There are lots of questions on these type of bullets. from how fast can they be pushed to how heavy a crimp, can I use ?
It just depends if it is being used in a revolver or pistol for the best way to load this bullet.
With a pistol, the load is inside a magazine that prevents bullet jump, so most loads are happy with just a taper crimp, that does not set the case's edge too deep, so it can rest on the chamber settings, for correct head space.
Revolvers can get setback or bullet jump, if the load is heavy or
has a lot of recoil in the weapon.
However, one must know that plated bullets were for "Target use" when they were introduced and asked to keep below 1250 or even more, by some makers, for best results.
A crimp can be used in a revolver load but the cannelure is not always deep on a plated bullet and care is needed to not over crimp the light plating and damage the cylinder of the bullet...
which may take away it's accuracy.
Today there are plated bullets made for higher fps but I use 99% of my plated bullets for light duty or X-lite target loads, since I do not shoot "Games" with my reloads.
Does fps and crimping matter............ ?
Only test in the field or range will give you your answers.
For an example;
Here is a picture of a target that "We" shot at an indoor range.
At over 70 years old and wore out, I shot most of the groups.
However, I did hand the 5" barrel P9 over to my step daughter to shoot one target, to let her see if she liked the weapon.
Can plated bullets be accurate?
In the right hands.......................... yes !!
It just depends if it is being used in a revolver or pistol for the best way to load this bullet.
With a pistol, the load is inside a magazine that prevents bullet jump, so most loads are happy with just a taper crimp, that does not set the case's edge too deep, so it can rest on the chamber settings, for correct head space.
Revolvers can get setback or bullet jump, if the load is heavy or
has a lot of recoil in the weapon.
However, one must know that plated bullets were for "Target use" when they were introduced and asked to keep below 1250 or even more, by some makers, for best results.
A crimp can be used in a revolver load but the cannelure is not always deep on a plated bullet and care is needed to not over crimp the light plating and damage the cylinder of the bullet...
which may take away it's accuracy.
Today there are plated bullets made for higher fps but I use 99% of my plated bullets for light duty or X-lite target loads, since I do not shoot "Games" with my reloads.
Does fps and crimping matter............ ?
Only test in the field or range will give you your answers.
For an example;
Here is a picture of a target that "We" shot at an indoor range.
At over 70 years old and wore out, I shot most of the groups.
However, I did hand the 5" barrel P9 over to my step daughter to shoot one target, to let her see if she liked the weapon.
Can plated bullets be accurate?
In the right hands.......................... yes !!
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