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08-17-2014, 06:50 PM
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First time experimenting with plated bullets
I bought a big box of Berry's 240 grain flat point bullets to try in my 4" 629. I've been debating loads, crimping, powders, etc and decided to just try it this weekend. I used some Starline cases I had, Fed Lg Pistol primers, the Berry's bullets, and HP-38 powder. For a load, I used Hodgdon's min start load of 8 grains, with an OCL of 1.612. For a crimp, I went extra light so it's a very mild taper crimp at best. The crimp could stand to be tighter because I brought calipers out and if I load 5 cases in the cylinder, shoot 4, and measure the 5th unfired case it's grown 5 thousandths. I may tighten the crimp, I may not. I got excellent accuracy on paper at 15 yards shooting while standing...and then had fun making steel targets ring and a can jump around my range. I only shot 25 rounds but wow, what a fun load to shoot...nice and mild..and quite accurate. The best part is...the cases extract easily and look clean as new after firing...and the gun cleaned up quicker than ever. Today was one of those fun and rewarding days at loading bench, and then the range. I'm going to have some fun with this load!
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08-17-2014, 08:25 PM
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The experiment....
The experiment was a success! I need to do the same as you did and try plated bullets. Now coatings have come on the scene so I'm not sure quite what I'll do yet. No worry, I haven't any money now anyway.
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08-17-2014, 09:00 PM
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I've been loading with plated bullets for over two years now and can tell you that you really need not be concerned about using too much crimp. Basically you can apply the same crimp as you would to a jacketed bullet without a cannelure and you will not damage the plating enough to cause leading or accuracy issues. The only reason that I see for limiting how much crimp is used is that it does cause some work hardening of the case edge and if you try and crimp too hard with a revolver case you will buckle the case.
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08-17-2014, 10:30 PM
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I have shot the "Plated bullets" in a 9mm and found them very
accurate and "Easy" on the barrel. I did finally get one load up to 1200fps but they do very well and standard speed all the way down to 900 fps if you want a powder puff load.
You should be able to do the same in your weapon. A lot
depends on if you are using fast or slow powders in your loads.
Fast powders do much better at target speeds while the slower
powders are needed if you want maximum "Standard loads" or more.
You should have lots of fun with those bullets if you do not try to push them too fast.
Enjoy.
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08-18-2014, 10:57 AM
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I have been using that load with 240/250 gr bullets since the 70ties. Works great.
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08-18-2014, 11:49 AM
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i use plated all the time from Xtreme. I load, 40,45,9mm,44mag and 357. I have pushed some really hot loads and have never had an issue with those. I use FMJ load data.
As for those new coated bullets. From what i have seen you can get plated for almost the same price. Never used them though
Last edited by jwalts27; 08-18-2014 at 11:53 AM.
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08-18-2014, 12:24 PM
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Coated is pretty impressive.
in time they will win the price war.
Poly is cheap, copper isn't, coated wins at the commodity level.
PC or Hi Tek both lend themselves to the DIY type far better than plated.
I cant say to much bad about plated, It works.
though the bets are off if you crimp hard enough to cut the plate.
Coatings seem to resist it.
There's still a lot of playing to do in the poly segment.
at least its enjoyable.
In either case of coated or plated, most all the issues of lead fit and lube are mitigated. Even problem child designs seem to straighten up.
I have come to feel bad for those that still jump through hoops to get a bullet to achieve a reasonable objective, only to hear "size and lube correctly" as a response, when it cannot always solve a specific problem.
Coating and plating both eliminate so much of this lead bullet voodoo, it simply cannot be ignored, though many of the size and lube camp sure would like to.
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it just needs more voltage
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08-18-2014, 03:11 PM
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"I have come to feel bad for those that still jump through hoops to get a bullet to achieve a reasonable objective, only to hear "size and lube correctly" as a response, when it cannot always solve a specific problem.
"
+1 on that.
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08-19-2014, 12:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by venomballistics
In either case of coated or plated, most all the issues of lead fit and lube are mitigated. Even problem child designs seem to straighten up.
I have come to feel bad for those that still jump through hoops to get a bullet to achieve a reasonable objective, only to hear "size and lube correctly" as a response, when it cannot always solve a specific problem.
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Ditto the +1. I've been fiddling with a .40 S&W load for cast 180 FP for a month and can't seem to knock off that last bit of leading. Tedium... Excellent accuracy and functions well just insists on a bit of leading. Same load with plated FP bumped up .2 gr is perfect. I'd give up but I have about 500 cast left haha. I'm about ready to just start throwing them at the squirrels in my yard:P.
Nice group OP! I love it when a plan comes together.
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08-20-2014, 10:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ageingstudent
Ditto the +1. I've been fiddling with a .40 S&W load for cast 180 FP for a month and can't seem to knock off that last bit of leading. Tedium... Excellent accuracy and functions well just insists on a bit of leading. Same load with plated FP bumped up .2 gr is perfect. I'd give up but I have about 500 cast left haha. I'm about ready to just start throwing them at the squirrels in my yard:P.
Nice group OP! I love it when a plan comes together.
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could be worse.
I have a 215 grain 44 mold that I even tried to sell once.
in my gun, this thing leaded so badly, it was extruding a lead flash hider from the grooves after about 50 rounds.
I had high hopes for it, but it was a poor design.
I shook the rust out of it on a whim after I got with the powder coating thing. it can finally live up to expectations.
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08-20-2014, 07:47 PM
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My main desire for trying these plated bullets was, I was tired of lead and the cleaning chores. With this load, I get gentle recoil and the revolver is clean in 15 mins. Love it. Accuracy was great and even the cases came out clean afterwards...wont take much to tumble them like new again. The plated bullets are pretty cheap too. Glad I gave em a whirl!
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08-26-2014, 04:59 PM
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I shoot almost 100% lead from missouri bullet, and recently picked up a box of Berry's 158 grain round nose in .357. These bullets dont shoot for ****. I gave some to my uncle who is also a very proficient loader, and he reported the same. Shot these out of several different .357's, although most of em went through my 6" Model 28. Unsure why these are so popular, but I'll say with confidence that I'll NEVER buy another box. Glad to hear they work for someone, however......
Last edited by 68lemans462; 08-26-2014 at 05:01 PM.
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08-26-2014, 07:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 68lemans462
I shoot almost 100% lead from missouri bullet, and recently picked up a box of Berry's 158 grain round nose in .357. These bullets dont shoot for ****. I gave some to my uncle who is also a very proficient loader, and he reported the same. Shot these out of several different .357's, although most of em went through my 6" Model 28. Unsure why these are so popular, but I'll say with confidence that I'll NEVER buy another box. Glad to hear they work for someone, however......
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It's relative to skill.
From what I have seen, most people can't really shoot.
Some of the bullets I rejected would still shoot better than most of the people who shoot them.
I've loaded plenty of plated. Easy to work with, and gave me something reasonably priced to help keep my friends USP fed.
polygonal barrels don't take straight lead.
Today, however, I can break out my favorite molds. Powder coat, and treat it like a full plastic jacket.
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08-26-2014, 07:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by venomballistics
It's relative to skill.
From what I have seen, most people can't really shoot.
Some of the bullets I rejected would still shoot better than most of the people who shoot them.
I've loaded plenty of plated. Easy to work with, and gave me something reasonably priced to help keep my friends USP fed.
polygonal barrels don't take straight lead.
Today, however, I can break out my favorite molds. Powder coat, and treat it like a full plastic jacket.
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LOL
Can you give me a shooting lesson sometime oh great one??
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08-26-2014, 11:36 PM
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Well I had decent results with these 165 and 180 gr .40 S&W during my workup. Definitely had to hunt for the sweet spot .1 gr at a time. This is with N320 in my p226 and this is fired at 20 yds from a saxaphone stand that I converted to a pistol rest:P. Wish I could do that offhand ha ha. I like to test from a rest because it takes my twitchy nature out of the mix. I like to know the pistol and ammo are generally hitting the same spot before I start messing with hold, stance etc. I still have slightly tighter groups with the lead 180's, but the leading still mocks me. These are berry's.
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08-27-2014, 08:51 AM
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Nice groups! Looks like Berry's are working for you too. Cheap price, small groups, and quick cleanup...whats not to love?!
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08-27-2014, 09:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 68lemans462
I shoot almost 100% lead from missouri bullet, and recently picked up a box of Berry's 158 grain round nose in .357. These bullets dont shoot for ****. I gave some to my uncle who is also a very proficient loader, and he reported the same. Shot these out of several different .357's, although most of em went through my 6" Model 28. Unsure why these are so popular, but I'll say with confidence that I'll NEVER buy another box. Glad to hear they work for someone, however......
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I have shot plenty of plated bullets including Berry's before I started casting my own. I have to say that in all of mine and all I've seen shot your story makes you a bit of the odd man out. Either you did something wrong like crimped them to the point you broke through the plating or loaded them beyond the plating's pressure threshold. I would go as far as to say it's a toss up between Berry's and X-Treme as to which offer the best plated bullets I've personally used. Rainier were ugly but functional but also seemed to have the thinnest plating requiring lower velocity.
Having moved to coated bullets I have not found a load yet to defeat the coating. The worst I can say about them is that some loads do require more effort to find the accuracy window. With effort though you will find it and it will be worth that effort. Your barrel will never have lead smears ever again, the bore will come clean like shooting jacketed, and they seal to the bore better than anything else.
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08-27-2014, 11:56 AM
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I shoot ~1000 Xtreme plated bullets a week. No accuracy problems that I've observed. If there was I'd have no problem switching to something that was acceptable.
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Last edited by Bkreutz; 08-27-2014 at 11:57 AM.
Reason: added picture
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08-27-2014, 12:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 68lemans462
LOL
Can you give me a shooting lesson sometime oh great one??
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What warrants the condescending tude here?
At any range, we will all see the vast majority happy to print a 5 gallon bucket group at 7 yards.
Seriously, they wouldn't know a perfect bullet from something whittled with a dull jack knife.
If you don't see this, you owe it to everyone, to include yourself, to pay more attention.
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Last edited by venomballistics; 08-27-2014 at 12:31 PM.
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08-27-2014, 09:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bkreutz
I shoot ~1000 Xtreme plated bullets a week. No accuracy problems that I've observed. If there was I'd have no problem switching to something that was acceptable.
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I gotta ask...what's up with the twinkies?
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08-27-2014, 10:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Collo Rosso
I gotta ask...what's up with the twinkies?
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Don't know, some kind of stage prop. we were all asking ourselves the same question. Maybe it was intended to distract the shooter (Didn't work on most of us).
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08-29-2014, 01:05 AM
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Perhaps they were hoping to ruin your scores by making you all twitchy on sugar haha. The competition was looking for an edge?
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08-29-2014, 01:11 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by venomballistics
What warrants the condescending tude here?
At any range, we will all see the vast majority happy to print a 5 gallon bucket group at 7 yards.
Seriously, they wouldn't know a perfect bullet from something whittled with a dull jack knife.
If you don't see this, you owe it to everyone, to include yourself, to pay more attention.
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You arrogant #%^!!! I have figured this from you for quite a while; you finally showed your true colors...
Consider yourself ignored when it comes to me reading the posts in threads on this site.
"Those who are all wrapped up in themselves make awfully small packages."
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08-29-2014, 02:34 AM
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Whoa!!! Calm down fellers!
Back to the OP...I reload almost exclusively plated bullets (prefer Berrys but have no problem with Ranier) in 357, 38, 10mm, 9mm, 45acp, 40S&W, 38 super, 44 mag and special, and 45 Colt. Obviously I've been happy with them, and find them more accurate than my skills!
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08-29-2014, 08:17 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MJFlores
My main desire for trying these plated bullets was, I was tired of lead and the cleaning chores. With this load, I get gentle recoil and the revolver is clean in 15 mins. Love it. Accuracy was great and even the cases came out clean afterwards...wont take much to tumble them like new again. The plated bullets are pretty cheap too. Glad I gave em a whirl!
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I have used Berry's for years. Rocky Mountain Reloading runs good deals on seconds plated bullets. Work great with no problems. Bob
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08-29-2014, 10:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bkreutz
Don't know, some kind of stage prop. we were all asking ourselves the same question. Maybe it was intended to distract the shooter (Didn't work on most of us).
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Definitely would have worked on my teenage son!
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