Polymer bullets and sizes

[Zendude]

I was reading about polymer coated lead bullets on the Eggleston Munitions and Badman Bullets websites. They look interesting and are about the same price as copper plated bullets. The Eggleston site has several different diameters for the same caliber bullets.
First question is are there any downside to polymer vs copper plated bullets? Second, how do I know the proper diameter to pick for a certain caliber?

 

[Bronx kid]

Someone will be along to correct me if I am mistaken But the only down side is that they are a bit more expensive than lead bullets.

As far as size you would need to slug your barrel then add .001-.002 to that just like using a lead bullet.

 

[Reefinmike]

People generally like em better than plated bullets because they usually are cast of a harder lead and can be pushed at much greater velocities than copper plated bullets.

Pick your size like you would do a lead bullet. Slug your barrel and add .001. You probably don't have to slug your bore and can just assume your barrel is cut right. In my case, I actually have to use .359 bullets in my beretta m9 with an oversized .358" barrel. The gun is well known to have oversized barrels so that isn't too alarming. These coated bullets wont lead your bore even if they are undersized. I'm pushing bullets softer than 10bhn 2,000fps in my 357 lever. People report of being able to push harder coated bullets up to 2,600fps. Copper plated bullets generally are only good up to 1,200fps.

 

[PO2Hammer]

If plated and coated are the same price, I would go with plated. Plated bullets shoot the cleanest IME, coated are better than plain lead, but still leave some fouling, especially in revolvers.

The only reason I shoot coated is because they cost only slightly more than plain cast and far less than plated.

I use .358" coated bullets for 357 mag and .451" for .45 auto.

What are your calibers?

 

[Zendude]

If plated and coated are the same price, I would go with plated. Plated bullets shoot the cleanest IME, coated are better than plain lead, but still leave some fouling, especially in revolvers.

The only reason I shoot coated is because they cost only slightly more than plain cast and far less than plated.

I use .358" coated bullets for 357 mag and .451" for .45 auto.

What are your calibers?

I primarily reload 38 special, 380acp, and 32 H&R.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I use Blue Bullets coated .358" 125 RN for my friend's .38, cheap and accurate, little to no fouling.

 

[Dudedog]

I have had good results with Missouri Bullet Company (MBC) caoted bullets and they offer THR members a 5% discount with the correct discount code.

Depending on velocity (pressure) harder is not always better.
MBC offers some of their bullets in both BHN 12 and BHN 18

The only downside I see is they are slightly more expensive than lubed lead.
Generally I prefer to spend the few extra $ for plated for my 9mm, the coated seem to shot a bit better in my .357 close however and to close to call in .45 ACP

No leading issues with lubed lead, but I do prefer to spend the few extra $ for the coated ones.