What the heck are SilverTips made of?

[Don Gwinn]

The Winchester Silvertip bullets look like aluminum. I know they aren't, having been told so, but not what they actually are. Anyone?

 

[VictorLouis]

That's funny, I was under the impression that they WERE aluminum. Or, at least the jacket material is. ???

 

[Will Beararms]

Silver. Sorry, I am weak.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."

 

[TEXAS LAWMAN]

Win Silvertips are aluminum jacketed hollowpoint lead bullets.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Originally, I believe that Silvertips in all calibers had an aluminum alloy jacket over the standard lead bullet. For reasons I don't remember, 9mm and .45 were changed to standard gilding metal jackets that are E-Nickeled to appear "silver." I think that the .32ACP is currently the only Silvertip using an aluminum alloy jacket. Serrations or creases have been added to the jackets as well. Best.

 

[VictorLouis]

OK, SAC, you may have hit on something. The .40 and 9mm jackets appear to be brightly polished to a smooth, high gloss. The .45 jackets are a dull, motley finish by contrast. Same with the .380s, IIRC, but I've no experience with the .32s.

 

[Archie]

I was under the impression they were of aluminum.
I remember using a box of them in a Police Match in the late '70s. The 90 grain 38 Spl loading. When fired on metal plates, they ignited and gave a faint ball of flame. Got several comments from my law enforcement bretheren.....

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Archie

 

[DMSC]

The .32 auto silvertips appear to be coated lead. The surface is irregular, just like lead, only silver instead of grey. They are not polished like a jacket would be.

 

[.357SIG]

I've used both the 9mm and .45 Silvertips. I fired a 9mm into a water jug and retrieved the jacket only, which was definately aluminum. I've never done the same with the .45, but it looks like coated lead, as DMSC said.