Plated to Blue bullet load change - how much?

Jeffm004 · April 9, 2018, 05:33 AM

I see on thebluebullets.com you can get a discount for being a member of this forum. Nice. I've been running Xtream plated 124s, judging by the empty 8 lb. Bullseye container, about 13,000 of them. Blue would save me another $130-$150 over 13,000 if I switched.

Has anyone made this switch? How much did your load data change? Any Chrono change? I'm going to order a sample pack and run a chrono myself but what say you? I found 8 Ibs. of Bullseye on sale for $110. So it is the powder for another 13,000.....

Doublehelix3216 · April 9, 2018, 07:45 AM

First off, great score on the 8 lbs of Bullseye!

I don't shoot coated lead in 9mm, but I do in .40 S&W for my competition gun, and in .45 ACP for my 1911s.

I did make the switch from plated to coated in .45, and I found that the coated lead shoots a bit faster using the same load. I would back off your normal plated loads by at least 5%, and then work up.

Once again, I have never loaded 9mm in coated lead, so you may need to reduce your load by slightly more than that, I am only guessing here based on what I saw with my .45 loads.

mikld · April 9, 2018, 11:33 AM

I reloaded plated and PCed or Hi-Tek coated bullets the same as my cast lead bullets. Same load data, same sizing, etc.. I had zero problems and was able to wring out some good accuracy from them all...

Hammerhead · April 9, 2018, 12:58 PM

You start over and work up the coated load.

T. O'Heir · April 9, 2018, 01:21 PM

Plated bullets use cast bullet data. So do polymer coated bullets(5 to 10 FPS slower than cast). There is no "coated load".
"We recommend that you use published lead load data from reputable sources."
https://www.thebluebullets.com/category-s/1857.htm

Tsquared · April 9, 2018, 03:00 PM

Hammerhead has good advice:

Quote:

You start over and work up the coated load.

I have been using CFEpistol and have a pet load of 4.5gr with Xtreme RN plated 124gr bullets. I have been using Bayou 124gr RN coated lead with 4.7gr of CFE. I have also used Summer's Enterprises coated lead 124gr RN with 4.3gr of CFE. All three loads chrono 1055 to 1077 fps.

My point is different manufacturers all making a round nose bullet at the same weight and diameter will react differently because of the density and hardness as well as the coefficient of friction of the outside coating.

robhic · April 12, 2018, 10:05 AM

A bit off in some way but yesterday I shot some loads I made FOR the Blue Bullets. I must have miscounted or something as I didn't have quite enough to finish loading all the cases I had prepared (I use a single stage RCBS RockChucker press). I also was loading for .45acp not 9mm.

7.5 gr of HS-6 using a 230gr RN bullet. So I used up the Blue Bullets and scrounged around my storage area and found some 230gr RN lead and some 230gr RN copper plated bullets. So I figured same weight and same bullet profile - good to go.

All shot fine and there was no noticeable recoil difference. If I hadn't seen the blue, grayish and shiny copper bullets in the box I wouldn't have guessed there were 3 different bullet-types. So take that for what it's worth....

alistair · October 21, 2018, 02:11 PM

Jeffm004 - where do you see the discount on bluebullets?

**Unclenick** · October 21, 2018, 03:08 PM

Matt Dardass of Dardass Cast Bullets used to give forum members that discount, but he has retired and his business is closed. I didn't know about Blue Bullets offering a discount to us, either, but it is posted under the Sponsorships and Discounts tab on their site along with other forums and along with following them on Facebook, etc.

Eddietruett · October 22, 2018, 10:25 PM

What is the difference in the polymer coating and HyTek Coating? I went from plated to HyTek Coated that I get from SNS, Missouri and Summers Enterprises. Will never shoot another plated bullet. The Blue Bullets look interesting, but there is no style selection and the price is about the same as HyTek. Does the polymer coating perform different?

dahermit · October 23, 2018, 07:03 AM

Quote:

What is the difference in the polymer coating and HyTek Coating? I went from plated to HyTek Coated that I get from SNS, Missouri and Summers Enterprises. Will never shoot another plated bullet. The Blue Bullets look interesting, but there is no style selection and the price is about the same as HyTek. Does the polymer coating perform different?

Look here. They have the answers to all your cast, powder coat, and Hy Tek questions: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/foru...-Alternatives&

April 9, 2018, 05:33 AM	#1
Jeffm004 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2013 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 255	Plated to Blue bullet load change - how much? I see on thebluebullets.com you can get a discount for being a member of this forum. Nice. I've been running Xtream plated 124s, judging by the empty 8 lb. Bullseye container, about 13,000 of them. Blue would save me another $130-$150 over 13,000 if I switched. Has anyone made this switch? How much did your load data change? Any Chrono change? I'm going to order a sample pack and run a chrono myself but what say you? I found 8 Ibs. of Bullseye on sale for $110. So it is the powder for another 13,000.....

April 9, 2018, 11:33 AM	#3
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	I reloaded plated and PCed or Hi-Tek coated bullets the same as my cast lead bullets. Same load data, same sizing, etc.. I had zero problems and was able to wring out some good accuracy from them all... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

April 9, 2018, 01:21 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Plated bullets use cast bullet data. So do polymer coated bullets(5 to 10 FPS slower than cast). There is no "coated load". "We recommend that you use published lead load data from reputable sources." https://www.thebluebullets.com/category-s/1857.htm __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

April 12, 2018, 10:05 AM	#7
robhic Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2016 Location: Outside of New Orleans, LA. Posts: 313	A bit off in some way but yesterday I shot some loads I made FOR the Blue Bullets. I must have miscounted or something as I didn't have quite enough to finish loading all the cases I had prepared (I use a single stage RCBS RockChucker press). I also was loading for .45acp not 9mm. 7.5 gr of HS-6 using a 230gr RN bullet. So I used up the Blue Bullets and scrounged around my storage area and found some 230gr RN lead and some 230gr RN copper plated bullets. So I figured same weight and same bullet profile - good to go. All shot fine and there was no noticeable recoil difference. If I hadn't seen the blue, grayish and shiny copper bullets in the box I wouldn't have guessed there were 3 different bullet-types. So take that for what it's worth.... __________________ - Robert

October 21, 2018, 03:08 PM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Matt Dardass of Dardass Cast Bullets used to give forum members that discount, but he has retired and his business is closed. I didn't know about Blue Bullets offering a discount to us, either, but it is posted under the Sponsorships and Discounts tab on their site along with other forums and along with following them on Facebook, etc. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 9, 2018, 07:45 AM	#2
Doublehelix3216 Member Join Date: December 4, 2016 Posts: 76	First off, great score on the 8 lbs of Bullseye! I don't shoot coated lead in 9mm, but I do in .40 S&W for my competition gun, and in .45 ACP for my 1911s. I did make the switch from plated to coated in .45, and I found that the coated lead shoots a bit faster using the same load. I would back off your normal plated loads by at least 5%, and then work up. Once again, I have never loaded 9mm in coated lead, so you may need to reduce your load by slightly more than that, I am only guessing here based on what I saw with my .45 loads.

April 9, 2018, 12:58 PM	#4
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	You start over and work up the coated load.

October 21, 2018, 02:11 PM	#8
alistair Member Join Date: June 28, 2014 Posts: 32	Jeffm004 - where do you see the discount on bluebullets?

October 22, 2018, 10:25 PM	#10
Eddietruett Member Join Date: June 15, 2017 Posts: 54	What is the difference in the polymer coating and HyTek Coating? I went from plated to HyTek Coated that I get from SNS, Missouri and Summers Enterprises. Will never shoot another plated bullet. The Blue Bullets look interesting, but there is no style selection and the price is about the same as HyTek. Does the polymer coating perform different?