Rainier bullets and load data

I have purchased some Rainier .45 (.451) bullets for my S&W 1911, and my 4506. I haven't used Rainier bullets before and looked on their website for load data. They recommend using lead bullet load data for their bullets due to being jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets; hence the recommendation to use lead bullet load data. I purchased 230gr RN and 200gr SWC. What do you guys think? I use the Hornady reloading manual for my load data.

bullets

I load them in 9mm,40, and 357 sig and I just use the lead bullet loads and they work fine I had upped the load just a little without any problems.

Use the lead data.

They work fine with the recommended lead data or even a little hotter. I've used them with success in 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 357 Mag/38 Spl, 9mm and 44 Mag. Don't push for top velocity like jacketed bullets. You can strip the copper plate off the bullet and it's a pain to clean out of the barrel, especially around the forcing cone of revolvers. 357 Maximum is a no-no. Don't ask how I know.

western powders (accurate & ramshot) has data for plated bullets - both rainer & berrys' - not for every bullet they have but for many of them

I've loaded plated bullets from HSM, Ranier, RMR, and Berry's. What I've found is that you can safely use the full range of NON MAGNUM data for cast lead bullets or the lower 2/3 of the range for jacketed bullets. Just be aware that if you go above the 1/2 way point for jacketed bullets you will want a heavy for the caliber bullet or you will want to do a test for leading every 5 rounds fired for a total test run of 30 rounds. Basically, 230 grain in 45 ACP can to to the full 2/3 of jacketed data, 180 grain for 40 caliber, 158 grain for 38 +P, and 147 grain for 9mm.

In terms of velocity produced my experience is that it will most closely correspond to the data for Jacketed bullets. Which does make sense when you consider that copper plating will have a coefficient of friction that is a near exact match for bullets with traditional copper jacketing.

The reason for loading plated bullets to moderate velocities is that the plating is typically thinner than traditional jacketing and if you go for too much velocity you can strip the plating from the bullet while it's in the barrel. When that happens you'll experience leading so bad that you'll be tempted to purchase a new barrel. To be blunt the leading can be un-freaking-believable. Keep your velocity in the moderate range for the caliber and you'll get excellent results.

Note, there are some exceptions to this rule. Some makers such as Berry's do offer plated bullets that feature extra heavy plating that is rated for use at Magnum velocities. IIRC with Berry's the extra heavy plating is available with some of the 500 Magnum bullets and IIRC Ranier sometimes does a run of 158 grain .357 bullets with at extra heavy plate.

BTW, tested safe non leading velocities for 40 caliber has been 960 fps and 230 grain 45 ACP bullets are safe at 830 fps. Cannot tell you what is safe for 9mm because I don't own a 9mm but I would expect that if you keep them subsonic you won't have issues with leading.

Finally, Berry's bullets typically have a stated diameter that is +0.001 inch when referenced to jacketed or other brands of plated bullets. In a direct comparison of 0.402 Berry's 180 grain bullets to 0.401 180 grain bullets from Rocky Mountain Reloading there was no significant difference in either the velocity or standard deviation in a 30 round lot for each bullet. I also measure the diameters of these 2 bullet using a Mititoyo 4 place digital micrometer and the actual measured difference was only 0.00065 inch. Basically, the difference in diameter between a Berry's bullet and other brands just doesn't matter.

Thank you scooter123 for all of that great information. And thanks to all others who responded. I appreciate it very much.

I use ranier bullets with what they said using lead bullet data had no problem.

They also say:


If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend a starting powder charge directly between the listed minimum and maximum load, and you may use published load data found in reputable reloading manuals.

Which is pretty much the lead data

Scooter123 hit on something I discovered years ago when shooting Rainier 148 DEWC over the standard cast lead data of 3.0gr of Bullseye.

I was having bullets getting lodged in the bore of my 4" Model 19 barrel. I never had any problems with cast lead bullets in this revolver. I checked the diameter of the bullets with a caliper, and it measured .357", and I was checking my powder charges for accuracy using a scale. I didn't measure the B/C gap on my model 19 however, and that might have been excessive and contributing to the problem...I really can't be sure.

Anyway, the copper plating seemed to offer greater resistance as the bullet moved through the bore, and so I found it necessary to increase the charge to 3.3 gr of Bullseye to finally overcome the bullet-lodging problem.

I contacted Berrys a few years ago, and they recommended using low to midrange jacketed data.

Unless using their "thick plated" (TP) bullets, Rainier says to keep velocities below 1250fps.

Accurate Arms (now Western?) had, in 2005, some data for the use of their powders specifically with Rainier bullets, and I printed most of this data except, unfortunately,
for the .45ACP.

SteveFi mentioned that Western now has data available, so I'll need to check that out, since I have some Berry's bullets, but no published data specifically for plated projectiles...I've been kind of guessing at loads for some time now, since I don't have a chrono. handy to test velocities, and because I haven't used cast lead data since my bullet-lodging incidents in the past.

I know you're going to come up with that "perfect load" for Rainier bullets in your pistol, and it should be fun finding it.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Don't even use the term jacketed in the same sentence with those bullets, they aren't. they are inexpensive. I haven't been able to get anywhere near the group size as with other bullets like xtp's. I do buy #500 boxes of them in 115gr 9mm,110 gr 357, 158 gr 357 ,165gr 40 and 230 gr 45's. I get them to feed, fire and eject well enough. maybe I haven't experimented enough with them. I also load them lighter, but have a hard time saying accuracy is acceptable.* WAIT* a senior moment. I was reffering to zero bullets.