Coated vs Plated vs Jacketed - which is worth it?

Scarlett Pistol · October 14 2017 05:58:41 PM MDT

Some context:
A local guy makes coated bullets and with local pick up he listed 1k of 180 gr bullets for $75 (not listed on his site). That's the best deal I've found and I got 100 to test. They're working good, or were. Got everything running and made my work up. All was well. When I loaded more last night I started noticing some where the led has pressed up as the bullet was seated and crimped. This didn't happen to any in my work up. My cases where still being expanded the same, so now I have to trouble shoot this issue. Here's the guy's site:
https://hsbullets.com/collections/40s-w/products/40s-w-401-180gr-100-count?variant=42388443218

All that being said because it made me wonder if coated is worth the trouble. I know tons of people use it for 9mm. With how much I shoot 9mm it will be what I use next (got a bunch of Berry's at $55 per 1k that I'm going through). BUT... For 10mm is coated lead worth the savings?

If not should I use plated? I found good deals at Xtreme.

I also found some new FMJ at Rocky Mountain Reloading that is about the same price as their plated bullets. Since I will only shoot about 2k of 10mm a year should I just get Jacketed for a little more and have better quality?

Thanks for all the help in advance!

The_Shadow · October 14 2017 08:15:18 PM MDT

I use the RMR bullets, mostly the pulled jacketed bullets and they shoot fine...pricing can be really good on them.
I also shoot my own cast bullets, not coated, but sized to 0.4015" with Red Carnauba lube rated @ 2700 fps. They make for cheap target play for me.

sqlbullet · October 14 2017 08:54:09 PM MDT

I shoot lots of cast coated bullets. But I cast and coat my own, and they are a bunch cheaper than $75/K. They might cost me $0.75/K, maybe even $1.50. Plus time, but I like doing it.

At 75/K, I would wait for American Reloading or RMR to run a special on pulls. Couple times a year they will have a 25% or 30% off sale on all .400 bullets. With the discount I can get HST pulls for about $87/k. I would gladly pay $12/K for a copper jacketed bullet.

Now, to address your issue. This occurs commonly on lead and powder coated bullets when seating and crimping in one step. The bullet is still moving just a bit when the crimp is applied, and on a soft material like lead or PC, you get a little collar. For best results, seat in one step, then crimp in another step.

What is the right choice for you is a question only you can answer.

Scarlett Pistol · October 14 2017 11:23:04 PM MDT

Dang... I keep hearing people say to seat and crimp in separate steps and now I see that it's pretty important for coated bullets...

If your costs are for reals I would cast and coat my own bullets in a heartbeat! I live in a townhouse and don't have the space for any more equipment like that... I guess I'll have to weigh out getting more dies vs getting jacked or plated bullets.

sqlbullet · October 15 2017 11:40:16 AM MDT

I could argue I get paid to cast my own bullets. I have a source of lead that is stable, and provides 8-12 tons of lead a year.

I, of course, don't shoot that much. So 99% of it I clean up, cast into ingots and sell to companies that cast either bullets or fishing lures. Precision Cast Bullets uses a good bit of my lead, for instance.

As a result, I not only have no money in the lead, I actually make enough to pay for reloading supplies, etc. The price above is for what I spend on powder coat per K bullets.

blaster · October 15 2017 06:46:30 PM MDT

the only coated bullets I use are for my 300 Black Out sub sonic loads. I have to expand the case mouths to keep from shaving the coating.( plated bullets too) I don't have to do that step with jacketed bullets.

sqlbullet · October 16 2017 09:56:00 AM MDT

American Reloading has their "Premium 40" mix back in stock:

https://americanreloading.com/en/40-caliber-10mm-400-401/773-40-premium-mix-500-ct.html

And, they have a 25% off with the code "october25". That puts these jacketed bullets down to $60/K

asilcot10 · October 16 2017 01:57:23 PM MDT

Quote from: blaster on October 15 2017 06:46:30 PM MDT
the only coated bullets I use are for my 300 Black Out sub sonic loads. I have to expand the case mouths to keep from shaving the coating.( plated bullets too) I don't have to do that step with jacketed bullets.

That is what I do with my 300 BLK loads as well. I load on a Dillon 550 using a 30 Carbine powder funnel (which flares the case mouth) and a Lee Factory Crimp Die to remove the flare. When you load powder coated bullets you do not want a heavy crimp. Use a taper crimp on pistol rounds to hold the bullet without cutting into the coating.

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Scarlett Pistol · October 16 2017 03:14:24 PM MDT

Quote from: sqlbullet on October 16 2017 09:56:00 AM MDT
American Reloading has their "Premium 40" mix back in stock:

https://americanreloading.com/en/40-caliber-10mm-400-401/773-40-premium-mix-500-ct.html

And, they have a 25% off with the code "october25". That puts these jacketed bullets down to $60/K

That is a great deal! Have you ordered this type of mixed bullet "box" through them? Is it basically 2-3 different bullet types or will I be faced with 10 types of bullets which all require different load data?

Quote from: asilcot10 on October 16 2017 01:57:23 PM MDT
Quote from: blaster on October 15 2017 06:46:30 PM MDT
the only coated bullets I use are for my 300 Black Out sub sonic loads. I have to expand the case mouths to keep from shaving the coating.( plated bullets too) I don't have to do that step with jacketed bullets.

That is what I do with my 300 BLK loads as well. I load on a Dillon 550 using a 30 Carbine powder funnel (which flares the case mouth) and a Lee Factory Crimp Die to remove the flare. When you load powder coated bullets you do not want a heavy crimp. Use a taper crimp on pistol rounds to hold the bullet without cutting into the coating.

Definitely seems that seating and crimping are 2 separate steps with coated lead, not matter the bullet type or calibre.

sqlbullet · October 17 2017 08:18:49 AM MDT

I have ordered their mixed HST pulls before. They ranged from 155-180 grain. I posted the relative amounts I got. I wanna say it was about 10% 155, 25% 165 and the rest 180.

I would guess this will be a mix of HP and FMJ in weights from 155-180. But, for cheap heads for practice ammo, just sort them by size and shoot them up.

Srb08 · October 17 2017 07:14:46 PM MDT

I've been shooting these over 8grs of Power Pistol with good results.
They average 1,125 over my chronograph.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/11043

Scarlett Pistol · October 18 2017 01:35:51 PM MDT

Good to know on the mixed bullets and the ones from grafs, thanks!

Scarlett Pistol · November 07 2017 10:37:01 AM MST

Quote from: sqlbullet on October 17 2017 08:18:49 AM MDT
I have ordered their mixed HST pulls before. They ranged from 155-180 grain. I posted the relative amounts I got. I wanna say it was about 10% 155, 25% 165 and the rest 180.

I would guess this will be a mix of HP and FMJ in weights from 155-180. But, for cheap heads for practice ammo, just sort them by size and shoot them up.

I got a separate taper crimp die and it seemed to work well on the last of my coated bullets. For the price of this mixed batch I figured I might as well get them, so I ordered some of these. It will be a while before I have space to make my own coated bullets and in the mean time I am willing to give these a try for the great price. Thanks for the recommendation!