Just wondering what type of ammo you'd prefer, if given a choice.

Lead in revolvers. Plated in auto pistols.

Depends on the intended use. I prefer plated for rapid fire competition so I don't have a cloud of lube smoke in front of me, obscuring the target. For a full powder .357 semi wadcutter, I prefer hard cast lead, because plated aren't designed for magnum loads.

__________________
Science plus Art

Whichever is cheaper

When I am looking for cheap shooting, I buy lead. When I am reloading and want to perhaps have a little easier time cleaning... plated. The plated allows me to shoot with a bit more velocity that perhaps I'd be able to do using cast lead... without leading. Sincerely. brucev.

__________________
<><

My only experience with plated are Rainier brand. The accuracy was very disappointing. OTOH, I've had very good luck with the accuracy of lead bullets, both swaged and cast. My testing was at 50 yards.

xtreme plated in revolvers and autos

I only have .38 Special revolvers now. I prefer 158gr. LSWCHP-GC, the standard pressure version from Buffalo Bore that is almost identical to the older Remington FBI load.

When I owned autoloaders I only used jacketed ammo--FMJ for practice, jacketed HP for carry.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

I use Georgia Arms 158 gr. plated LSWC for plinking with my 38, which cuts down on leading.

Have a mix of plated and lead. I am aware that lower velocity using soft lead works well. hope to cast bullets for an 1858 uberti and target loads in 40 and 45. i was cautioned by a reloader at a gunshow this weekend to only shoot unplated lead in a well ventilated area. he said it could affect vision if you inhale in a closed in area.

__________________
CA ban no sharp pencils ovr 3"

There is not one answer to your question and I ALWAYS have a choice when it comes to the ammunition I put in MY personal firearms

For bullseye shooting, soft swagged HBWCs

For hunting wild Hogs, hard cast wide flat nose lead

For defense, jacketed hollow points

For informal target shooting, powder coated lead or plated.

For long range target shooting, VLD jacketed boat tails

For shooting suppressed, jacketed or plated

Neither.

Molly coated, such as Bayou.

__________________
USPSA CRO
Patriot Guard rider

I am trying to remember the last time I used something other than a lead bullet in any of my firearms. Must have been the Remington 722 I got about 45 years ago, a 222 Magnum. Since then, everything in my personal firearms has been lead bullets cast with an appropriate alloy. Duty guns got shot with whatever the Department issued me, usually 125 grain Winchester JHPs. Cast lead can do it all for my needs.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

If I'm at the bullseye range, it's almost always lead through a revolver. I don't find plated to be as consistent IME but it does OK in pistol rounds and through my 1917 S&W.
I voted lead, since it's the majority for me.

I like shiny ammo and plated or jacketed bullets for reloading.

I've shot a lot of lead, but found that the plated bullets are much cleaner to reload and shoot.

I'm a cast bullet snob. I won't shoot anything else.

__________________
Adam
Disclaimer: type 07 FFL.

Lead, preferably swaged. Nothing else has been as accurate for me.

__________________
Common sense isn't so common.

My revolvers, lead; My semi-autos, lead or plated. I'm a slow reloader, single stage press, so I don't mind drop testing each of my semi-auto rounds. I rarely get a FTL, FTF, or FTE that way. I do keep some semi-jacketed hollow points in reserve, just in case.

I use lead in 38s,45 acp,45 colt and 44 mag up to 1000 fps.The rip snorting 44 mags get jacketed bullets.

Lead or jacketed, depending on what the load is for. I've never used plated; I don't know why it exists.

Plated bullets are reasonably accurate but never produce the accuracy of properly sized cast bullets. I've noticed this in the 9 mm Par, 44 Mag, and 45 ACP.