Debating switching from inconsistent plated to coated....... give me a reason not to?

[Shtf45acp]

Ok so I've finally ran out of all the jacketed ammo I had collected in buy outs and cheap gun show sales. I figured I'd give plated bullets a shot. I started with Rainier and didn't really have any problems. They were 230gr round nose and seemed ok for shooting steel at the local range. Then I bought some Berry's bullets. First batch I ran I had problems with scraping the plating. So I opened the mouth a tad more and that fixed the problem. These were 200gr target hollow points. What ticks me off about these bullets is they won't load consistently worth a ****. They range from 1.200" to 1.210" OAL. They run fine in my 625 revolvers and my 1911 and M&P45's but it really bothers me they aren't consistent. So I switched again to Xtreme. They were like the Rainier but it's a little irritating paying $30 to $40 for shipping when they would fit in a flat rate box for half that.

When I load rifle or my 45 super using sierra or hornday bullets they are perfect every time or at least within .001". The Berry's aren't even consistent using a comparator to measure them.

I've also seen Everglades ammunition and rocky mountain sell plated bullets for a lot cheaper then others and offer free shipping. But.......

So I started researching these coated bullets. Seems like some have no problems and others say that they have leading problems. I've been looking at Missouri, Precision, bayou, black bullets international. All seem to be much cheaper then plated and most offer free shipping too.

The biggest question I have is do they load consistently and can I use accurate #5? Any help with this would be awesome! Thanks everyone!

 

[JBnTx]

If you try Hi-Tek coated bullets, you'll forget all about plated and jacketed bullets.

Try Missouri Bullets.
Missouri Bullet Company

 

[Murphy's Law]

Shoot Hi-Tek coated and you'll "never" go back to plated or jacketed bullets. Their the best thing since sliced bread.....trust me.

 

[Eddietruett]

I'll never buy another plated bullet. HyTek Coated bullets are just about all I load anymore. I use Missouri, SNS Casting and Summers Enterprise. Had zero problems with any I've used.

 

[Shtf45acp]

They load to consistent OAL? I'm really thinking about buying a 100 and trying them.

 

[Tony M.]

I've never had OAL problems with 10's of thousands of coated bullets loaded and fired.

 

[mike campbell]

They range from 1.200" to 1.210" OAL. They run fine in my 625 revolvers and my 1911 and M&P45's but it really bothers me they aren't consistent.

When I load rifle or my 45 super using sierra or hornday bullets they are perfect every time or at least within .001".

There's your answer...pay 20 cents apiece to load +/- .001" or <10 cents each to "run fine" at +/- .005".

Quite possibly you could buy jacketed bullets from Roze, Magnus or Montana Gold for 15 cents apiece and be happy. Or not.

If a few thou variation in OAL bothers you, I suggest you never weigh any of your loaded rounds.

 

[Shtf45acp]

Well the reason it bothers me is the accuracy. Swing .005" both ways really affects it, at least for me. My 45 super loads are much more accurate but then again like you said they are jacketed. I guess I'm being to picky about plinking ammo.

 

[JBnTx]

Well the reason it bothers me is the accuracy. Swing .005" both ways really affects it, at least for me. My 45 super loads are much more accurate but then again like you said they are jacketed. I guess I'm being to picky about plinking ammo.

There's no way you can detect any difference in accuracy caused by a .005 variation in cartridge OAL.

There's just too many other variables in the mix for you to ever know if it was caused by OAL.

Coated bullets load no different than other type bullets.
Use cast lead load data and you'll be fine.

 

[Shtf45acp]

Maybe not but they don't shoot as well as hornady xtp bullets.

 

[sw dan]

A+ for bayou bullets, some times free shipping......dan

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

There's no way you can detect any difference in accuracy caused by a .005 variation in cartridge OAL.

There's just too many other variables in the mix for you to ever know if it was caused by OAL.

Coated bullets load no different than other type bullets.
Use cast lead load data and you'll be fine.

Yep......Run "em" over a cronograph and you will REALLY freak out at the variations in velocity and standard deviation of your precise made loads.

 

[ontargetagain]

OAL of bullet won't effect OAL of loaded cartridge, just a possible tiny variance in case volume that will not be noticed in performance. You say they run fine in your 645, 1911 and M&P's, sounds like things are going well for these bullets overall. The amount of variance in cases (OAL and Diameter) probably is more a variance than the OAL of the bullets you mention I'm guessing.

I have shot plated, lead, coated lead and jacketed. They all work!
I just measured some OAL of some Extreme, Dramas lead, Badman coated, Missouri coated and they all have an OAL variance..........

If you start considering the variances in chambers on your revolver, and chambering lockup on your pistols you will drive yourself crazy. I am sure there is enough variance in powder charges than you imagine too.

However, I have settle on coated for many reasons so if you care to switch to coated you will be pleased............until you begin to measure each for OAL
Karl

 

[Shtf45acp]

Yeah it's probably just my OCD as usual. It's just really nice when I load xtp in 45 Super that they are perfect every single load. Then again like stated above they cost a lot more.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Plated bullets are a great low priced bullet for plinking.....
Not top quality but good enough for paper drills.

Coated can be pushed faster and keep the barrel a little cleaner
and can work better in a lot of weapons.
However I have a C9 that does not like 125gr coated bullets.

They are a step up but the match guys pay top dollar for the Quality bullets
that have the real copper coating and quality control.

Try them, you might like the little clean up, even if they are just as
accurate as your plated bullets.

 

[Calliope]

I've settled on plated for 357 and coated for 45 auto.

I like The Blue Bullets 200 grain coated SWC, very consistent. SNS Casting has been good too. I want to try MBC's coated 185 grain 'button nose' SWC.

Coated bullets did not prevent leading in my revolver, but plated did. (my revolver has tight throats and a loose bore, so it's hard to prevent leading).
The 158 grain Rainier plated FP has been a consistent winner in my 357 for many years now.

 

[Psweigle]

I cast all of my own handgun bullets. I coat most of them. I used to use plated bullets, but casting a d powder-coating is cheaper, and I get to customize my ammo to fit the firearm it is intended for.
Hope this helps.

 

[fredj338]

Plated are actually more finicky than coated about things like crimp. So I cast & coat my own. Plus coated can get by with a bit less powder than plated so win-win.

 

[johngalt]

I don't like plated bullets. I've never used coated, but they somewhat interest me. I'm not sure what problem they solve over just using plain lead, if I don't have any leading problems. I mostly shoot target loads, so I don't have any 'leading due to high velocity' issues. I normally shoot jacketed for full power stuff.

My favorite bullet is swaged lead.

 

[Shtf45acp]

I'm actually going to try zero bullets and see how they run. They are close to the same price as plated without the fuss. I know what you mean by the plated being fussy. The first few I loaded I must have crimped wrong and has several FTF. Once I backed the crimp off to .470" and just did the plunk test they ran fine.