FMJ vs plated bullets for .45 acp

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J-rod O

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I’m going to start loading.45 acp and was wondering if there was any advantage to loading FMJ over plated? Would be mainly for target shooting and possibly steel shooting competition in the future. Also any opinions on bullet weight selection. Thanks
 
Welcome to THR.

If you are looking at 230 gr FMJ vs plated RN, not much and I would go with whichever is cheaper.

If you are looking at 200 gr and your pistol can feed SWC, I would consider lubed lead or coated lead due to cheaper cost and accuracy potential. And SWC bullets make cleaner larger holes for better match scoring.
 
I’m going to start loading.45 acp and was wondering if there was any advantage to loading FMJ over plated? Would be mainly for target shooting and possibly steel shooting competition in the future. Also any opinions on bullet weight selection. Thanks

After starting Bullseye Pistol competition my lead levels crept up, so I have been using plated 200 grain Xtreme plated SWC's during timed and rapid fire. I have also shot them on my 12" steel gong target. As my shooting abilities improved, the groups are getting smaller, so any misgivings I had about plated bullets being inaccurate are not true, at least for a hand held weapon. Bench rest shooting, heck if I know.

It does take more powder to push a plated bullet to the same velocity as a 200 gr LSWC, it is about 0.2 grs of Bullseye Pistol powder.

In so far are bullet type, you will find that the 1911 feeds round nosed bullets like it was made for them. Which it was. Round nose are the most reliable bullet in this mechanism and RN bullets are a good place to start for reloading. Based on my experience, I don't see a real need to spend more for FMJ. I think FMJ holds its integrity a little longer on steel targets, but not by much when compared to lead or plated. A 230 grain bullet, lead or otherwise, will prang a steel target very well.
 
When I switched from FMJ to plated I found that I had to do noticably more barrel cleaning before I got a clean patch. So I switched back to FMJ.
 
I used to be a die-hard 230grn FMJ man... but I've since discovered how fun it is to shoot 200grn bullets. I also discovered, at a .45's lower velocity, lead bullets are a reasonable solution, too. I've not yet tried coated bullets, however...

Slam makes a good point, however... I would not recommend shooting bare lead indoors, particularly behind a hotter burning powder like TiteGroup, for an extended length of time... plated bullets would be more appropriate.
 
Welcome to THR.

If you are looking at 230 gr FMJ vs plated RN, not much and I would go with whichever is cheaper.

If you are looking at 200 gr and your pistol can feed SWC, I would consider lubed lead or coated lead due to cheaper cost and accuracy potential. And SWC bullets make cleaner larger holes for better match scoring.


Thanks for the info. What is SWC?
 
Semi Wad Cutter.

It is essentially 230 gr RN with material removed from contact points, creating a truncated cone shaped bullet that weighs 200 gr.

Here are 230 gr FMJ and plated RN along with plated Hollow Point

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And here are MBC 200 gr Semi Wad Cutter and Round Nose Flat Point. If you superimpose the SWC in front of FMJ/RN, you can see truncated cone tips are contact points where the RN would bump the feed ramp and chamber wall. And RNFP is just RN with tip cut off (Some manufacturers like Berry's MFG calls them "Round Shoulder")

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I was shooting 185/200gr plated in my 45acp and have just now started casting lead so I'm still playing. Once my stash of plated is exhausted I most likely will be buying RMR bullets.
 
Thanks everyone for the help! One thing I’ve read about shooting plated and or lead is that load data might be different. Is this true or a non-factor with the slower speeds off.45acp?
 
Semi Wad Cutter.

It is essentially 230 gr RN with material removed from contact points, creating a truncated cone shaped bullet that weighs 200 gr.

Here are 230 gr FMJ and plated RN along with plated Hollow Point

index.php


And here are MBC 200 gr Semi Wad Cutter and Round Nose Flat Point. If you superimpose the SWC in front of FMJ/RN, you can see truncated cone tips are contact points where the RN would bump the feed ramp and chamber wall. And RNFP is just RN with tip cut off.

index.php
I see. Thank you.
 
I was shooting 185/200gr plated in my 45acp and have just now started casting lead so I'm still playing. Once my stash of plated is exhausted I most likely will be buying RMR bullets.

Thats what I’ve been loading is RMR FMJ for my 9mm. I live near where they are made so I’ll probably continue to use those since they have a great reputation and I can support local businesses
 
One thing I’ve read about shooting plated and or lead is that load data might be different.
Yes.

Here are Speer online lead and Total Metal Jacket thick plated load data using W231 powder for comparison:
 
I would recommend Coated Lead over plated and jacketed. Look at Missouri Bullets Website and they have a good selection of HiTek Coated Lead. Just as clean and accurate as plated and jacketed. Cheaper and less friction so you get a little more velocity with the same powder.
I’ve found this to be the case as well, but it’s a bit more involved in the loading process. If you’re just starting out plated or jacketed is easier and cleaner. When I do coated lead, I need to bell the case a bit more to eliminate shavings and insure the coating isn’t penetrated. Then you need to make sure any crimping process doesn’t swage the softer lead bullet, and lead to potential increased setback. All this is true no matter what the bullet, but FMJ is the least sensitive to the reloading process.
For target and steel shooting if you’re looking to minimize recoil then the heavier bullets with the faster powders (assuming the same PF) is the way to go. Good luck!
 
Thanks again!
I’ve found this to be the case as well, but it’s a bit more involved in the loading process. If you’re just starting out plated or jacketed is easier and cleaner. When I do coated lead, I need to bell the case a bit more to eliminate shavings and insure the coating isn’t penetrated. Then you need to make sure any crimping process doesn’t swage the softer lead bullet, and lead to potential increased setback. All this is true no matter what the bullet, but FMJ is the least sensitive to the reloading process.
For target and steel shooting if you’re looking to minimize recoil then the heavier bullets with the faster powders (assuming the same PF) is the way to go. Good luck!

Thanks. Any recommendations on faster powders. I’ve only used unique since I’m just getting started but definitely would like to broaden my horizons.
 
Any recommendations on faster powders
In order of what I like fast powders:
WST, Clays, IMR Target, N320, Sport Pistol
I know a lot of people who load Bullseye, and also Red Dot or IMR Red, but I really prefer WST or Clays for the lighter loads. I’ve tried AA2 but it never seemed to burn completely for me, others do like it. So many powders, so little time. If you can easily snag a pound of WST I think you’ll like it. If you want a faster powder that can span other calibers and do well in them start with N320 or Sport Pistol. Good luck!
 
I've used Bullseye for over 40 years and it still does a great job. Not the cleanest, but it does what it is designed for. I don't know how many thousands of 148gr HBWC I've shot over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. Its still the most accurate load in many of my target guns at 25 yards. I always say if a .38 or .357 won't shoot the HBWC Load accurately, then I don't want it. Universal although it is slightly slower burning than Bullseye or Red Dot, does a great job when loading down to slower velocities. It is so much like Unique, just meters better for me and I think it burns a little cleaner but neither is bad.
 
I don’t load 9mm anymore. It’s just too cheap. .45, yep. Still load that as it isn’t cheap. I shoot at outdoor ranges so 200gr LSWC over AA#2. Economical and typically accurate. I can ring steel at 100 yards with my 1911 pretty consistently.

a second for Missouri bullet company.
 
For 230 grain bullets, use Vihtavouri N-310 or Clays. For 200 gr LSWC Bullets use American Select or WST.
 
My .45s like HP38(W231) with 230s.
This load shot well for me and is a nice practice load.

5" 1911
Mixed range brass, WIN LP, charges as thrown after setting measure
String: 2
Date: 9/11/2016
Time: 9:25:57 AM
Grains: 230
Hi Vel: 762
Low Vel: 714
Ave Vel: 734
Ext Spread: 48
Std Dev: 16
45 RMR 230 4.7 HP38
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
762 175.26 296.51
735 169.05 275.87
725 166.75 268.414
748 172.04 285.715
739 169.97 278.881
721 165.83 265.461
714 164.22 260.331

This AA#2 load also shot well, a bit higher vel
Mixed range brass, WIN LP, charges as thrown after setting measure
(decent SD for thrown charges and mixed range brass, AA#2 meters great)
String: 5
Date: 9/11/2016
Time: 9:31:06 AM
Grains: 230
Hi Vel: 793
Low Vel: 767
Ave Vel: 781
Ext Spread: 26
Std Dev: 9
45 RMR 230 4.7 AA2
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
782 179.86 312.279
777 178.71 308.299
793 182.39 321.126
789 181.47 317.895
789 181.47 317.895
767 176.41 300.414
776 178.48 307.506
 
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