Plated Bullets--Rainier 240gr HP bullets-.44 Mag

VonFatman · January 10, 2005, 12:25 PM

I'm going to try some Rainier plated bullets...240gr HP. I'd like some warm (not high end) loads for the range.

I have Blue Dot, Tight Group & 231 on the shelf. I can certainly get other powders.

Anyone care to toss out a recipie or two?
Rainier's people recommend taking 10% off the top of the posted "high end" of any JHP or JSP recipe (out of the manuals) and make that the Rainier
"high end".

I've heard some say this is fine, others recommend the plated bullets
fly just like the jacketed and make no "allowance" for the softer bullet.

I'm all ears! Thank you.

Bob

AustinMike · January 11, 2005, 12:13 AM

Did you look here yet?

http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddata.htm

I haven't tried any .44 loads yet. I did contact Rainier to ask about crimping, since their bullets have no grooves. FYI, they recommend using the Lee Factory Crimp dies.

durt_b1ker · January 11, 2005, 04:25 AM

I just bought some of the Ranier's to try out. I have a Lee Pro 1000, and there are only three spaces in the turret. Should I buy a cheap single stage press to use my factory crimp dies in?

MADISON · January 11, 2005, 08:50 AM

Plated Bullets--Rainier 240gr HHP bullets is what I load my 44 Mag with.
CAUTION---it's a Max load!!! 10.3 grains of UNIQUE
This is at the uper end of the 1200 feet per second that you can shoot a plated bullet at. I use a Taper Crimp. If you have any dies except Lee or Hornady, where the decapping stim is easily removable, there is an easy way.
Remove the decapping assembly and readjust the die to size the case with the bullet inside.

VonFatman · January 11, 2005, 09:27 AM

AustinMike,
Thank you & yes I did, the "Midway" link from Rainier has the most useful data, however, they did not offer information on the powders I had on the shelf...I was hoping to try some Blue Dot or Tight Group powder with these bullets.

durt_b1ker,
Hmm, I don't know what to say regarding your set-up. I was told by another reloader this morning that he (using the same Rainier HP 240's) just uses enough roll crimp to remove the bell. He says that is enough to hold the bullet w/out deforming the bullet. After a semi-frustrating evening at the press last night (Rainier bullets need a tapper crimp---RCBS does not include a taper die, nor make one in .44 Mag, according to their website)...so I tried to figure out why I'd bothered buying RCBS dies, then why I'd bought plated bullets...on and on...anyway, my buddy who gave me this advise has reloaded .44 mag. ammo for me before with these bullets and he's an expreienced re-loader...I'll try getting using the roll crimp die tonight and see if I can make it work like he suggested...I suspect I will have no trouble.
Another "problem" I have had with the RCBS dies in my Dillon, I don't seem find the RCBA die "instructions" very clear...or I'm just to foggy?!?...anyway, I am fortunate to have friends around who have been able to discuss my "problems" on-site or I'd still be trying to understand the instructions.
Learning to reload is an ongoing (nightly process for me...I'm a little slow I guess).

MADISON,
Thanks for the load info and suggestions. A question: I'm using RCBS dies, the decapping/sizing die is at station one of my Dilllon 650, I'm assuming in my situation, I'd need another decapping die to use it at a later station as a taper die?

Thanks guys!

Bob

AustinMike · January 11, 2005, 10:24 AM

VonFatman, I've got one of Midway's Load Map books and they list the following for a 240 gr plated .44 mag:

Hodgdon Titegroup:
start: 7.8gr = 1107 fps
max: 9.1gr = 1173 fps

VonFatman · January 11, 2005, 11:06 AM

Thanks AustinMike!

Bob

impact · January 12, 2005, 09:43 PM

One thing you have to watch with plated bullets is not to give it to much crimp! If over crimped it will tear the plating. This is not hearsay! I saw over crimped 9mm rounds that would put a bullet through the target with copper plating stuck in the paper around the hole! I use a light taper crimp with my reloads.

One other thing don't use plated bullets with a gun that has a built in muzzel brake in the barrel.

I use plated bullets in my 9mm, 38s, 357s and 45 ACP with good luck but the accuracy is not as good as jacketed or lead bullets.

VonFatman · January 12, 2005, 10:19 PM

Thanks Impact.
I've been able to get the bell out with the RCBS seater die...and when testing the bullets for a good bite into the case...found I had to really work at pulling the test bullets...also found that the bullets showed no crimp markings...I guess my patience paid off...it took a while to get the crimp down!
Test rounds fired great too.

Best wishes.

Bob

January 10, 2005, 12:25 PM	#1
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Plated Bullets--Rainier 240gr HP bullets-.44 Mag I'm going to try some Rainier plated bullets...240gr HP. I'd like some warm (not high end) loads for the range. I have Blue Dot, Tight Group & 231 on the shelf. I can certainly get other powders. Anyone care to toss out a recipie or two? Rainier's people recommend taking 10% off the top of the posted "high end" of any JHP or JSP recipe (out of the manuals) and make that the Rainier "high end". I've heard some say this is fine, others recommend the plated bullets fly just like the jacketed and make no "allowance" for the softer bullet. I'm all ears! Thank you. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 11, 2005, 04:25 AM	#3
durt_b1ker Member Join Date: September 17, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 35	I just bought some of the Ranier's to try out. I have a Lee Pro 1000, and there are only three spaces in the turret. Should I buy a cheap single stage press to use my factory crimp dies in? __________________ I loves the Surplus!

January 11, 2005, 08:50 AM	#4
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Plated Bullets--Rainier 240gr HP bullets-.44 Mag Plated Bullets--Rainier 240gr HHP bullets is what I load my 44 Mag with. CAUTION---it's a Max load!!! 10.3 grains of UNIQUE This is at the uper end of the 1200 feet per second that you can shoot a plated bullet at. I use a Taper Crimp. If you have any dies except Lee or Hornady, where the decapping stim is easily removable, there is an easy way. Remove the decapping assembly and readjust the die to size the case with the bullet inside.

January 11, 2005, 09:27 AM	#5
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	AustinMike, Thank you & yes I did, the "Midway" link from Rainier has the most useful data, however, they did not offer information on the powders I had on the shelf...I was hoping to try some Blue Dot or Tight Group powder with these bullets. durt_b1ker, Hmm, I don't know what to say regarding your set-up. I was told by another reloader this morning that he (using the same Rainier HP 240's) just uses enough roll crimp to remove the bell. He says that is enough to hold the bullet w/out deforming the bullet. After a semi-frustrating evening at the press last night (Rainier bullets need a tapper crimp---RCBS does not include a taper die, nor make one in .44 Mag, according to their website)...so I tried to figure out why I'd bothered buying RCBS dies, then why I'd bought plated bullets...on and on...anyway, my buddy who gave me this advise has reloaded .44 mag. ammo for me before with these bullets and he's an expreienced re-loader...I'll try getting using the roll crimp die tonight and see if I can make it work like he suggested...I suspect I will have no trouble. Another "problem" I have had with the RCBS dies in my Dillon, I don't seem find the RCBA die "instructions" very clear...or I'm just to foggy?!?...anyway, I am fortunate to have friends around who have been able to discuss my "problems" on-site or I'd still be trying to understand the instructions. Learning to reload is an ongoing (nightly process for me...I'm a little slow I guess). MADISON, Thanks for the load info and suggestions. A question: I'm using RCBS dies, the decapping/sizing die is at station one of my Dilllon 650, I'm assuming in my situation, I'd need another decapping die to use it at a later station as a taper die? Thanks guys! Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 11, 2005, 11:06 AM	#7
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Thanks AustinMike! Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"

January 11, 2005, 12:13 AM	#2
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	Did you look here yet? http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddata.htm I haven't tried any .44 loads yet. I did contact Rainier to ask about crimping, since their bullets have no grooves. FYI, they recommend using the Lee Factory Crimp dies.

January 11, 2005, 10:24 AM	#6
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	VonFatman, I've got one of Midway's Load Map books and they list the following for a 240 gr plated .44 mag: Hodgdon Titegroup: start: 7.8gr = 1107 fps max: 9.1gr = 1173 fps

January 12, 2005, 09:43 PM	#8
impact Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: the great state of Texas Posts: 854	One thing you have to watch with plated bullets is not to give it to much crimp! If over crimped it will tear the plating. This is not hearsay! I saw over crimped 9mm rounds that would put a bullet through the target with copper plating stuck in the paper around the hole! I use a light taper crimp with my reloads. One other thing don't use plated bullets with a gun that has a built in muzzel brake in the barrel. I use plated bullets in my 9mm, 38s, 357s and 45 ACP with good luck but the accuracy is not as good as jacketed or lead bullets.

January 12, 2005, 10:19 PM	#9
VonFatman Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: Kansas City Posts: 587	Thanks Impact. I've been able to get the bell out with the RCBS seater die...and when testing the bullets for a good bite into the case...found I had to really work at pulling the test bullets...also found that the bullets showed no crimp markings...I guess my patience paid off...it took a while to get the crimp down! Test rounds fired great too. Best wishes. Bob __________________ "Onward thru the Fog"