.38 plated bullets

Your Hornady manual is dedicated to Hornady jacketed bullets only (and of course load data will be different than that for your plated bullets).
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Hornady loads definitely can apply as long as the bullets bearing surface is similar. Jacketed is jacketed, and plated has essentially the same friction and galling.

There is no real challenge in using jacketed data for plated. Advice to use low to medium load data is not that complicated. Whoever said to use lead bullet data is mistaken in my view.
 
The Speer 125gr GDHP is a jacketed bullet. A plated bullet is not jacketed. That 4.5 is the MAX load for a jacketed bullet as well. Just load 'em with cast bullet data and you'll be fine.
The Lee manual's data comes from the powder maker. Lee tests nothing themselves.
 
A plated bullet is not jacketed.
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The significant functional difference is maximum velocity, where the plated is limited.

The GDHP bullet is bonded, a form of plating. The Gold Dot comes from the punch mark in the nose, leaving a trace of the plating appearing like a "gold dot".
 
The significant functional difference is maximum velocity, where the plated is limited.

The GDHP bullet is bonded, a form of plating. The Gold Dot comes from the punch mark in the nose, leaving a trace of the plating appearing like a "gold dot".
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....yep.


Berry's recommends using low to mid range jacketed bullet recipes with it's plated bullets. Seat them to the OAL as shown in the recipe. If one starts low and works up, there should no be a problem. The only problem would be keeping the non-cannelured bullets from jumping crimp at the upper end of it's load limit.
 
Thanks to all, I loaded my first batch tonight, tried something that I had better info on
.38 Hornady xtp 125 gr hp
Win231 5 gr (my Lee disk was supposed to be 4.9 but I figured 5 was safe from the bottom end of 4.8)
Winchester new brass
CCI 500 primers
OAL 1.466
Loaded 12 rounds shot 2 (getting dark)
Went smooth on Lee turret press once I got the flare adjusted
The 2 in shot were fine, virtually no recoil
I have yet to get a chrono but it is on my quick list.

All info taken directly from the Hornady Manual

Thanks to all, I'll try the plated soon
 
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Hornady loads definitely can apply as long as the bullets bearing surface is similar. Jacketed is jacketed, and plated has essentially the same friction and galling.

There is no real challenge in using jacketed data for plated. Advice to use low to medium load data is not that complicated. Whoever said to use lead bullet data is mistaken in my view
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I addressed my response to a new reloader. Perhaps with more experience he would benefit by more technical info (jacket alloys vs. plated alloys and resulting pressure/friction coefficients, and bearing surface length and resulting friction of various jacket, plating alloys). Since the "overlap" between lead bullet data and mid-level jacketed (max for plated) data is small, starting with lead bullet data is ideal, especially for a new reloader. I have reloaded only 1100 plated bullets and used lead bullet data for my 9mm and 45 ACP with excellent results...
 
I have reloaded only 1100 plated bullets and used lead bullet data for my 9mm and 45 ACP with excellent results...
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The real point is that one should follow the advice of the bullet maker, who cautions against sticking a plated bullet with too low a charge and who explicitly states to use low to medium jacketed load data.

Going outside that envelope is for more experienced and knowledgeable, although not necessarily wiser, reloaders. There is no award I know of for achieving the lowest velocity that can hit a target. These competitions spawn both eccentric, fantasy world guns as well as ammo. Real world guns and ammo are for defense or hunting.
 
Loaded 25 founds of Berry'S 125 FP for my 38 J Frame today;
WIN231 4.3 grains
1.455 OAL

All shot well, nice groups for a shorty from 21'

Powder was low end of Hornady XTP 4.3 and mid level for lead 3.8

Very mild recoil

Thanks guys
 
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