EVIL HUNTER Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I was at Cabelas and impulse bought 500 Rainier bullets 9mm 115 grn HPs. Any thoughts on them would be greatly appreciated? I am also seeing they recommend using the data as if they are lead bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Plated bullets may be okay for plinking or practice but that's all I would recommend them for, especially for the casual shooter. The reason they recommend lead data is because they are thin plated over lead so they have about the same properties as lead bullets versus jacketed bullets. Here are a few posts about plated bullets: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=124180&st=0&p=1403535&hl=+plated%20+rainier%20&fromsearch=1entry1403535 http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=116238&hl=%20plated%20%20rainier%20&st=0 http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=113540&st=30&p=1444467&hl=+plated%20+rainier%20&fromsearch=1entry1444467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WDB Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Never had a problem with them. Shot 135 gr. 40's at about 1,275 fps. Used a little more powder than lead but less than jacketed. Start low and work your way up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z40acp Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I would not try to use them for major but regular loads not exceeding 1200 fps they should be fine as long as you watch your crimp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckS Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 (edited) Never had a problem with them. Shot 135 gr. 40's at about 1,275 fps. Used a little more powder than lead but less than jacketed. Start low and work your way up. I have used the 135/40 Rainiers in my 40 open guns for years with no issues. I push them to 1250-1300 fps and they make nice round holes where they are supposed to (mostly ). Start with a lead load and work up. Some guns may not like plated but they work fine for me. Later, Chuck ETA: No crimp, just de-bell Edited May 16, 2011 by ChuckS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVIL HUNTER Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share Posted May 16, 2011 Sorry I should have put that on there. They will just be for target shooting and plinking is all. I have seem posts about shooting lead in glocks with the light coating they should be fine shouldnt they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Holman Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 My first ever .45ACP loads I used Rainier plated bullets. They were cheaper than jacketed bullets. I loved them. They wont lead the barrel unless you push them really hot, I worked up a nice soft shooting plinking and target load and didnt have any issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lugnut Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 They will be fine.... I use plated bullets all the time in matches. IDPA/USPSA matches that is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVIL HUNTER Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 I wound up pulling the 65 I had made up apart. The split between start of lead bullets and what I used were too far apart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobfromME Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) I've used plated bullets with great luck. I've not found them to be too velocity sensitive, but they sure were crimp sensitive. I over-crimped some in my 40 S&W and they keyholed at 10 yards! But then again, my crimp was just excessive. For fun one time, I loaded up my 124 grain plated bullets (Rainier and Berry's)in my 357 SIG P226 and saw how fast I could push them. By the time I reached maximum manual loads, they still held together and shot great! Like any 9mm bullet in a 357 SIG, getting the neck tension right took a bit of care, but no big deal. I wouldn't go so far as to say that plated bullets are great for 357 SIG, but they sure shoot well out of my P226! I got up to 1420 fps with them. Once again, I was just experimenting, so take it all with a grain of salt! I'm an engineer by trade and sometimes I just can't help myself...I have to experiment! Warmest regards, Rob Edited June 8, 2011 by RobfromME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I've used plated bullets with great luck. I've not found them to be too velocity sensitive, but they sure were crimp sensitive. I over-crimped some in my 40 S&W and they keyholed at 10 yards! But then again, my crimp was just excessive. For fun one time, I loaded up my 124 grain plated bullets (Rainier and Berry's)in my 357 SIG P226 and saw how fast I could push them. By the time I reached maximum manual loads, they still held together and shot great! Like any 9mm bullet in a 357 SIG, getting the neck tension right took a bit of care, but no big deal. I wouldn't go so far as to say that plated bullets are great for 357 SIG, but they sure shoot well out of my P226! I got up to 1420 fps with them. Once again, I was just experimenting, so take it all with a grain of salt! I'm an engineer by trade and sometimes I just can't help myself...I have to experiment! Warmest regards, Rob When you say your crimp was excessive, did you take any measurements? I'm just curious what they were since I feel like that is the same problem with a friend's load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobfromME Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Good morning, gng4life, I just posted the info here: http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129827&st=0&p=1470464entry1470464 Let me know if that answers the question. If not, please let me know and I'll get more info. Warmest regards, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I have used thousands of them before, in many calibers, in Glocks as well as other pistols, without any problems... BUT... I honestly don't see any reason to use them when you can get jacketed bullets for he same or better price. 2000 bullets from PD might sound like a lot to some people, but for most shooters they go fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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