Plated vs coated (if the same price)

[Nor-cal_Shooter]

I’ve read every “coated vs plated” thread on this forum and lotta people seem to favor coated. But one of the main reasons is price. But what if they were the same price? Would the coated bullets be as good, if they weren’t the cheapest?
 

So if they were priced at the same cheap price, which one would you use? Why would you use that one over the other?

Edited November 10, 2021 by Nor-cal_Shooter

[radny97]

I’d still use coated. Plated are harder to get good powder combos and are equally accurate. 

[AHI]

Coated 

[SGT_Schultz]

1 hour ago, Nor-cal_Shooter said:

So if they were priced at the same cheap price, which one would you use? Why would you use that one over the other?

 

Plated all day every day and twice on Sunday

 

Smoke and leading are the reasons why

[Cuz]

Definitely plated, not even a legitimate discussion. No reason to choose coated over plated other than cost or availability. 
 

[Alaskapopo]

2 hours ago, Nor-cal_Shooter said:

I’ve read every “coated vs plated” thread on this forum and lotta people seem to favor coated. But one of the main reasons is price. But what if they were the same price? Would the coated bullets be as good, if they weren’t the cheapest?
 

So if they were priced at the same cheap price, which one would you use? Why would you use that one over the other?

Coated is more accurate for me.  Plated bullets just suck for accuracy. Hate them 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Alaskapopo

[Sarge]

2 minutes ago, Alaskapopo said:

Coated is more accurate for me.  Plated bullets just suck for accuracy. Hate them 

That was my experience as well when I compared Xtremes to BBI.

[Boomstick303]

Coated for practice.  Plated and/or jacketed for matches.  Less smoke and a touch more accurate.  I will say I have limited experience with plated.  I just ordered some to test from Everglades.  

[Yeti]

Prefer a quality Hi-Tek coated for practice.  Cost effective plated bullets have not been as accurate for me as coated has been, in several pistols.

I'll stick with bulk jacketed instead of going with the $$ nice plated.  So, no more plated.      

 

[NoSteel]

In an 9mm Major Open gun I had poor results with several plated brands I tried.  While I use jacketed for matches I have very good results with a couple of the popular brands.  In a 9mm revolver,  it’s coated on top of the food change…. So,  the decision may be subject to specific gun or division run.

[bigdawgbeav]

As a Steel Challenge shooter I'm partial to coated vs plated (even if the same price).  Been stung too many times by plating or jackets coming off the plates.

[Furrly]

Definitely Coated bullets 

[Sinister4]

Coated for sure, zero question way more accurate for me, and loads far better

[zzt]

Plated for sure, unless the are X-Treme.  There are some good coated around.

[Farmer]

Depends on the gun and the sizing. Some it doesn’t matter and others there’s a big difference in accuracy or fouling. Use what works the best for you.

[Kokeman]

I prefer plated over coated. I have always had issues with lead build up in the barrel and comp with coated. 

 

[ohsevenflhx]

Coated are accurate but smokey. Plated don't smoke but shoot larger groups and even tumble sometimes. FMJ no tumble or smoke and are accurate.

 

[Artemas]

coated. I never really noticed any issues with smoke and not having steel plates shoot back is nice.

[zzt]

If any of you think there is no splatter from coated bullets and steel plates, you haven't shot enough.

[OnePivot]

There's no thin copper splatter from coated. That stuff is pretty sharp and likely the splatter being discussed.

[zzt]

People, my home club does not allow jacketed or plated bullets for steel matches.  Only lead or poly coated is allowed.  There is still plenty of splatter.

 

Copper is soft and the plating is .004" thick at best.  If you see shiny, sharp edged stuff, it is jacket material.

[Bwenning]

I prefer coated over plated, for me the pated bullets were less accurate and more expensive. 

[Sigarmsp226]

Plated

[Silver_Surfer]

Coated 

[Lightj75]

I use either, whichever I can get a deal on when I need projectiles. I've found though that my particular gun prefers .355 so that matters to me alot more than what's on the outside.