Copper Plated 9mm Ammo

[Sully1960]

Hey All,
I'm new to the forum. Would like to know what you all think about copper plated 9mm ammo. I'm seeing it's about 20% less than brass cased 9mm (current prices). Are there issues with it? Is it safe to use? Would it cause problems to the gun? I currently own an M&P 2.0. Would like to save some money, but don't want to do it at the expense of safety/damage (to me, others or the gun). Any feed back would be appreciated!

 

[rockquarry]

You might have to take what you can find nowadays, but my only experience with plated bullets wasn't good. They were inferior (as for as accuracy) to cast bullets and jacketed bullets.

 

[AManWearingAHat]

Ive shot thousands of plated bullets. With proper load development they're every bit the equal of jacketed and powder coated lead. Just stay within manufacturer specifications.

 

[Krogen]

Hey All,
I'm new to the forum. Would like to know what you all think about copper plated 9mm ammo. I'm seeing it's about 20% less than brass cased 9mm (current prices). Are there issues with it? Is it safe to use? Would it cause problems to the gun? I currently own an M&P 2.0. Would like to save some money, but don't want to do it at the expense of safety/damage (to me, others or the gun). Any feed back would be appreciated!

Can you clarify what you mean by copper plated ammo vs. brass cased ammo? We might assume you're talking about plated bullets vs. jacketed bullets or are you referring to the case itself?

 

[OKFC05]

I use Berry plated 158gr bullets in my IDPA revolver reloads. The year I won my class in OK, TX, MO, KY, and TN state sanctioned matches, I shot about 8000 rounds of those reloads in competition and weekly practice with zero ammo problems. Ten years later I am still using Berry plated bullets in IDPA Revolver, but I only am shooting local matches now due to age and health.

In loading 9mm plated bullets (prefer 124gr HB), I use Titegroup and load only to 133 power factor (minor power) with entirely satisfactory results for USPSA and IDPA. If you load slow powder and load them hot, hot, you can get into accuracy problems with plated bullets, as Berry states on their web site. Suggest you read the Berry instructions on loading their bullets.

In reloading, I use regular brass cases, not aluminum or steel.

 

[alwslate]

The OP is asking about ammo, not plated bullets for handloading. Probably the plated steel cased 9mm that can be found that is cheaper than standard brass cased ammo. It will not harm your handgun assuming it is in good condition to begin with.

 

[stansdds]

Welcome to the S&W Forums.


First, if you are talking about plated bullets, I've shot plenty of Speer Lawman and Blazer TMJ (plated bullet) ammo. I've also shot my own reloads using Ranier (up until they went out of business) and Berry's copper plated bullets. No issues at all.


If you are talking about plated steel cases, the only steel case ammo I have used is 7.62x39 ammo fired in an SKS rifle. Communist Block weapons were designed for steel cased ammo and work just fine. In firearms designed and built in the west, it depends upon the ammo and the firearm. Some are ok, some suffer broken extractors and stuck casings.

 

[Sully1960]

The OP is asking about ammo, not plated bullets for handloading. Probably the plated steel cased 9mm that can be found that is cheaper than standard brass cased ammo. It will not harm your handgun assuming it is in good condition to begin with.

Thanks for all the replies. I am not referring to steel cased bullets.

The ammo I am referring to is described by the manufacturer as follows: ..."copper plating applied electrochemically to a precision swaged lead core. The base of the bullet is also fully coated in copper."

Hope this clarifies my question.

Thanks, again!

 

[Borderboss]

Thanks for all the replies. I am not referring to steel cased bullets.

The ammo I am referring to is described by the manufacturer as follows: ..."copper plating applied electrochemically to a precision swaged lead core. The base of the bullet is also fully coated in copper."

Hope this clarifies my question.

Thanks, again!

Yep, those are plated bullets.

I've fired tens of thousands of rounds that I loaded with plated bullets in a variety of handgun calibers. I've had absolutely no issues with them at all.

 

[gregintenn]

I've handloaded plated bullets for years and like them fine. I don't think I've ever fired any commercially loaded ammo with plated bullets, but it should be fine.

 

[ChillyDog]

Agreed I run Xtreme plated bullets and Berrys, Have for years for IDPA. No problems. In hand loads. I have also run Freedommutuions which use xtreme bullets with no problems, but that was years ago before they raised the prices.

 

[cmj8591]

Plated bullets work great. I've used them in 9mm, 44 Mag, and 45 Auto. I run them slightly faster than I run a lead bullet, mostly around 1000fps. Accuracy is on par with a good cast bullet. So long as you don't try to set any speed records, they will serve you well.

 

[smithra_66]

In my guns plated bullets are the least accurate, followed by lead, and jacketed are the most accurate.

Seems like the plated stuff doesn't allow for as good of a barrel seal as lead (they are just a bit harder).

They are just fine for steel and informal plinking, but I would not use them for accuracy competitions like bullseye.

 

[alwslate]

Thanks for all the replies. I am not referring to steel cased bullets.

The ammo I am referring to is described by the manufacturer as follows: ..."copper plating applied electrochemically to a precision swaged lead core. The base of the bullet is also fully coated in copper."

Hope this clarifies my question.

Thanks, again!

So much confusion and so little communication in this thread. The word case in a round of ammunition refers to the cartridge case, not the bullet jacket. The word bullet that people sometimes use in reference to a round of ammunition means projectile to those more familiar with ammo. You seem to be new to the game and when you say “plated bullet” members on here seem to think you are a hand loader asking about using plated billets in your hand loads rather than conventional jacketed bullets. The cheap 9mm you are asking about buying probably has a plated steel case and a copper plated lead core projectile (bullet).

 

[cmj8591]

So much confusion and so little communication in this thread. The word case in a round of ammunition refers to the cartridge case, not the bullet jacket. The word bullet that people sometimes use in reference to a round of ammunition means projectile to those more familiar with ammo. You seem to be new to the game and when you say “plated bullet” members on here seem to think you are a hand loader asking about using plated billets in your hand loads rather than conventional jacketed bullets. The cheap 9mm you are asking about buying probably has a plated steel case and a copper plated lead core projectile (bullet).

If you look a couple of posts up, he clarifies that he is looking at ammo with a plated bullet.

 

[alwslate]

If you look a couple of posts up, he clarifies that he is looking at ammo with a plated bullet.

Yep looking at ammo. Then why all the posts about handloading in response to a new poster asking about buying ammo he obviously knows little about? Where does the new guy say he is a hand loader

 

[Nevada Ed]

Stuff happens..................

Just the facts mam.

 

[Sully1960]

Yep looking at ammo. Then why all the posts about handloading in response to a new poster asking about buying ammo he obviously knows little about? Where does the new guy say he is a hand loader

Correct... not a hand loader. Have fired JHP, FMJ ammo... came across copper plated ammo (see earlier post that quotes manufacturer's description) and having never used it wanted to see what peoples' opinions were on it. Chillydog referenced Xtreme ammo from Freedom Munitions. This is the ammo I am referencing. So thanks to everyone that responded that had experience with /opinions on, copper plated ammo.