Anyone load plated bullets for .45 ACP?

[nogaroheli]

I bought some 200 grain round nose plated bullets at the show here in the Springs last weekend, I didn't realize that plated were so different than jacketed. So now I'm trying to work up a load for them. Barry's bullet's says they're good with the light loads you would use for jacketed bullets, so the big question- do any of you have experience with loading plated bullets for .45 acp? It'll be for a 4" XD or 5" 1911 if that matters.
Thanks!

[oLa]

I've loaded about 1k rounds of 200gr... used Berry's HPs with 5.2 gr of Bullseye - love it for practicing & plinking - not ever had an issue.

Hope that helps

[nogaroheli]

That does help, thanks!
From what I'm seeing that's about 10% less than a max load, which is right in line with the majority of suggestions I'm seeing from Berry's and others.
One more question, with HP's vs. RN's should there be any type of adjustments?
Again, thanks!

[SA Friday]

200gr SWC plated
4.3 gr Clays (not Univ Clays or Int Clays, plain ole Clays)
1.225 OAL
Fed or Win Lg pistol primer
mixed brass

shaken, not stirred.

[tmckay2]

i load with 230 grain plated and use 4.8 gr of 231. its right in the middle of the min and max for either lead or jacketed, i don't remember. its been accurate and lowers the kick since its a little light (coming out of a 1911 i can notice a difference) but like i said still accurate so ive stuck with it

[Hannu]

Generally, plated bullets are little softer than jacketed ones. That means lower start pressure.

Berrys 185gr RN
Clays 4.5 gr
1.25" OAL
Primer Winchester LP
18x reloaded Starline brass
MV 828 fps from 5" Kart barrel with short freebore

I was gonna use it for bullseye practice, but accuracy was not very good. Might be ok for short range dynamic shooting like Combat League. I use Zero and Montana Gold 185gr JHP instead.

[cowboykjohnson]

Generally, plated bullets are little softer than jacketed ones. That means lower start pressure.

Same way I load lead home cast bullets. work just as good as anything else just don't try to make them run hot.

[coop68]

i use plated as well i have loaded a couple 1000's rounds make sure you seat the bullet first than crimp it as the copper is very thin and will bulge if you try and seat and crimp at the same time!

my load is set up for my gun:

200gr RN extreme bullets
about 5.0 gr of Win 231 i normally use 4.5gr but was having extraction problems due to my gun being fairly new at the time stiff spring!
win LP primers
assorted brass

[Hannu]

Very good advice from coop68. I once loaded 500 pcs .50 AE ammo with plated bullets, only to find that crimping had crushed the copper and I was able to chamber about 30% of those rounds :(

Can you guys get plated bullets cheap from somewhere ? I have found that Extreme, Berrys and Rainier are more expensive compared to bullets I normally use, Zero and Montana Gold JHPs.

Prices per bullet :
Montana Gold 9mm 115gr JHP 0.0755
Extreme 9mm 115gr RN 0.092
Berrys 9mm 115gr FP 0.079

Extreme .45 185gr 0.117
Berrys .45 185gr SWC 0.117
Zero .45 185gr JHP 0.110

[Tim K]

5.1g of 231 for me with the 230g Berry's. I use the same load for lead, which is something else you might consider.

http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=13

$34/500 is hard to beat...

[coop68]

Very good advice from coop68. I once loaded 500 pcs .50 AE ammo with plated bullets, only to find that crimping had crushed the copper and I was able to chamber about 30% of those rounds :(

Can you guys get plated bullets cheap from somewhere ? I have found that Extreme, Berrys and Rainier are more expensive compared to bullets I normally use, Zero and Montana Gold JHPs.

Prices per bullet :
Montana Gold 9mm 115gr JHP 0.0755
Extreme 9mm 115gr RN 0.092
Berrys 9mm 115gr FP 0.079

Extreme .45 185gr 0.117
Berrys .45 185gr SWC 0.117
Zero .45 185gr JHP 0.110

poor A.E .50 cal ammo did you have fun pulling all of the bullets to save the brass and powder/primer?[Muaha]

i seem to get pretty good prices for extreme plated i get in on large orders with other shooters the last order price is bellow what i am paying

.45 200gr RN extreme plated about .09 cents a round so about 45.58 per 500

i just placed an order for bullets ordering about 5000 i am paying between 81-91 dollars per 1000 for .45 the extreme stuff and i think 60-66 per 1000 for 9mm at 115 gr plated. the final cost all depends on shipping and how many people order!

[nogaroheli]

Success! I loaded a few test batches and decided to stick with:

200 gn rn plated Extreme bullets
CCI large pistol primers
5.2 gn's Bullseye (cause I had it already)
Mixed cases

Functioned flawlessly through my XD and was very accurate, nice kick but definitely not full strength. I still need to try it in my 1911 that didn't like cast bullets and see how they work, if they feed I'll be in heaven.

Thanks for the load advice all!

Now I just need to find a deal like Coop68 on Extreme bullets...