Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-10-2010, 12:17 AM
bobbyd bobbyd is offline
SWCA Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The mountains of Colorado
Posts: 213
Likes: 534
Liked 161 Times in 77 Posts
Default Plated Bullets loading advice

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.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-10-2010, 12:28 AM
minconrevo minconrevo is offline
Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 746
Likes: 154
Liked 567 Times in 289 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-10-2010, 01:01 AM
AzShooter's Avatar
AzShooter AzShooter is offline
Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Surprise, Az. USA
Posts: 1,724
Likes: 3,204
Liked 2,530 Times in 795 Posts
Default

Try the Sierra manual, also Lyman Pistol and Revolver manual has lots of data for jacketed as well as lead.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-10-2010, 02:15 AM
TAROMAN's Avatar
TAROMAN TAROMAN is offline
US Veteran
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: The wet side of Oregon
Posts: 6,290
Likes: 8,789
Liked 7,778 Times in 2,375 Posts
Default

Use lead or low jacketed data. Works for me. I shoot 1000s of Berry's.
__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-10-2010, 10:24 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
Banned
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
Default

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
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-10-2010, 11:29 AM
WR Moore WR Moore is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,580
Likes: 1,787
Liked 5,342 Times in 2,685 Posts
Default

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.

Last edited by WR Moore; 07-10-2010 at 11:35 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-10-2010, 03:23 PM
photoman's Avatar
photoman photoman is offline
Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Great State of Texas
Posts: 5,056
Likes: 522
Liked 1,907 Times in 787 Posts
Default

I've always used lead bullet loading data with plated bullets and have been satisfied with the results.
__________________
Centennial Every Day
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-10-2010, 05:22 PM
Kevin G Kevin G is offline
Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 846
Likes: 291
Liked 1,671 Times in 279 Posts
Default

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
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-10-2010, 06:29 PM
handgunner356 handgunner356 is offline
Member
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SE Iowa on the Mississipp
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 1
Liked 352 Times in 230 Posts
Default

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.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-10-2010, 06:42 PM
mkk41 mkk41 is offline
Banned
Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice Plated Bullets loading advice  
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: South East , PA . USA
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 485
Liked 1,610 Times in 884 Posts
Cool

Quote:
Originally Posted by smith crazy View Post
Berry plating is a little thicker though

FWIW
Who says? Have you actually measured the thickness? How thick is it?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
45acp, crimp, universal

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Loading Data for 32 Plated Bullets Green Frog Reloading 6 08-31-2015 08:11 AM
Loading data for copper plated bullets skrazo Reloading 27 02-07-2014 01:14 AM
Rainier .40 135gr plated loading data jim02ss Reloading 5 05-02-2013 04:03 PM
Loading plated double end wad cutters riverrat38 Reloading 10 02-15-2012 02:48 AM
Plated Bullets Bullseye Smith Reloading 9 01-14-2011 11:19 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:46 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)