Plated Bullets loading advice

bobbyd · Jul 10, 2010

Shooting ranges that I have been frequenting lately prefer/require plated or jacketed bullets be used. I have acquired plated bullets for 158 gr .38 swc, 200 gr .45 ACP/AR and 240 gr HP 44 special but can locate no loading data. I have read that velocity should be kept under 1200 fps, that increasing the case belling and utilizing a taper crimp is helpful so as to not break through the plating to the underlying lead. I cannot, however, find any suggested loads using my traditional powder preferences of WW231/Unique/2400. Most often used calibers are .38/44, .357 Mag, .44 Special and .45ACP/AR. Does anyone have experience and/or a recommended data source for plated bullet reloading? Thank You.

minconrevo · Jul 10, 2010

A roll crimp will work with a plated bullet, however care must be taken to not over do it. Hot loads or loads with light bullets (per caliber) moving fast are not a good choice with plated bullets.

AzShooter · Jul 10, 2010

Try the Sierra manual, also Lyman Pistol and Revolver manual has lots of data for jacketed as well as lead.

TAROMAN · Jul 10, 2010

Use lead or low jacketed data. Works for me. I shoot 1000s of Berry's.

Skip Sackett · Jul 10, 2010

On the Ranier website it states to use lead data for all of their bullets.
Berry plating is a little thicker though and I have had no problem using jacketed data with them. I do stay below 1200fps with them, something I don't do with lead!

The new Lee manual has SOME plated specific data in it. Not sure if it is by bullet manufacturer or just "plated bullet data".

FWIW

WR Moore · Jul 10, 2010

The plated jacket is softer than a standard jacket and won't require as much powder to reach the velocity. Most plated bullet producers also admit that their larger diameter bullets (.44-.45) should be kept below 900-1000 fps.

How much less powder is going to be dependent upon bullet & powder in use. I can tell you that with 9mm 115 gr bullets and Unique, I can drop the charge 0.4gr and keep the same velocity going from a standard bullet to plated. [Keeping the same charge gets me an extra 100 fps and leading issues. Depending where you are in your load data, you may be able to just drop a plated bullet in without changing the powder charge.] That's probably a reasonable increment to try-so long as you don't go below established minimum charges as shown in loading manuals/powder manufacturers websites.

I didn't change any of my die adjustments and haven't had issues in a couple of thousand rounds.

photoman · Jul 10, 2010

I've always used lead bullet loading data with plated bullets and have been satisfied with the results.

Kevin G · Jul 10, 2010

For crimping, roll in particular, I seat/crimp a couple of bullets, diassemble w/inertia puller and examine the crimp. Adjust crimp as needed until I get the slightest hint of crimp on the pulled bullet plating.
Kevin

handgunner356 · Jul 10, 2010

I use Clays and Universal Clays for a lot of my plated loads. I find that bumping it up about .2gr over my lead loads always puts them around the same velocity as lead. If I can't find lead data then I go to the low end of the jacketed data.

mkk41 · Jul 10, 2010

smith crazy said:
Berry plating is a little thicker though

FWIW

Who says? Have you actually measured the thickness? How thick is it?

Plated Bullets loading advice

bobbyd

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minconrevo

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AzShooter

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TAROMAN

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Skip Sackett

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WR Moore

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photoman

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Kevin G

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handgunner356

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mkk41

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