Phone convo with Hodgdon and some info on my plated bullet blues

thaddy1978 · 11-10-2009, 05:32 PM

I was asking a few questions about some particulars to a Hodgdon rep and he filled me in on a few things.
First, Winchester 760 and H414, they are the same powders..."the same exact powders."
Second, Hodgdon prints info on Hornady because "that's what the tester just decided to use."
Third, Longshot is not recommended for plated bullets, as the velocities are too high and when used in a revolver, the kickback causes the bullets to move within their cases (I just bought a pound of the stuff).
Third, I just bought 750 plated bullets (Berry's). I was saddened to know that they needed to be loaded as leads as they needed less pressure and velocity to avoid bullet movement in the cylinder--as you can't crimp their bullets (according to Hodgdon). If I had known about the Berry's thing, I would not have gotten them. Oh well.

robertw · 11-10-2009, 05:53 PM

try to find Lee factory crimp die for your caliber. you can adjust the amount of crimp even without a cannelure on the bullet. you,ll have to shoot a bunch of different crimp settings for accuracy and pressures ,which is a good excuse to go shooting anyway. thanks for the tip on the powders.

res45 · 11-10-2009, 06:12 PM

What where you planning on loading for and what cal. and weight bullet do you have.

thaddy1978 · 11-10-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by res45

What where you planning on loading for and what cal. and weight bullet do you have.

357 and they are 125 and 158 gr plated. I just wanted some heavy and light loads.

res45 · 11-10-2009, 06:35 PM

You can shoot the Berry's up to 1200 fps with no problems,I generally keep mine down around 1100 fps. You can either get another powder and a Lee FCD and load the plated bullets or just buy some different bullets.

The LongShot just want allow you a min. load to keep the velocity down low enough. HP-38 would be good,just looking over there load data for lead bullets in the weights you have.

Fishhead · 11-10-2009, 07:41 PM

For what it's worth, I shoot plated bullets (Berry's and X-Treme) in my .41 mag all the time. I keep the velocity around 1,200 fps and have had real good luck with them. I had been just giving them a light roll crimp with the seater die, but I switched to the Lee FCD and do think it is the way to go. Either way, just don't crimp so much you cut through the plating.

Good luck and have fun with them.

DaTeacha · 11-10-2009, 07:55 PM

I just always figured a plated bullet should be loaded like the equivalent lead. I look at the plating as a better looking and cleaner alternative to sticky lube, but definitely not like a jacket.

DWARREN123 · 11-11-2009, 01:51 AM

I use Longshot for 40 S&W. Load anywhere from 7.0gr to 7.5gr for lead, plated and jacketed with no problems but this is in semi autos. The weight of the bullets is from 165gr to 180gr.

TeeRex · 11-11-2009, 09:35 AM

I have used plated bullets in .45 auto. I worked up a load that was pretty light, and crimped them using a Lee FCD. I could see problems using a roll crimp on a plated bullet, which a revolver round would normally use, but the Lee FCD will solve that. Just keep the speeds down and plated bullets should be fine for some plinking.

Jimbo Indy · 11-11-2009, 12:58 PM

Gee, I didn't know that! My best bowling pin loads are with Rainier plated ullets and Longshot. I use the `80 gr. flat points in both 40 S&W as well as 10 mm in my Smith 610. Shoots very well. Also like 230 gr. Rainier over Longshot in 45 ACP. Again, a killer pin load. Don't have all the data here at work but all of the above are at or near max loads for the particular amo. I just gotta get the 610 out with the crono to see what those bullets are doing out of the 6 1/2" barrel. Absolutely no problems with bullet setback or copper in the bore. I do use and recommend the Lee Factory Crimp Die for plated bullets.

SwedeSteve · 11-11-2009, 01:20 PM

Thanks for the info !!

res45 · 11-11-2009, 04:06 PM

I got this info from Berry's

Our standard caliber copper plated bullets have only two cautions - NO velocities over 1200 FPS and NO heavy roll crimps.

Suggest an OAL for 357 should be from 1.530 to 1.570.

gandog56 · 11-11-2009, 10:21 PM

I just said this in another post, but the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition manual does have copper plated bullet recipes for some calibers.

thaddy1978 · 11-12-2009, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandog56

I just said this in another post, but the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition manual does have copper plated bullet recipes for some calibers.

This is true, but their load data for plated is much less than the others.

Thanks for all the info fellas!!!

gandog56 · 11-13-2009, 10:46 AM

As they should be, but I believe they are still faster than cast recipes.

11-10-2009, 05:32 PM	#1
thaddy1978 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The great Shenandoah Valley Posts: 395	Phone convo with Hodgdon and some info on my plated bullet blues I was asking a few questions about some particulars to a Hodgdon rep and he filled me in on a few things. First, Winchester 760 and H414, they are the same powders..."the same exact powders." Second, Hodgdon prints info on Hornady because "that's what the tester just decided to use." Third, Longshot is not recommended for plated bullets, as the velocities are too high and when used in a revolver, the kickback causes the bullets to move within their cases (I just bought a pound of the stuff). Third, I just bought 750 plated bullets (Berry's). I was saddened to know that they needed to be loaded as leads as they needed less pressure and velocity to avoid bullet movement in the cylinder--as you can't crimp their bullets (according to Hodgdon). If I had known about the Berry's thing, I would not have gotten them. Oh well. Last edited by thaddy1978; 11-10-2009 at 06:13 PM. Reason: Misprint in title

11-10-2009, 06:12 PM	#3
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NC Posts: 581	What where you planning on loading for and what cal. and weight bullet do you have. __________________ Yugo/Chinese SKS / Mosin M44 / Sav. 99 300 Sav. / Ruger BH 357/9mm convertible / PA-63 9 x 18 etc.

11-10-2009, 06:35 PM	#5
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NC Posts: 581	You can shoot the Berry's up to 1200 fps with no problems,I generally keep mine down around 1100 fps. You can either get another powder and a Lee FCD and load the plated bullets or just buy some different bullets. The LongShot just want allow you a min. load to keep the velocity down low enough. HP-38 would be good,just looking over there load data for lead bullets in the weights you have. __________________ Yugo/Chinese SKS / Mosin M44 / Sav. 99 300 Sav. / Ruger BH 357/9mm convertible / PA-63 9 x 18 etc. Last edited by res45; 11-10-2009 at 07:50 PM.
	1 members found this post helpful.

11-10-2009, 07:55 PM	#7
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 3,645	I just always figured a plated bullet should be loaded like the equivalent lead. I look at the plating as a better looking and cleaner alternative to sticky lube, but definitely not like a jacket. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

11-11-2009, 01:51 AM	#8
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,129	I use Longshot for 40 S&W. Load anywhere from 7.0gr to 7.5gr for lead, plated and jacketed with no problems but this is in semi autos. The weight of the bullets is from 165gr to 180gr. __________________ Have a nice day!

11-10-2009, 05:53 PM	#2
robertw Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: too crowded Neenah Wi. Posts: 35	try to find Lee factory crimp die for your caliber. you can adjust the amount of crimp even without a cannelure on the bullet. you,ll have to shoot a bunch of different crimp settings for accuracy and pressures ,which is a good excuse to go shooting anyway. thanks for the tip on the powders.

11-10-2009, 07:41 PM	#6
Fishhead Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The gem state Posts: 71	For what it's worth, I shoot plated bullets (Berry's and X-Treme) in my .41 mag all the time. I keep the velocity around 1,200 fps and have had real good luck with them. I had been just giving them a light roll crimp with the seater die, but I switched to the Lee FCD and do think it is the way to go. Either way, just don't crimp so much you cut through the plating. Good luck and have fun with them.

11-11-2009, 09:35 AM	#9
TeeRex Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central, OH Posts: 375	I have used plated bullets in .45 auto. I worked up a load that was pretty light, and crimped them using a Lee FCD. I could see problems using a roll crimp on a plated bullet, which a revolver round would normally use, but the Lee FCD will solve that. Just keep the speeds down and plated bullets should be fine for some plinking.

11-11-2009, 12:58 PM	#10
Jimbo Indy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 136	Gee, I didn't know that! My best bowling pin loads are with Rainier plated ullets and Longshot. I use the `80 gr. flat points in both 40 S&W as well as 10 mm in my Smith 610. Shoots very well. Also like 230 gr. Rainier over Longshot in 45 ACP. Again, a killer pin load. Don't have all the data here at work but all of the above are at or near max loads for the particular amo. I just gotta get the 610 out with the crono to see what those bullets are doing out of the 6 1/2" barrel. Absolutely no problems with bullet setback or copper in the bore. I do use and recommend the Lee Factory Crimp Die for plated bullets.

11-11-2009, 01:20 PM	#11
SwedeSteve Suspected Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Anchortown, Alaska Posts: 25,529	Thanks for the info !! __________________ In the absence of orders, ATTACK !!

11-11-2009, 04:06 PM	#12
res45 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NC Posts: 581	I got this info from Berry's Our standard caliber copper plated bullets have only two cautions - NO velocities over 1200 FPS and NO heavy roll crimps. Suggest an OAL for 357 should be from 1.530 to 1.570. __________________ Yugo/Chinese SKS / Mosin M44 / Sav. 99 300 Sav. / Ruger BH 357/9mm convertible / PA-63 9 x 18 etc.

11-11-2009, 10:21 PM	#13
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 13,224	I just said this in another post, but the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd Edition manual does have copper plated bullet recipes for some calibers. __________________ People think I'm paranoid because I own guns. If I own guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?

11-13-2009, 10:46 AM	#15
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 13,224	As they should be, but I believe they are still faster than cast recipes. __________________ People think I'm paranoid because I own guns. If I own guns, what do I have to be paranoid about?