ever experience leading from plated bullets?

mo84 · April 15, 2012, 04:28 PM

I reloaded 40, 500 mag berrys plated bullets to max powder load,some a little higher and did not experience any ledding. I was wondering if anyone ever experienced ledding from plated bullets and how many it took before it did

jfrey · April 15, 2012, 04:34 PM

I've shot thousands of Berry's plated bullets and never had any leading. That's why I shoot 'em. Do get a little copper in the barrel once in a while but CR-10 takes care of that. Isn't really a problem in pistols though.

mo84 · April 15, 2012, 04:46 PM

i was just wondering as alot of people say to load them to mid range powder charge due to leading issues, was wondering if there was any real world experience with that

dacaur · April 15, 2012, 06:59 PM

I've only heard that said about actualy lead bullets, not plated. Thats the whole reason for plating, to keep the lead inside....

Hammerhead · April 15, 2012, 07:11 PM

Never had a problem with leading, peeling or anything else and I've shot a lot of plated bullets since 2008.

PA-Joe · April 15, 2012, 07:22 PM

They are not jacketed so you can't push them to max velocities.

dacaur · April 15, 2012, 09:51 PM

Quote:

They are not jacketed so you can't push them to max velocities.

Well no, not max jacketed velocities. You load plated bullets like lead bullets, so you can load them to max LEAD velocities....

overkill0084 · April 15, 2012, 10:00 PM

One can push lead pretty fast if you're so inclined. You can push them faster than you can most plated. Get the fit right and leading isn't that big of a deal.

Hammerhead · April 15, 2012, 10:33 PM

1,200 fps should be no problem for Berry's or Rainier plated bullets. I've had both brands over that speed without issue, and not the thick plated ones either, just plane jane plated.

I think the thick plated ones are really designed for reloaders who can't resist over crimping.

In auto calibers I use no crimp, in revolver calibers a slight roll or taper crimp is all you need unless you are trying to magnum-ize them in a light revolver. Then a hard cast or jacketed bullet is a better choice.

black mamba · April 16, 2012, 12:23 AM

I just talked to the head man from Berry's at the NRA Convention on Friday. He said keep them to 1250 fps or less, or you start to see spatter on the targets. The lead inside is quite soft, and when run too hot they start to liquify from the heat of friction. He also said that if you crimp them too hard, you can cut right through the plating and ruin the accuracy. The plating is very thin on the standard bullets.

mmb713 · April 16, 2012, 12:33 AM

I've gotten leading when loading plated bullets in 45 Colt for my Blackhawk. I was pushing the bullets too fast, and probably over crimping as well. If you keep them under 1000fps and apply only a light crimp it's not a problem. Now if I want high velocity loads I use XTPs. I only use the plated for lower velocity loads. The plated bullets are more accurate at lower velocity too. I couldn't group a damn when I pushed them too fast, and if a load ain't accurate I ain't interested. Remember that the core is soft swaged lead, with only a thin layer of copper over it.

chris in va · April 16, 2012, 02:40 AM

It's not even swaged, but cast and plated.

Hammerhead · April 16, 2012, 04:40 PM

Berry's and Rainier plated bullets are swaged then plated then in some cases (Berry's 'double struck' and all Rainier) swaged again.

April 15, 2012, 04:28 PM	#1
mo84 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 257	ever experience leading from plated bullets? I reloaded 40, 500 mag berrys plated bullets to max powder load,some a little higher and did not experience any ledding. I was wondering if anyone ever experienced ledding from plated bullets and how many it took before it did

April 15, 2012, 04:34 PM	#2
jfrey Senior Member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Location: Coastal South Texas Posts: 557	I've shot thousands of Berry's plated bullets and never had any leading. That's why I shoot 'em. Do get a little copper in the barrel once in a while but CR-10 takes care of that. Isn't really a problem in pistols though.

April 15, 2012, 04:46 PM	#3
mo84 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 257	i was just wondering as alot of people say to load them to mid range powder charge due to leading issues, was wondering if there was any real world experience with that

April 15, 2012, 06:59 PM	#4
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 733	I've only heard that said about actualy lead bullets, not plated. Thats the whole reason for plating, to keep the lead inside....

April 15, 2012, 07:11 PM	#5
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Never had a problem with leading, peeling or anything else and I've shot a lot of plated bullets since 2008.

April 15, 2012, 07:22 PM	#6
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	They are not jacketed so you can't push them to max velocities.

April 15, 2012, 10:00 PM	#8
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	One can push lead pretty fast if you're so inclined. You can push them faster than you can most plated. Get the fit right and leading isn't that big of a deal.

April 15, 2012, 10:33 PM	#9
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	1,200 fps should be no problem for Berry's or Rainier plated bullets. I've had both brands over that speed without issue, and not the thick plated ones either, just plane jane plated. I think the thick plated ones are really designed for reloaders who can't resist over crimping. In auto calibers I use no crimp, in revolver calibers a slight roll or taper crimp is all you need unless you are trying to magnum-ize them in a light revolver. Then a hard cast or jacketed bullet is a better choice.

April 16, 2012, 12:23 AM	#10
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 909	I just talked to the head man from Berry's at the NRA Convention on Friday. He said keep them to 1250 fps or less, or you start to see spatter on the targets. The lead inside is quite soft, and when run too hot they start to liquify from the heat of friction. He also said that if you crimp them too hard, you can cut right through the plating and ruin the accuracy. The plating is very thin on the standard bullets.

April 16, 2012, 12:33 AM	#11
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	I've gotten leading when loading plated bullets in 45 Colt for my Blackhawk. I was pushing the bullets too fast, and probably over crimping as well. If you keep them under 1000fps and apply only a light crimp it's not a problem. Now if I want high velocity loads I use XTPs. I only use the plated for lower velocity loads. The plated bullets are more accurate at lower velocity too. I couldn't group a damn when I pushed them too fast, and if a load ain't accurate I ain't interested. Remember that the core is soft swaged lead, with only a thin layer of copper over it.

April 16, 2012, 02:40 AM	#12
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	It's not even swaged, but cast and plated.

April 16, 2012, 04:40 PM	#13
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Berry's and Rainier plated bullets are swaged then plated then in some cases (Berry's 'double struck' and all Rainier) swaged again.