what's the advantage of jacketed vs plated

[roval]

apart from being able to push to a higher velocity. for plinking and speeds less than 1200. is there something else?

with the good prices on the 115 fmj of rmr i bought 2000 rds. i was previoulsy using pc 147 bullets from mbc or sns casting. with the different load I've had to re zero my sights on my xdm and cz. i ended up wondering what the advantage was. is it more accurate? i haven't played around much with the load for accuracy.

I'm happy enough with my plated 230 gr rn 45 acp but would there be an advantage to fmj especially for a rd that goes only 800 to 850 fps.

for magnum loads i definitely get the advantage.

 

[Reefinmike]

Generally speaking, a true full metal jacketed bullet will be more accurate than a plated bullet. When bought in bulk, fmj bullets can be competitively priced with plated bullets. You can get jacketed 9mm bullets at precision delta for ~$7/k more than xtreme or rmr's plated bullets.

 

[cfullgraf]

Generally, plated bullets have a price advantage over jacketed but not always.

It depends on the usage of the bullet that determines which has the performance advantage.

For the shooting that I do, I'm happy with plated RN bullets in most of my semi-auto handguns (380 ACP, 9x19, 38 Super and 45 ACP). I like cast bullets in my lower velocity rimmed cartridge loads and jacketed in the high velocity stuff.

I load some plated wadcutters primarily because they are not as "greasy" to handle as lubed cast bullets.

 

[carbine85]

I always thought plated is intended to be used in place of cast lead. The copper plating prevents the lead fouling and allows for a little more speed.

 

[springer99]

I've always considered the plated bullets to just be of some advantage in limiting barrel leading and where range rules require no exposed lead. The construction types available do limit them to range use though and, with the exception of Speer gold-dots, I wouldn't consider them for field use or personal defense.

They tend to be priced below jacketed and above cast slugs. As others have mentioned, they do tend to be less accurate than jacketed(or for that matter hard-cast) bullets. For typical range play and certainly at most indoor range distances, the accuracy differences won't matter. Now that good, hard-cast-Hi-Tech coated bullets are becoming widely available, for price and performance, I'd choose the Hi-Tech cast over plated in a heartbeat.

 

[rfwobbly]

I always thought plated is intended to be used in place of cast lead. The copper plating prevents the lead fouling and allows for a little more speed.

This was the original intention; a thin flash of copper and the price would only be slightly more than lead. But some reloaders were crimping too hard, breaking through the plating, and causing a whole set of new issues. So the platers made their coatings progressively thicker over the last ~20 years. Instead of being priced slightly more than lead, they now tend to be priced more in line with jacketed.

So the number of advantages of plating has shrunk....
• Plating allows the construction of fancy defensive bullets, like the Speer Gold Dot
• Plating allows the best method of total encapsulation for those who need to stay away from lead issues
.

 

[243winxb]

http://s338.photobucket.com/user/joe1944usa/slideshow/Plated VS Jacketed Bullets From > http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494465&page=2 I would guess, the thicker the plating, the better?

 

[GaryL]

I would guess, the thicker the plating, the better?

As long as it's uniform. Which isn't quite as simple as it sounds.
Also, thicker plating requires more copper and more power usage, so there is the point of diminishing returns.

 

[roval]

thanks for the info

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

I always thought plated is intended to be used in place of cast lead. The copper plating prevents the lead fouling and allows for a little more speed.

Looking at some pistol loads speed difference is not always the case. But plated is just a cheap way to do exactly that, reduce chances of leading and compete with jacketed prices.

FWIW I have only has accuracy issues with heavy plated 44 mag loads and best accuracy with lead, but more consistency with jacketed in pistol loads. YMMV now that coated bullets stormed through they over my pistol needs and soon some rifle plinking needs too.

 

[longdayjake]

Generally speaking, a true full metal jacketed bullet will be more accurate than a plated bullet. When bought in bulk, fmj bullets can be competitively priced with plated bullets. You can get jacketed 9mm bullets at precision delta for ~$7/k more than xtreme or rmr's plated bullets.

Or you can get RMR jacketed for even cheaper than the precision delta bullets.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Or you can get RMR jacketed for even cheaper than the precision delta bullets.

Forgot about those! Good point!. Since i don't buy pistol bullets anymore i forgot. Then there are the coated bullets. No leading and the massive smoke associated with the cast lubed bullets. Can get the 115 gr 9mm for around $62 per K at SNS Casting. comparative to a few other guys out there like Missouri bullet and Bayou Bullets to name a few.

 

[buck460XVR]

Another distinct feature of jacketed over plated is with bullets intended for use in revolvers. Very few plated bullet have a cannelure for roll crimping into. This is why those who try to roll crimp 'em cut thru the plating. It's also why they are not a good choice if your gun is prone to having bullets jump crimp.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have used a lot of plated bullets in many calibers for target loads. Never noticed any difference in accuracy from jacketed. Now I buy coated bullets for all my target loads. The price and performance of coated bullets has made plated obsolete IMO.