plated bullets for magnum revolvers

[Buck13]

I need some projectiles acceptable at the indoor ranges in .357 and .44 mag. Considering the 158 gr SWC and 240 gr RNFP from Xtreme or the 158 gr TC and 240 gr RNFP from Rocky Mountain Reloading. Any opinions?

I'll load these to magnum velocities, but not on the bleeding edge. The photos for all of them show a cannelleur (except the RMR .44, which has such a lame image on their website that I can't tell), but they look pretty shallow. I have not had any problems with crimp jump with heavy cast bullets (Lee dies). I'm guessing these plated bullets will need a lighter hand on the crimp.

 

[joneb]

I use a taper crimp for plated bullets. Trial and error will tell how hard you can push them.
With the Extreme plated 158gr swc for .357 Mag. I use 8.2gr of Accurate #5 with a standard primer.
PS,
I find that R-P brass is thin and gives poor case tension on the bullet, Win. brass works better. I reduced the diameter on my expander stem for more tension on the bullet.

 

[Handgun Shooter]

I have been using xtreme's bullets for a while and really like them. The cannelleur is shallow but works well with a taper crimp. I tried the 158 SWC and 357 velocities but I have a cylinder that shaves so I discontinued. I use them in 38 spcl at about 800fps.

 

[longdayjake]

except the RMR .44, which has such a lame image on their website that I can't tell)

Actually, the image is extreme high quality which takes a while to download on slower internet connections. But to be honest, those pictures show bullets from the first run and they didn't have the cannelure machine set up right. The cannelures on the bullets look much better now. Those bullets can withstand 1500 fps or more. That said, with some revolvers, plated bullets may not work well because the forcing cone on some revolvers will strip plating at higher velocities. Or if the timing isn't absolutely perfect, you can get stripped plating.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use plated bullets in 357 Magnum but keep the velocities below the manufacturer's recommended maximum.

If I want to shot top loads, I use jacketed.

 

[Reefinmike]

I use extreme plated 125's and 7.5gr of win 231 for a very accurate "magnum" load. Also have toyed around with using a starting load of h110, the bullets dont explode out the muzzle but the accuracy isnt there for me. I havent gotten a roll crimp to break the plating yet, the case will buckle before that happens.

 

[bluetopper]

I've always had better accuracy with cast, gas check bullets than plated bullets especially at full charge loads with 44 Mag and 357 and no leading whatsoever.

I'm a firm believer in gas check bullets if I want to get the most out of a magnum handgun.

 

[Havok7416]

It's an interesting question to me. I have a Desert Eagle in .44 Mag and I have seen the plated rounds at the store but hesitated to buy them. Maybe I'll have to try a few...

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I used to use Berry's plated 158grTCFP with 8.2gr of Power Pistol. Very accurate in my Model 28.
After I couldn't get them any more due to the shortage, I cast my own with wheel weight lead and tumble lube over 7.8 gr of power pistol, also very accurate.

I don't have much of a smoke problem, the tumble lube from Lee (Alox) only makes half the smoke that the wax and lanoline based lube makes and I am getting absolutely no leading at all in my .357mag.

I use extreme plated bullets in my 9mm and they are excellent.

Either plated or lead will work well for you at an indoor range.

 

[Buck13]

Either plated or lead will work well for you at an indoor range.

Most indoor ranges here don't allow naked lead. I don't want to be banned.

Which mold do you use for tumble lubing? I have lots of raw lead, but I've been unwilling to get into casting, in part due to the expense of buying a lubri-sizer.

 

[Reefinmike]

Most indoor ranges here don't allow naked lead. I don't want to be banned.

Which mold do you use for tumble lubing? I have lots of raw lead, but I've been unwilling to get into casting, in part due to the expense of buying a lubri-sizer.

any lee mold with the designation TL ie. TL452-230-2R 45. they have micro lube groves that ya just chuck in a bowl, squirt n shake. that easy. usually no need for sizing and lubing a thousand bullets takes 2 minutes max. only downside is the sticky lube left on the bullet nose. some tumble finished rounds with a splash of mineral spirits to remove the exposed lube, others just deal with it.

 

[Buck13]

Actually, the image is extreme high quality which takes a while to download on slower internet connections.

You're right! Weirdly, the download of that file hung up three times on me, making it look like an enlarged 10,000 pixel image. The DSL on my block is bad, but not usually that bad.

 

[Dr_B]

I've been using Rocky Mountain Reloading's plated and cast bullets in my magnums for a few years and have had no problems.

 

[RealGun]

I found a number of references to 1200 fps being the general limit of velocity for plated handgun bullets. Rifle bullets have thicker plating and are rated quite a bit higher in max velocity.

Penn Bullets has a very succinct explanation of plated bullets as a bullet type.

 

[Buck13]

I find that R-P brass is thin and gives poor case tension on the bullet, Win. brass works better. I reduced the diameter on my expander stem for more tension on the bullet.

Good point. Looking through my reloading notebook over the weekend, I saw that when working the brass back to back, I made a note that once-fired brass from R-P UMC ammo was easier to size than Starline. I'll have to remember to save the R-P stuff for bullets that can be crimped well.

That said, I did load some of that brass with 173 gr 358429 bullets and 14 gr of IMR4227. Those are a pretty close fit for length in my GP100, so I'd have noticed if the bullets pulled at all. No problems.

 

[Robert101]

If you are shooting lead, you are shooting for economy and probably range practice. I too keep my plated rounds to <1,200 fps in handguns. If you want to go top end and Hot then spend the money on powder and jacketed bullets.

 

[Buck13]

Some people take lead bullets very seriously. There's more to life than muzzle velocity, perhaps.

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/61

But, yes. I'm pretty much just plinking. Why one would "plink" with a Redhawk I don't know, but I do it anyway. OTOH, I don't let my K22 get too lonely...