How do you treat plated bullets when looking up load data??

[Pastprime]

Do the plated bullets shoot more like jacketed or like cast or swaged lead. I loaded a few 158 gr plated bullets over 4.1 gr of Win 231 in .357 brass. Not sure whether to go up or down in charge because my books don't specifically list plated bullets.

Would this load be considered weak, mild, medium or what in a .357?

If anyone has a nice load for the components I'm using, please let me know.

 

[Aticus]

Rainier Ballistics says to use lead bullet data. What you're loading sounds reasonable. Don't have any definitive word on Berry's plated.

Pecos

 

[mikld]

Berrys says to use mid range jacketed bullet (of same size and comfiguration) data.

 

[Titegroups]

I've pushed them down the tube hard without issue.

 

[OKFC05]

I load that bullet with 231 in .38 brass by the thousands.
You're light.
I go up to 4.5 in .38 brass, and you can do that or more in .357 brass. Just don't start doing magnum loads with something like 296 or you'll break through the plating. Plated bullets are not made for magnum loads. You can actually drive hard cast faster than plated.
When your groups turn into patterns, you're too hot and breaking through the plating.

 

[Pastprime]

Thanks for all the advice. I started at 4.1 gr. then loaded a few at 3.7 just to see what happens. But tomorrow I will start up in charges.

Have to wait until Monday to shoot. Our range is impossible on weekends.

 

[wharvey]

I don't reload near maximum so really don't worry much about it. As always YMMV but unless you see pressure signs I wouldn't worry.

 

[Pastprime]

I changed from .38 Special brass to the .357 brass primarily to reduce the powder and lead build up in the cylinder. And, to reduce the chance of a high pressure issue in case I had a senior moment while loading...

 

[blujax01]

I picked this information from Berry's Mfg. FAQ section:


"Currently published load data is limited to some calibers by Accurate, Western Powders and Hodgdon. We are working with these companies to get data published for all of our bullets.

We recommend using hard cast load data or start with mid-range jacketed data. Make sure data is below 1200fps unless you are using a Thick-Plated bullet that we list a higher max velocity for like the 9mm 124gr HBRN-TP that can be shot to 1500fps in open class guns like a .38 Super. Keep in mind that since our plated bullet has the same pressure curve as a hard cast bullet, the published cast data will be very close to what you will get with our plated bullets. If you use Jacketed data with our plated bullets you can get from 5% - 8% increase in velocity using that data.

Other than the data from Western and Accurate for the 9mm and .40S&W there is no printed data available."

 

[brucev]

I load them like any other lead bullet. I begin with the recommended starting load and work up to the accuracy/velocity level I prefer.

 

[125JHP]

I generally load them to mid range jacketed velocities

 

[Arthury]

It depends on the thickness of the plating, I'd imagine.
Thick plating is equivalent to jacket, thin ones are like naked leads.

 

[TSQUARED]

With the plated bullets I have observed the velocities are ca 10% lower for the same powder charge when compared to a lead bullet of equal weight.

 

[H Richard]

With W 231 I load 4.7 gr with cast bullets SWC and 4.9 with RNFP for just under 900 fps in 38 brass. Load straight out of the Lyman cast bullet handbook. It's my understanding you should load these closer to cast bullet loads. You're pretty light.

 

[Ursoboostd]

I load Double Struck Berry's and Xtreme's. I pretty much just use FMJ data. I loaded some 44s recently with 2400 that went around 1250fps. Shot really well.

 

[David Sinko]

I shot some 300 gr. plated bullets out of a .445 Supermag loaded hot and never had any problems. But I always had problems with roll crimping plated bullets in the .38 Special. The OAL of brass varies enough that the longer ones would buckle at the case mouth and not fully chamber.

Dave Sinko