PC bullets.