load data for plated bullets

T

Travis_V

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I am trying to find a good load data for plated bullets.

i have tried to do some research on it and some things i read say to use lead data then others say to use FMJ data.
so do i use the lead or FMJ data?

i have Berrys 115 gn, 124 gn, and 147 gn, i also have extreme 115gn
and hornady 115 FMJ.

Pistol Powders i currently have, Bullseye, HP-38,Titegroup, and 1 pound of CFE Pistol.

i have loaded up some berry's 115 grain with 4.5 Grains of HP-38 with CCI small pistol Primers, have not been to the range to fire them but plan on going on Thursday. The data i used for this is from Hodgdons reloading manual LRN shows to use 4.3-4.8 Grains of HP-38.

they will be fired out of a Glock 17 with S3F stainless Threaded Barrel.
 
You should use jacketed data from a reliable source.

Just stay to the lower to mid-range neighborhood. Plating breakdown can occur if you drive them too hard.
 
Welcome to the group Travis.

I have been using exclusively Berry's plated bullets in my 9mm and the perform wonderfully.. I can PM you a number of links from different forums discussing the use of plated bullets if you like.

I understand they are not one of the powders listed in your group of on hand powders but I have found that Western/Accurate has the most complete listing of load data for plated bullets that I've found anywhere on the internet.

http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/
 
Nick, What data should i use? the only jacketed data thats in my Hodgdon manual is for 115 GR. SPR GDHP it doesnt give me a FMJ RN
 
I was always told to use lead cast data for plated bullets. I believe Lyman's reloading manual also advises using lead cast data. Lyman's also advises that if you can't find plated/lead data, you should then reduce the jacketed starting data by 10%, and proceed from there.
 
For plated, or even hard cast, mid loads of jacketed data are fine most of the time. I would shy away from max loads, but even using max loads of jacketed data is not a safety issue. It is an issue of potential barrel leading and accuracy if the plating is pushed beyond it's limits.

And some low pressure, low velocity calibers are very friendly to plated or cast rounds, even up to max jacketed loads. .45acp and .38spl come to mind. 9mm should be fine to use jacketed data, but I would stay away from max or near max loads. And inspect your barrel after firing to ensure there is no leading.
 
For your 124's, Speer #14 runs TiteGroup from 4.0 to 4.4 grains; and 4.0 to 4.5 grains for W231 (HP-38). (Two of the three bullets specified in the Speer manual are plated.)

Speer shows no data for 147's using HP38 or TG - probably because it's a rather heavy bullet for such fast burning propellants. You might want to look for an intermediate burn rate propellant for your 147's. AA#5, Unique, HS-6, Power Pistol, etc.

From a friction standpoint, a plated bullet going down the barrel behaves much more like a jacketed bullet than a lead bullet. Granted, it's an unlikely event, but using the low end of lead data can put you in a stuck bullet condition. Don't use lead data.
 
Travis I've been shooting 124gr Berry's with 4.1gr to 4.2gr of HP-38 and that load has worked well in both my 9's. With that round I am loading to an OAL of 1.155"

I've just now started with the 115gr Berry's loaded with HP-38. I bumped the powder charge up to 4.4gr and shortened the OAL to 1.125" which should deliver about the same pressures as the 124gr bullet.

I believe you are well within the safe limits with the load you are using.
 
Thanks for the info! when i go to my LGS Thursday i was planning on getting some more powders, would you suggest with me staying with Hp-38 or getting something like HS6 or CFE Pistol? unfortunately they done have Accurate powders just Hodgdon and alliant.
 
Lots of folks here know more about reloading than me, but I am starting to think that the variation in recommendations regarding plated bullets are because plated bullets vary so much. Thick plating acts more like a jacket, and bullets with thin plating act more like lead.
 
I'd avoid both low end lead data and max jacketed data. Anything other than that and you should be safe. As to which load works the best that's all a matter of figuring out what your gun shoots the best.
 
I am happy with the HP-38 in the 9mm and will continue to use it with the plated bullets. One reason being that it is readily available were the Aliant powders are a bit more spotty.

I have 2 powders on my list that I want to try, HS6 and Accurate #5. At the current time the Accurate is the least expensive of the 3 powders here locally.

Good luck and good shooting.
 
Travis B wrote: Nick, What data should i use? the only jacketed data thats in my Hodgdon manual is for 115 GR. SPR GDHP it doesnt give me a FMJ RN
Click to expand...

Travis, if you check with Speer or look in one of their manuals, you will find that Gold Dots and Uni Cores ARE in fact plated bullets. That said not all plated bullets are alike due to differences in core hardness and plating thickness.

That said check with Berry's FAQ's you will find that cover your question for their product: Berrys FAQ's
 
I have been running CFE-Pistol in my 9mm for the past 10k or so rounds. I have used the OP's other 3 powders and they all work well in 9's. I also run 90% 124gr bullets - plated, jacketed, and coated in various profiles. As other have said not all plated bullets are created equally. This also goes for coated and jacketed as well.

For the 124 gr bullets I have found keeping them to 900-1050 fps with CFE-p to be towards the middle to upper end of the recommended max loads. It runs clean and is accurate across all of my 9mm pistols.
 
Plated 115gr RN loaded with Titegroup OAL 1.14.
4.1 gr soft shooting, accurate
4.3 gr pops, feels more like factory ammo, equally accurate.
Both cycle every 9mm I own.
 
I use 4.2 gr of HP-38 with RMR 124gr "thick plated" bullets and it's a nice soft shooting practice load.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
get the Lee reloading manual.

The Lee 2nd edition has plated bullet info.
Also if you use Ramshot, or Accurate powders, they have plated load info.
 
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