Can we do this?

[Fla_Sun]

I have noticed that several people are looking for good plated bullet loads. I also read where some have plated loads that work well.
I have been using plated for a few years now since the indoor range I frequent doesn't allow lead bullets. I wouldn't mind sharing my plated load data.
I propose a thread of favorite plated load data. Not just powder charge but COL and specifics including chrono data if available. Maybe one thread for each caliber.
Is this possible and anyone interested?

 

[Nick B]

I'm interested but only in loads that have been chronographed . Too many people post loads and how good they shoot but have no idea what the velocity is .

 

[Bkreutz]

The idea of sharing load data is interesting but personally I won't use load data that isn't published and then has been tested by me in my pistols. I've seen load data on discussion threads that scare me just thinking about them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

First: every gun is different and the data is going to be a "Ball park " figure at best.

Second: I have had a load shot a totally different velocity on a different outing.............

Third: I have had a great load turn to junk on the targets when it was just fine two weeks ago.

I don't know if it is the gun, me or the load but you never know if a good load will be good the next time out... for target work.

SD at ten feet or less is a different story.

Good luck.

 

[mikld]

May be interesting. But I have been quite successful loading plated bullets with manufacturer's recommendations, and developing loads for my particular guns...

 

[Maximumbob54]

What Nevada Ed says. I have a coated bullet load that in my M28-2 4" shoots pretty darn good and yet I pulled out the M28 (no dash) and off the same rest with the same ammo left from before it doesn't shoot as well. Then the same ammo in the Security Six didn't shoot as well. But then it shot almost as well in the GP100. There is just no telling.

 

[Fla_Sun]

Yes all very good points I didn't think about. My bad. When I started experimenting with plated a few years ago there was nothing but Lee's book with AA powders. I would have appreciated some starting points back then. I survived and made some good loads with various powders. I guess everyone else can too.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm interested but only in loads that have been chronographed . Too many people post loads and how good they shoot but have no idea what the velocity is .

In all the years I've been reloading, velocity has always been the least of my concerns. If they are accurate and fall withing the safe limits of the caliber, how fast they are going is just window dressing. For many years chronographs were not readily available or affordable for the average Handloader. We learned to observe and look for obvious signs of over pressure while staying within the limits of published manuals. Accuracy was our goal along with affordable ammo. After many years I obtained a chrono thinkin' it would be a great tool. I do use it for load development, but have many pet loads that are my most accurate, many of them hunting handgun loads, that have never been chrono'd. I know their relative velocity, that they are very accurate and safe in my firearm. Exact speed, ES and SDs are not known, nor are they important. While those things are nice to know, they generally are not a major factor on whether or not I continue to use that load. Plated bullets to me are not SD/HD, nor are they hunting bullets. They are range fodder. For range fodder, safe and accurate is what matters.

Regardless of them being chrono'd or not, folks that take loads off the internet without confirming them to be within tested/published loads are an accident waiting to happen.

 

[guzzi]

Have been using the copper plated Rainier brand in 9mm/.40/.45 for years now, their suggestion is to follow the loadings as if they were unplated lead. Have never had a failure with the 1000's I have reloaded.

jb

 

[arjay]

Group size tells me all I need to know.Consistency is key.

 

[riverrat38]

The one caveat I have concerning using lead data for plated bullets is to start above the listed starting loads. I have stuck a Rainier WC with a starting load of 231. It was in a M14, about 1 inch from the muzzle. The copper has more friction than lead. And, the stuck bullet is much more difficult to remove, especially when it needs to move 5 inches. The further it moved, the more force I needed. I ended up with a 5/16 in steel rod and a 2 lb hammer. Not fun. Barry's warns about this with the WC, but I don't think the other manufactures do. They recommend using data that shows 800 FPS minimum.

RD

 

[Nevada Ed]

Sort of agree with the minimum speeds...........

Speer has the 124gr JSP 9mm at 887 fps.......
and the 158gr JSP 38 special at 877 fps....
I would think out of a 4" barrel.

 

[Fla_Sun]

I started loading 34 years ago with .223 and 38/.357. I always went by the book as I could walk into any LGS and immediately purchase almost any component listed in my books. My favorite book back then was the Speer #10.

Several years ago it seems like all of a sudden I could not find any component in the books I owned. Nobody had the components I had always used.

Then there were these bullets that claimed to be plated copper and cheaper and more available than jacketed. None were in any of my books except the free Lee book that came with a cheap press that I bought to mainly size and ram prime my cases. It had some generic loads for plated bullets but only with AA powder. Now I have come to like AA powder but it also was not always available.
On a side note I cut my reloading teeth on Hercules Bullseye, Unique, 2400 and Winchester 231.

I got very frustrated so I bought a chronograph and started experimenting in a safe manner, start slow and work up. One day I found an Accurate Powders reloading guide for Rainier plated bullets on the Internet. I followed it to the letter but when I chrono'd the rounds they were far under the fps that they were supposed to be and not as accurate as I though they should be. After some experimentation I worked up some loads that were accurate but were different than the guide. It seems plated bullets need more pressure than lead but less pressure than jacketed to be accurate. They need to orbitrate correctly just like any bullet to make an accurate load. Some are harder than others and some can withstand more than 1200 fps and need more pressure to be accurate. After learning this I was less afraid to experiment more with plated bullets and different powders. I have some really accurate plated loads for my guns. Like someone else said plated bullets are just range fodder but can also be accurate and fun to shoot.

Any new load I come up with is first shot from my Ruger's then analyzed before touching my Colt's or S&W's. I have to say that Ruger makes one tough gun! I have never had any mishap with any of my loads.

I'm sorry to bring up this bad idea of sharing. Not very well though out on my part!

 

[brucev]

I would be interested in following threads on loading plated bullets in .38/.357, .44 Spec. and .45 ACP. I have never loaded anything but standard cast lead and jacketed bullets in handguns. I have no experience w/ plated bullets. I would follow these threads with interest as it would allow me to avoid "reinventing the wheel."

 

[riverrat38]

"I'm sorry to bring up this bad idea of sharing. Not very well though out on my part!"

I think it was a good idea, as long as we understand that an internet thread can't replace a loading manual.
If this wasn't true, we would not have a need for a Reloading Forum.

Best,
Rick

 

[rwsmith]

I will be getting into plated......

I will be getting into plated bullets soon and I'd be glad to hear anything anyone has to say regarding the differences between loading plated bullets vs. lead and jacketed.

The plated bullets will be solely for low-medium velocities. If I want to push the envelope I'll use jacketed.

I had turned my nose up at plated bullets until I realized how much CLEANER they are than lead bullets, especially when going to an inside range. I also looked into the cost and the price/bullet is medium between cast lead and jacketed.

One caveat I've heard is not to crimp plated bullets enough to damage the plating at all.

 

[jmmitc06]

I for one would support such a sharing effort. It is difficult to find loads for plated bullets sometimes (berry's bullets comes to mind) and sometimes working up a load is easier when you know what other people are doing in the real world. However, I think it would be hard to keep the information easily accessible in the forum format.

I think a good way to share the load data would be to make a google docs spreadsheet where we can post the load data including the powder charge, bullet weight, company etc. as well as chrono data, gun data: make, model, barrel length etc. Make one spreadsheet for all calibers or separate sheets, wouldn't really matter.

Of course this doesn't skirt the issues of liability but if we are to share in an organized manner it would be a convenient way to do so. Make it invite only if you want, with the understanding that it does not replace or substitute a reloading manual and that the loads are not guaranteed to be safe in your gun.

 

[427mach1]

I see no problem with doing this as long as everyone realizes it is only a guide - not a manual. It is often helpful to know what powders or bullets others have used with good results when trying to choose one's own components. I would advise everyone to compare loads posted here to loads in their reloading manual and of course, working them up from minimum charges very carefully. It's also very interesting to see chronograph data from others, comparing it to my results and comparing it to those in my reloading manuals to get a "real world" answer.