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Old 02-22-2021, 02:07 PM
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Default 125gr Xtreme copper plated bullets

Help
Shooting a 19-5 and a 686
I just got 1500 125grain 38 Bullets from xtreme

After reading I’m a bit concerned about the issues of cracking

Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?

Need OAL and grains used.

Thanks in advance
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Old 02-22-2021, 02:17 PM
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The frame cracking on M19’s was associated with light weight 357 bullets driven at magnum velocities, eg. 1,400 FPS with 125 gr bullets.

Don’t hot rod your loads and you’ll be just fine.
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Old 02-22-2021, 02:17 PM
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Extreme has their own small manual and Lee has it all. Get a reloading manual and be safe!

Last edited by joeraf; 02-22-2021 at 02:26 PM.
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Old 02-22-2021, 02:35 PM
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Extreme has their own small manual and Lee has it all. Get a reloading manual and be safe!
I have looked at my books and nothing for 125grain copper plated
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Old 02-22-2021, 03:54 PM
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From a manual use 125 gr lead. Don't over crimp. Don't soup them up to much. Good luck.

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Old 02-22-2021, 04:02 PM
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The Lee 2nd edition has all the loads for copper plated bullets. Bullseye isn’t listed there for 125 gr. copper plated bullets.

Last edited by joeraf; 02-22-2021 at 04:13 PM.
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Old 02-22-2021, 04:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyheb View Post
Help
Shooting a 19-5 and a 686
I just got 1500 125grain 38 Bullets from xtreme

After reading I’m a bit concerned about the issues of cracking

Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?

Need OAL and grains used.

Thanks in advance
Are you getting good accuracy with this load?
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Old 02-22-2021, 04:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyheb View Post
...Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?
Small world.

Friend just received 500 of the same bullet from X-Treme and is going to sell me half.

I haven't reloaded .38 Special in centuries and have Bullseye and Unique but no data for lead or coated.
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Old 02-22-2021, 04:56 PM
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This comes from the HEART and backed with the experience of around 100,000 rounds loaded and fired with plated bullets made mostly by Xtreme and Berry’s, but half a dozen plated bullet makers.

It also goes somewhat AGAINST what the plated bullet makers sometimes say and have said in the past.

Here it is:

Do not treat these like LEAD BULLETS. Load them like JACKETED bullets but don’t load them like jacketed bullets in .327, .357, .41 and .44 Magnum.

-WHY-

Because these suckers give far more resistance in a barrel than any cast or swaged lead bullet. If you baby a plated bullet in a revolver, you may eventually stick one in your bore.

This happens specifically in revolvers because revolvers have a flash gap where precious, much needed pressure can bleed out at the wrong time.

If it is a pistol, the bore is sealed as long as the brass obturates, and the bullet is forced to escape with even a light load.

If you load plated overly light in a revolver you will end up sticking one and that is NOWHERE you want to be.

Again, this is experience. It is far better to read it than to have to pound one out. And it’s a helluva lot worse than pounding if you fire a second one behind a stuck one.
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Old 02-22-2021, 05:45 PM
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Alliant’s online published data is annoying and poorly arranged. Even still, the MAX load for a 125gr Gold Dot in .38 Spl is 4.5gr and for the same bullet in .38 Spl+P the MAX load is 4.8gr.

Proper technique is to reduce the MAX by 10% for a starting load.

The Gold Dot bullet itself is a plated bullet.

I load 125gr plated bullets at 4.4gr Bullseye in .38 Special all day long. Last week I loaded 500 rounds of plated 125’s with 4.4gr of Bullseye. I have a COAL also, but I don’t have that number handy. If your bullets have a cannelure, load to that cannelure and give them a medium roll crimp. I think you will be happy with them.
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Old 02-22-2021, 06:10 PM
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Is that why I see that the loads are larger for copper plated bullets in the manuals than ones for lead bullets? Thank you for the info.

Last edited by joeraf; 02-22-2021 at 06:37 PM.
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Old 02-22-2021, 06:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
This comes from the HEART and backed with the experience of around 100,000 rounds loaded and fired with plated bullets made mostly by Xtreme and Berry’s, but half a dozen plated bullet makers.

It also goes somewhat AGAINST what the plated bullet makers sometimes say and have said in the past.

Here it is:

Do not treat these like LEAD BULLETS. Load them like JACKETED bullets but don’t load them like jacketed bullets in .327, .357, .41 and .44 Magnum.

-WHY-

Because these suckers give far more resistance in a barrel than any cast or swaged lead bullet. If you baby a plated bullet in a revolver, you may eventually stick one in your bore.

This happens specifically in revolvers because revolvers have a flash gap where precious, much needed pressure can bleed out at the wrong time.

If it is a pistol, the bore is sealed as long as the brass obturates, and the bullet is forced to escape with even a light load.

If you load plated overly light in a revolver you will end up sticking one and that is NOWHERE you want to be.

Again, this is experience. It is far better to read it than to have to pound one out. And it’s a helluva lot worse than pounding if you fire a second one behind a stuck one.
Great information. Thank you
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Old 02-22-2021, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
Alliant’s online published data is annoying and poorly arranged. Even still, the MAX load for a 125gr Gold Dot in .38 Spl is 4.5gr and for the same bullet in .38 Spl+P the MAX load is 4.8gr.

Proper technique is to reduce the MAX by 10% for a starting load.

The Gold Dot bullet itself is a plated bullet.

I load 125gr plated bullets at 4.4gr Bullseye in .38 Special all day long. Last week I loaded 500 rounds of plated 125’s with 4.4gr of Bullseye. I have a COAL also, but I don’t have that number handy. If your bullets have a cannelure, load to that cannelure and give them a medium roll crimp. I think you will be happy with them.
Thanks seven. When you get a chance can you shoot me your oal?
I don’t believe they have a cannelure
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Old 02-22-2021, 08:15 PM
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I shoot the Xtreme 125 RNFP in matches every summer over 5.5 grains of Bullseye in .357 cases. Been doing this for 3 or 4 years and have had very good results. I don't know what the OAL is, I don't have any loaded right now. The bullets I buy have a cannelure and I lightly crimp to that.

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Old 02-22-2021, 09:38 PM
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I run full nutz 158 plated jobbers in my Coonan, and my 686 ND and my 686-6, and after retrieving some out of the berm and off steel the retain there jackets.... hope this helps... I've never had a Separation issue
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Old 02-23-2021, 12:54 AM
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Well, they do make the 125gr FP with & without a cannelure... This is where either of the LEE FCDs can come in handy. The O/P doesn't indicate whether these are being shot from 38 Special or 357 Mag brass, either...?

But, regarding 38 Special, the Hodgdons OAL for all 33 loads they list for 38 Special (and for 16 in +P, as well) using XTPs or a LRNFP is 1.455". ALLIANT says 1.44" for a 125gr Gold Dot with 4.5gr Bullseye in both as well. Nowhere near the advertised 1200 fps for these plated Xtremes.

These are 357 Magnum revolvers. Load 'em as longer as you please (within reason).

Cheers!
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Old 02-23-2021, 01:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rpg View Post
The frame cracking on M19’s was associated with light weight 357 bullets driven at magnum velocities, eg. 1,400 FPS with 125 gr bullets.

Don’t hot rod your loads and you’ll be just fine.
^^What he said^^

Xtreme recommends that their standard plated bullets be kept to velocities below 1200fps - which is the lower end of 357 magnum loads. As long as you follow that advice the ammo isn't going to be the "hot" light bullet loads that crack forcing cones.

That also means you aren't going to be using a hot magnum powder that will erode the forcing cone - another cause of cracking.

You will be just fine, though you may find the difference between your POA & POI will require adjusting the sights (or your sight picture). Mild loads with light bullets will likely shoot lower than full power magnums with heavier bullets (like 158gr).

Use jacketed bullet data, start with minimum charges, and work your way up. Probably won't want to go past the mid-point between min and max to keep the velocities down.
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Old 02-23-2021, 05:07 AM
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Quote:
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You will be just fine, though you may find the difference between your POA & POI will require adjusting the sights (or your sight picture). Mild loads with light bullets will likely shoot lower than full power magnums with heavier bullets (like 158gr).
I usually have to raise my rear sight's elevation up by (10) clicks, from my normal 158gr load's setting, for 125gr loads at 15yd target.

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Old 02-23-2021, 12:37 PM
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Well, they do make the 125gr FP with & without a cannelure... This is where either of the LEE FCDs can come in handy. The O/P doesn't indicate whether these are being shot from 38 Special or 357 Mag brass, either...?

But, regarding 38 Special, the Hodgdons OAL for all 33 loads they list for 38 Special (and for 16 in +P, as well) using XTPs or a LRNFP is 1.455". ALLIANT says 1.44" for a 125gr Gold Dot with 4.5gr Bullseye in both as well. Nowhere near the advertised 1200 fps for these plated Xtremes.

These are 357 Magnum revolvers. Load 'em as longer as you please (within reason).

Cheers!
38 special brass
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Old 02-23-2021, 12:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyheb View Post
Help
Shooting a 19-5 and a 686
I just got 1500 125grain 38 Bullets from xtreme

After reading I’m a bit concerned about the issues of cracking

Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?

Need OAL and grains used.

Thanks in advance
Plated bullets are softer than jacketed bullets. They do not behave like Jacketed bullets, but are still a bit harder than lead bullets.

Also, if you're just loading light 38 loads with Bullseye you won't have any issues.

The problems were coming from full house 125 gr JHPs loaded with magnum powder to top velocities.

Last edited by smithra_66; 02-23-2021 at 12:56 PM.
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Old 02-23-2021, 01:42 PM
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In my 686 6" revolver I have used Bullseye powderin a 38 special
loading from 896 fps to a full 980 fps.

Back then there was no problem getting primers and I did find that the Federal and CCI primers did give different fps and also accuracy from the same amout of powder.

If you have a chrony and slower powders, I would cut the top end off at around 1050 fps for your best accuracy.

A Hornady XTP can be pushed about 100 fps faster but it has a heavier copper jacket for higher speeds and hunting use.

If your bullet does not have a "Can" on it, you don't need full loads
that will just cause problems with the heavy recoil, with just a taper crimp.

Last edited by Nevada Ed; 02-23-2021 at 01:48 PM.
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Old 02-23-2021, 03:09 PM
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For an accurate load with Bullseye powder and 125 gr. plated or cast
Start with 4.0 grs. and checking accuracy as you go , work up to a
Maximum or 4.5 grains (Maybe 4.6 if using 357 magnum brass)
Somewhere between those charges should be your gun's sweet spot .

My Pet accuracy load with the 125 gr. bullet (cast) is with 4.2 grs Bullseye @ 892 fps in 38 special cases .
It will give a 15 shot group , one ragged hole , 1 1/2 " in diameter !
That load is a winner in my S&W model 64 .
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Old 02-23-2021, 11:07 PM
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Anyone load 95 grain lead round nose flat point for a light load for the wife&
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Old 02-24-2021, 08:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyheb View Post
Help
Shooting a 19-5 and a 686
I just got 1500 125grain 38 Bullets from xtreme

After reading I’m a bit concerned about the issues of cracking

Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?

Need OAL and grains used.

Thanks in advance

The issue with forcing cone erosion and cracking is associated with bullets of less than 140 grains being propelled by heavy charges of colloidal ball propellant. Bullseye is not a colloidal ball propellant. Hodgdon H110/Winchester W296 are colloidal ball powders.
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Old 02-24-2021, 11:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gwpercle View Post
For an accurate load with Bullseye powder and 125 gr. plated or cast
Start with 4.0 grs. and checking accuracy as you go , work up to a
Maximum or 4.5 grains (Maybe 4.6 if using 357 magnum brass)
Somewhere between those charges should be your gun's sweet spot .

My Pet accuracy load with the 125 gr. bullet (cast) is with 4.2 grs Bullseye @ 892 fps in 38 special cases .
It will give a 15 shot group , one ragged hole , 1 1/2 " in diameter !
That load is a winner in my S&W model 64 .
Gary
Thanks Gary. What OAL do you use?
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Old 02-24-2021, 03:39 PM
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Okay, I checked the recent ones that I made and I loaded them to a COAL of 1.440".

Here's a suggestion with regards to COAL. That you are seeking it specifically is a very good sign and it shows that you are aware of the relationship between COAL, internal combustion space and pressure. Good!

At the same time, this is relative. Your COAL, internal space and it's effect on pressure matters most, or perhaps I should say matters more when you are dealing with smaller combustion space and higher pressure rounds.

When we look at .38 Special specifically, we have a round with relatively l-a-r-g-e internal space and relatively low pressure (17.5kpsi) when compared to most of it's peers. Another round in the same arena is .45 Colt. Massive space, low pressure compared to hot little rounds.

On the far other end of the spectrum is the 9mm cartridge. Here we have very little combustion space in the small round and we also run very high pressure (35kpsi.)

The point here is that small changes in COAL matter more (a lot more!) in 9mm, .40 S&W, 5.7x28, 10mm, etc.

Small changes in short little rounds that are not extremely high pressure (.32 S&W Long, .380 Auto, .45 Auto) matter, but not as much as the ones listed above.

Small changes in COAL for very large combustion space rounds that also run high pressure certainly matter (.327, .357, .41, .44 Magnum) but they don't matter nearly as much as 9mm, .40cal, 10mm, 5.7x28, etc.

And small changes in COAL for low/medium pressure rounds in large combustion space rounds (.32 H&R, .38 Special, .44 Special, .45 Colt) matter of course, but you basically want to use your COAL information to help you build your ammo consistently, but not so much because of MASSIVE increases of pressure due to shortened COAL and reduced combustion space.

A simpler way to state what I mean:

If you are making MAX loads in 9mm and you reduce your COAL and change nothing else, you will be running the ragged edge in pressure and safety is a genuine concern here.

If you are making MAX loads in .38 Special or .38 Special+P and you reduce your COAL, you will not likely be seeing a notable increase in pressure and you aren't crossing serious safety lines unless your COAL reduction is massive (and ridiculous.)
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Old 02-24-2021, 03:52 PM
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Side discussion to the above that may be worth discussing:

When you are handloading for revolvers, the ammo is sometimes subjected to inertial forces that try to "pull" the bullets from the case. This happens when there is a combination of:

heavy recoil
light handgun
light bullet pull (cartridge case's grip on the bullet)

The affect on your ammo is that sometimes, the shooting of the first 4 or 5 or 6 rounds in your cylinder will work to pull the bullets forward in the case of the unfired rounds in the cylinder. This obviously makes your COAL l-o-n-g-e-r and thus, makes for more combustion space, which can only lower the peak pressure.

So this can be a problem if/when the bullets get pulled and tie up your revolver.

On the semiauto pistol side, recoil doesn't seem to work in the same way and bullets don't get pulled. However the natural feed cycle of a semiauto is a violent environment on ammo that gets some manner forcibly pushed/smashed in to the chamber.

And if you don't have good bullet pull (cartridge case's grip on the bullet) then you run the risk of bullets inadvertently and unknowingly getting pushed deeper in to the cartridge case during the feed cycle. And thus, shortening the COAL, lowering the internal combustion space, radically increasing the pressure.

And of course, some of our most common semiauto pistols are the 9mm, .40cal... and these are rounds where small changes and small reductions in COAL will drive the pressure up quickly.

It has long been my own theory that a high percentage of all the .40 S&W kabooms that handloaders and competition shooters experienced through the 1990's and in to the early 2000's were the result of a number of factors, but I believe that unintended and unnoticed reductions in COAL were a huge part of the "perfect storm" that reared it's ugly head back then. Even still today in 2021 you can see specific warnings in many published load data sources regarding .40 S&W because of the period of time where far too many folks blew up pistols.
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  #28  
Old 02-24-2021, 06:58 PM
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Thank you Sevens. That is great information. I really love shooting the revolvers and want to learn as much as possible

Thanks again,
Craig
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  #29  
Old 02-24-2021, 07:54 PM
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Just loaded some at 4.4 BE, 1.442 OAL

I’ll give you my report

Thanks all
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  #30  
Old 02-25-2021, 01:57 PM
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A note on the 38 special and the 125 plated bullets.

There are a lot of people putting these bullets out for shooters
but some have a different length.
For example, Berry 125 FN is .518" and their 125 HP is .554" long.
Not that big really but the HP will sit deeper into the case and might
have a little higher pressure with the same powder load.

I use plated bullets for target work or medium speeds, so I don't have to worry about high pressures.
When loading with fast powders like Bullseye or w231, I have dropped
the OAL down to as short as 1.40" in my target loads with the
smooth sided bullets w/o a crimp, to gain a little fps.

Check your bullets length and Ogive first, to see if this will work
with your bullets if you try this short length out.

Have fun.
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  #31  
Old 02-26-2021, 02:48 AM
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Good point. Most people don't take into consideration the bullet's overall length (BOAL) when interchanging different bullets but using the same powder charge.

If you're COAL" is not restricted by the cannelure's placement that's easily fixed by seating the bullet out by the corresponding difference in BOAL, as long as you don't exceed it's max. COAL", if you don't have a cannelure.

Since the OP is shooting these 38 Special in a 357 Magnum adjusting the COAL" for bullets with a longer BOAL shouldn't be a problem.

It would be nice if manufacturers listed the bullet's overal length in their load data too.

The OP didn't say exactly which 125gr Xtreme plated bullet he has.



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  #32  
Old 02-26-2021, 12:03 PM
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I load to to the 3.5 Bullseye for the wife, either 125 or 158 copper plated. In 357 for me I'll load 4.0 of promo/reddot these are target loads. For stouter 357 loads I'll do 5.0 still nice to shoot. For real 357, 2400 or bluedot. These are in Ruger GP100s
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  #33  
Old 02-26-2021, 01:04 PM
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For the 38 and 357 weapons it is nice to have the plated bullets that let you shoot at a lot of places where lead can't be used now, in some parts of the country.

It will also solve the problem of leading in your barrels, if you have that problem and some state that the plated 148 WC bullet can get good accuracy in their test.

I did see one Berry .358 dia, 158 gr that did have a nice cannelure on it,
which let me think of high fps, if needed, with a good crimp applied.
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  #34  
Old 02-26-2021, 03:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mightyheb View Post
Help
Shooting a 19-5 and a 686
I just got 1500 125grain 38 Bullets from xtreme

After reading I’m a bit concerned about the issues of cracking

Has anyone loaded a copper plated 125grain 38 with alliant bullseye?

Need OAL and grains used.

Thanks in advance
I like 5gr universal for 125-130gr bullets. Shoot very well in most of my guns.
I have run 4.5gr Bullseye with 125-1 grain as well.
Like Universal much better
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  #35  
Old 03-06-2021, 07:55 PM
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The 4.4 BE WORKED WELL
THE 4.2 BE same 1.442 oal was much more pleasant and accurate

Thank you all for your help
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  #36  
Old 03-06-2021, 11:46 PM
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4.4 grs of Bullseye in my 686 6" gave me 898 fps and 6 @ 1.25" at 15 yards with a ES o 24 fps, with the 38 case.

A full load in a 6" is around 980 fps and a little less accurate in my revolver.

Have fun.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
This comes from the HEART and backed with the experience of around 100,000 rounds loaded and fired with plated bullets made mostly by Xtreme and Berry’s, but half a dozen plated bullet makers.

It also goes somewhat AGAINST what the plated bullet makers sometimes say and have said in the past.

Here it is:

Do not treat these like LEAD BULLETS. Load them like JACKETED bullets but don’t load them like jacketed bullets in .327, .357, .41 and .44 Magnum.

-WHY-

Because these suckers give far more resistance in a barrel than any cast or swaged lead bullet. If you baby a plated bullet in a revolver, you may eventually stick one in your bore.

This happens specifically in revolvers because revolvers have a flash gap where precious, much needed pressure can bleed out at the wrong time.

If it is a pistol, the bore is sealed as long as the brass obturates, and the bullet is forced to escape with even a light load.

If you load plated overly light in a revolver you will end up sticking one and that is NOWHERE you want to be.

Again, this is experience. It is far better to read it than to have to pound one out. And it’s a helluva lot worse than pounding if you fire a second one behind a stuck one.
This is 100% correct! I have loaded and shot a fair amount of plated bullets in 38/357 and 45acp. The 125gr 38 will give you trouble before anything else in my experience. If you try and load them to light cast bullet levels, you WILL get squibs. Especially with a 38 case shot in a .357.
There is a learning curve with plated. Once you learn the ins and outs, they are as good as anything. I prefer them to cast when loading with a progressive press.
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  #38  
Old 03-07-2021, 12:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shooting1 View Post
Anyone load 95 grain lead round nose flat point for a light load for the wife&

I load some 95 grain rn in 38 special with 2.5-3.0 of tight group. They are very light out of her snub nose revolver. I made the mistake of trying one of the 2.5s in my model 19 4 inch it only made it 1.5 inches into the barrel. Break out the squib rod125gr Xtreme copper plated bullets so you really really gotta be careful. But She really likes the light rounds for practice which we always include some self defense stuff near the end for a reality check.


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  #39  
Old 03-07-2021, 12:25 PM
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And also worth noting...

When you have made a questionably light load with a plated bullet in a revolver with a flash gap... maybe the first six or twelve will all go bang and exit the barrel. Maybe the fourteenth one doesn’t go.

Why, how? Could be your powder drop. But not necessarily. We have to know going in that plated bullets are budget bullets and they are not precision slugs, these are not Nosler or Sierra bullets, so their size will vary slightly and their weight will also. If you have a powder charge that is barely enough and comes up against a slightly larger bullet and that bullet stops moving, it only needs to hesitate for a moment — when it stumbles, the pressure bleeds out the flash gap and that’s it, the slug isn’t leaving the barrel out of the muzzle end.
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  #40  
Old 03-10-2021, 06:13 PM
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Just got this from xtreme Bullets regarding the 125 in 38

We recommend loading our 125gr bullets in 38 Special with a starting charge of Bullseye at 4.3 grains. Don't exceed 4.7 grains and seat to a COAL of 1.440"
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  #41  
Old 03-10-2021, 10:52 PM
Eddietruett Eddietruett is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens View Post
This comes from the HEART and backed with the experience of around 100,000 rounds loaded and fired with plated bullets made mostly by Xtreme and Berry’s, but half a dozen plated bullet makers.

It also goes somewhat AGAINST what the plated bullet makers sometimes say and have said in the past.

Here it is:

Do not treat these like LEAD BULLETS. Load them like JACKETED bullets but don’t load them like jacketed bullets in .327, .357, .41 and .44 Magnum.

-WHY-

Because these suckers give far more resistance in a barrel than any cast or swaged lead bullet. If you baby a plated bullet in a revolver, you may eventually stick one in your bore.

This happens specifically in revolvers because revolvers have a flash gap where precious, much needed pressure can bleed out at the wrong time.

If it is a pistol, the bore is sealed as long as the brass obturates, and the bullet is forced to escape with even a light load.

If you load plated overly light in a revolver you will end up sticking one and that is NOWHERE you want to be.

Again, this is experience. It is far better to read it than to have to pound one out. And it’s a helluva lot worse than pounding if you fire a second one behind a stuck one.
That is the best advice on plated bullets I've seen. I tried to load some plated Xtreme 158gr with a light load of Bullseye that I've shot for years. I had several stick in the barrel of a 8 3/8" Model 686. Jacked up the charge and they shot great and were very accurate. I always use the "jacketed data" on plated bullets.
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  #42  
Old 03-10-2021, 10:57 PM
Eddietruett Eddietruett is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eddietruett View Post
I like 5gr universal for 125-130gr bullets. Shoot very well in most of my guns.
I have run 4.5gr Bullseye with 125-1 grain as well.
Like Universal much better
I have used the 5gr Universal load as well. Mostly on 130 and 158gr Coated lead, but also with some plated. Shoots very accurate in most every gun I've tried.
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