LiveLife
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I have been shooting copper plated bullets for over 25 years and they have certainly evolved! They ranged from almost "copper washed" bullets where thin plating failed and lost accuracy even below mid level jacketed load data to thicker plated bullets (.010" - .015") like Speer TMJ/Gold Dot bullets on par with jacketed bullet thickness (.015" - .030").
Over the years on THR, many discussions ensued addressing the differences in plated bullets but subjective/personal opinions were often voiced instead of objective/factual data and I hope this thread will clarify questions regarding differences in plated bullets and in the spirit of "THR mythbusting" (like the digital scale mythbusting thread), do comparison range tests at 25/50 yards loaded up to rated velocities (ultimately, it's the holes on target that really matter, right?).
Speer Gold Dot: Around .018" - http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_const.aspx
Speer Total Metal Jacket (TMJ - Trademark) : Around .015" - http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/handgun/plinker/tmj.aspx
Rocky Mountain Reloading Hardcore Match: .012" - .014" (rated to 1500 fps, 11-12 BHN) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...15-gr-rmr-hardcore-match-round-nose-plated-2/
Berry's MFG Thick Plated (TP): .006" - .012" (rated to 1500 fps) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9589491#post9589491
PowerBond/Accura Outdoors: .010" - .011" (rated to 1300 fps) - https://accuraoutdoors.com/product-category/bullets/
X-Treme Heavy Plate Concave Base/Hollow Point (HPCB/HP): .008" - .010" (rated to 1500 fps, lead wire) - http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
Rocky Mountain Reloading Regular: .008" - .010" (no velocity rating yet) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...9mm-124-gr-rmr-round-nose-plated-bullets-new/
Berry's MFG Regular: .0035" - .008" (rated to 1250 fps) - https://www.berrysmfg.com/faq#FAQ6
Hunting Shack Munitions: Around .005" (no fps rating) - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/26...ameter-124-grain-plated-round-nose-box-of-500
Rainier Ballistics: Around .004" (rated to 1500 fps?) - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-plated-round-nose
X-Treme Regular: .006" - .008" (rated to 1200 fps, lead wire) - http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
Frontier CMJ (Complete Metal Jacket): Can't find plating thickness or fps rating - http://www.frontierbullets.co.za/product/complete-metal-jacket-bullets/
Over the years on THR, many discussions ensued addressing the differences in plated bullets but subjective/personal opinions were often voiced instead of objective/factual data and I hope this thread will clarify questions regarding differences in plated bullets and in the spirit of "THR mythbusting" (like the digital scale mythbusting thread), do comparison range tests at 25/50 yards loaded up to rated velocities (ultimately, it's the holes on target that really matter, right?).
(Updated 8/12/16) FYI, below is listing of "average/around or range of" plating thickness and velocity rating as best as I have found so far and will update as more information becomes available - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10309500#post10309500Testing method using the following:
- 17" Just Right carbine with 9mm/40S&W/45ACP caliber conversions
- Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn 6-18x50mm
- Leapers UTG Tactical OP bipod
- Caldwell chrono/app with Samsung smartphone
To conduct "blind test" during range sessions, I will have my wife/daughter load up numbered ammo boxes with rounds primer side up and I will not look at the bullet tips of loaded rounds while loading the magazines. Targets will be numbered same as ammo boxes so I won't know which brand bullets I am firing until I return back home.
Barrels of carbine will be cleaned the same prior to firing each test group for 5 round chrono measurements followed by 10 shot groups at 25 and 50 yards. To minimize barrel wear from bore brush (due to this thread discussion), barrels will be cleaned with Hoppes #9 swab followed by clean patches (Viva paper towel) and copper bore brush will be used only when necessary. Barrels will be allowed to cool between test groups.
Speer Gold Dot: Around .018" - http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_const.aspx
Speer Total Metal Jacket (TMJ - Trademark) : Around .015" - http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/handgun/plinker/tmj.aspx
Rocky Mountain Reloading Hardcore Match: .012" - .014" (rated to 1500 fps, 11-12 BHN) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...15-gr-rmr-hardcore-match-round-nose-plated-2/
Berry's MFG Thick Plated (TP): .006" - .012" (rated to 1500 fps) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9589491#post9589491
PowerBond/Accura Outdoors: .010" - .011" (rated to 1300 fps) - https://accuraoutdoors.com/product-category/bullets/
X-Treme Heavy Plate Concave Base/Hollow Point (HPCB/HP): .008" - .010" (rated to 1500 fps, lead wire) - http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
Rocky Mountain Reloading Regular: .008" - .010" (no velocity rating yet) - https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets...9mm-124-gr-rmr-round-nose-plated-bullets-new/
Berry's MFG Regular: .0035" - .008" (rated to 1250 fps) - https://www.berrysmfg.com/faq#FAQ6
Hunting Shack Munitions: Around .005" (no fps rating) - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/26...ameter-124-grain-plated-round-nose-box-of-500
Rainier Ballistics: Around .004" (rated to 1500 fps?) - http://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-plated-round-nose
X-Treme Regular: .006" - .008" (rated to 1200 fps, lead wire) - http://www.xtremebullets.com/Bullet-Load-Info-s/1952.htm
Frontier CMJ (Complete Metal Jacket): Can't find plating thickness or fps rating - http://www.frontierbullets.co.za/product/complete-metal-jacket-bullets/
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