Plated bullet reloads?

[Freischütz]

I have used the 115 gr bullet in Lugers. There wasn't anything special about them. The platting wasn't very thick so I belled the case mouth like I would for cast bullets.

Accuracy wasn't as good as a jacketed or properly fit cast bullet, but the plated were ok and didn't lead the barrel.

[ChrisLL]

Originally Posted by Freischütz

I have used the 115 gr bullet in Lugers. There wasn't anything special about them. The platting wasn't very thick so I belled the case mouth like I would for cast bullets.

Accuracy wasn't as good as a jacketed or properly fit cast bullet, but the plated were ok and didn't lead the barrel.

Interesting about the accuracy. I have not checked that carefully, we have used a ton of them in Bersas, Glocks, etc.
Prices are very good, most often seem to be cheaper than lead cast.

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by ChrisLL

Interesting about the accuracy. I have not checked that carefully, we have used a ton of them in Bersas, Glocks, etc.
Prices are very good, most often seem to be cheaper than lead cast.

Chris,

If you can, weigh some of your bullets and check for consistency in weight, as this is often an issue with cast bullets.

Also, are they .355 or .356 diameter?

Also, what powder are you planning on using?


Sieger

[ChrisLL]

Originally Posted by Sieger

Chris,

If you can, weigh some of your bullets and check for consistency in weight, as this is often an issue with cast bullets.

Also, are they .355 or .356 diameter?

Also, what powder are you planning on using?


Sieger

I will have to weigh some for sure. They are all .355 (100g and 115g), I was originally going to try some of the 100's as I have a lot of them on hand.

Maybe I will order some of the 115's soon.

Powder ... I was thinking Unique. There is very limited powder available locally and hazardous ship rates make it not worth buying on-line. As I reload for numerous calibers I tend to buy powder that is somewhat versatile. For the most part I can get (when it's available) Unique, Titegroup, 700-X, Longshot.

I was thinking originally that it would be nice if I was able to get the 100g to perform decently in the Luger as I "stock" those for my 380 already; but the 115's are decently priced.

I don't mind shooting cast either, but it seems like the on-line suppliers come and go quickly, so I will have to do a little research there.

Chris

[sheepherder]

I am somewhat confused by what you mean by 'plated bullets'. A production military-type FMJ will be a copper 'cup' filled with lead. It is not 'plated'. I've never measured one but I'd bet the jacket is in the .010" - .015" range, at least. (Think 3 to 5 sheets of notebook paper thick). There's usually some copper jackets lying on the floor at the range; I'll grab one next time I'm there and measure it.

There is a kind of cheap bullet that is commonly called 'copper washed' which is exactly like it sounds. So thin you can pick it off with your fingernail. I would expect these to behave like a 'standard' lead bullet. I hate these; they will deform if you drop them, and sometimes just by loading them in a magazine.

Edit: I just walked over to the range (across the street; convenient, huh? If only there was powder available)...And picked half-a-dozen jackets out of the bullet trap...they all measure .012" - .015"...

Curiously, the .012" jackets were a gold color rather than copper, indicating a higher percentage of brass...The paper can had some 'Tulammo' boxes on top, I wonder if these Russian 9mm bullets are the gold ones???

[Patronen]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I am somewhat confused by what you mean by 'plated bullets'. A production military-type FMJ will be a copper 'cup' filled with lead. It is not 'plated'. I've never measured one but I'd bet the jacket is in the .010" - .015" range, at least. (Think 3 to 5 sheets of notebook paper thick). There's usually some copper jackets lying on the floor at the range; I'll grab one next time I'm there and measure it.

There is a kind of cheap bullet that is commonly called 'copper washed' which is exactly like it sounds. So thin you can pick it off with your fingernail. I would expect these to behave like a 'standard' lead bullet. I hate these; they will deform if you drop them, and sometimes just by loading them in a magazine.

A few years back a guy at a gun show was peddling the copper washed bullets saying people were buying them to get around gun club range rules that banned lead ammo. Your spot on when you say you can pick it off with a fingernail.

[ChrisLL]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

I am somewhat confused by what you mean by 'plated bullets'. A production military-type FMJ will be a copper 'cup' filled with lead. It is not 'plated'. I've never measured one but I'd bet the jacket is in the .010" - .015" range, at least. (Think 3 to 5 sheets of notebook paper thick). There's usually some copper jackets lying on the floor at the range; I'll grab one next time I'm there and measure it.

There is a kind of cheap bullet that is commonly called 'copper washed' which is exactly like it sounds. So thin you can pick it off with your fingernail. I would expect these to behave like a 'standard' lead bullet. I hate these; they will deform if you drop them, and sometimes just by loading them in a magazine.

Edit: I just walked over to the range (across the street; convenient, huh? If only there was powder available)...And picked half-a-dozen jackets out of the bullet trap...they all measure .012" - .015"...

Curiously, the .012" jackets were a gold color rather than copper, indicating a higher percentage of brass...The paper can had some 'Tulammo' boxes on top, I wonder if these Russian 9mm bullets are the gold ones???

http://www.xtremebullets.com/category-s/1820.htm

http://www.rainierballistics.com/

xtreme also makes a "heavy plated" 9mm: http://www.xtremebullets.com/9mm-115...hpcb-b0500.htm

We have shot a lot of the xtreme plated, even in a Glock with factory barrel (which has issues w/cast) and no leading/copper issues in barrels.

These seem to have a decent coating, recommended to keep velocity <1200 fps with standard coated and <1500 fps with heavy plated. They are not like the .22 copper plated bullets.

Chris

ps. - just wanted to apologize for saying "Glock" on the forum also, you can see the Xtreme bullets are reasonably priced, the prices shown include shipping.