Forget plated and FMJ bullets altogether. Try the Hi-Tek coated bullets.
Do a Google search for Hi-Tek coated cast bullets and learn about it.

Try a 100 round sample pack from these people.
http://missouribullet.com/

I'll never buy another jacketed or traditionally lubed cast bullet.

.

 

a very interesting site, gonna have to try some

 

Thanks, but I'm wanting something that I can buy locally.

 

Then I'd guess you're really going to limit your bullet choices and overspend. All bullet manufacturers are selling online and many have free shipping (Zero bullets, Montana gold, precision delta).

I started out using X-treme plated bullets in 9mm and 38/357 mag and shot thousands. But then I realized jacketed bullets (including hollow points) can be had for the same price or a penny more, as plated and stopped buying X-tremes. I've been having really good results with Zero 125 gr JHP bullets. Very consistent weights and shapes, where plated bullets can vary +/- 1.5 grains.

I also tried some of the coated bayou bullets and they shot very well but I just didn't care for the smoke and the smell haha. I was using N320 powder which isn't a hot burning powder like Titegroup.

 

Maybe I worded my question wrong, sorry. I just was curious as to what are the pros and cons of plated vs FMJ. I am not limiting my choice to these two yet, just trying to learn more about these two before i go further. Thanks.

 

What are the pros and cons to using one over the other?

The only pro for the plated bullet is lower cost. The pro for the jacketed bullet is slightly better accuracy.

I shoot a lot of plated bullets because I've gotten some good deals (price-wise) on them. But, the majority of my shooting is with cast lead bullets. I also like the coated lead, mostly because of the colors. IME and IMO, cast lead bullets are the most accurate, except for the premium jacketed bullets like XTP's. For me, the big con with plated bullets is lesser accuracy than cast or jacketed.

 

Something that no one has mentioned is that jacketed leaves the base of the bullet uncovered so there is bare lead showing. Plated bullets coat the entire bullet with copper.

Some indoor ranges don't let you use any bullets with lead exposed. You should use plated or coated bullets at these ranges.

 

Well FMJ yes but if you buy JHPs those won't have an exposed base.

I informally tested the Xtreme plated 124 gr RN against a Zero 125 gr JHP and didn't see much of a difference in accuracy until I started shooting beyond 10 yards. Inside 10 yards they shot pretty much the same. But I noticed more flyers and larger groups (with plated RN) once I backed up to 15-25 yards - even then it wasn't like a 10" group difference between the two bullets but it was noticeable.

 

Poster asked about FMJ or plated so why do ya'll chime in with lead and coated lead?



Plated is more economical and could be more eco friendly as the entire lead is covered. (as stated above). Accuracy to 25 yards shouldn't be a factor between plated and FMJ.

I use plated exclusively from XTreme...love 'em.

 

Yep, being able to use them at indoor ranges are the only pro I'm aware of for plated bullets...

 

I hear a lot of people talk about the accuracy of the XTP's, but what about the Hornady HAP's. These run a hair bit cheaper than the FMJs.

 

The HAPs I've used shoot very well. Reloading data is the same as XTPs. They are not the cheapest jacketed bullet going though.

 

I just got a thousand 124 gr. jacketed hollow point .355 bullets from Rocky Mountain Reloading for just under $120. They look really good. Closed base and all.

 

The X-Tremes are cheaper and I already have worked up a good load for them, so I'm leaning that way. These will be used for general target shooting and plinking..

if "target shooting" means shooting as accuracy as possible, buy FMJ or cast lead

Unless on sale for cheap, i don't think there are any "pros" to plated vs FMJ
In particular when you can buy Delta Precision or Zero FMJ for the same price
(when bought in 2000 qty)


..L.T.A.

 

So locally I can get Xtreme plated 9mm bullets for .08 each and 45 for .13 ea.. The Hornady FMJ 9mm for .11 ea. and 45 for .18 ea. That's out the door price. I haven't checked online prices yet.

 

9mm FMJ...8.3 cents ea (when buying lots of 2000 or more)
shipped to your door

https://precisiondelta.com/index.php/products/bullet/9mm/bullets-9mm-115-fmj.html


45 cal ...12.5 cents ea (2000 or more)
shipped to your door
1/2 cent le$$ than the plated

https://precisiondelta.com/index.php/products/bullet/45acp/bullets-45acp-230-fmj.html


..L.T.a.

 

Interesting thread.
I just made a purchase from Extreme Bullets because of the price (free ship & 5% off the list price).
Out side of using lead data instead of jacketed, I figured performance would be equal.
However, the 55gr .224 bullets are jacketed so there shouldn't be any differences (I hope).
Hornady 55gr .224 FMJ are tough to find locally & prices are kinda high on GB.

 

Interesting thread.
I just made a purchase from Extreme Bullets because of the price (free ship & 5% off the list price).
.

unless you're a bullseye shooter, they should be more than fine Nork.

when I personally speak of accuracy (plated being least accurate) there's not a HUGE difference in "practical" group size @ 25yrds

example to put it in perspective, if my best gun/load/bullet can shoot 1.25" groups from a rest @ 25yrds, the best I can get out of plated would be a 2.5" cluster with a flier or two stretching the group to 4"

for fast action shooting at 15 yrds and in, that doesn't make enough of a "practical" difference to be a concern

My dislike of plated is mostly rooted in tearing the plating too often while seating.
Yea i know I could flair the case mouth more and/or be more careful setting the bullet perfectly straight before sending it up the seating die ...but with PD or Zero FMJ, I don't have to think about it


..L.T.A.


..L.T.A.

 

Another advantage to plated is that they flatten very well on steel plates, where FMJ tend to ricochet - since I shoot steel a fair amount, I like the Xtreme plated. If you're not shooting steel plates, not a consideration.

 

unless you're a bullseye shooter, they should be more than fine

All my shooting & training is geared toward self defense "center mass" hits & my targets are 8x11 sheets of printer paper. If I can keep my shots within that target, I'm GTG.

My dislike of plated is mostly rooted in tearing the plating too often while seating.

I've loaded plated before & (knock on wood) I haven't damaged the plating. I usually flair the case mouth enough that there's no damage to the bullet.

I still prefer FMJ bullets (Zero are very good) but availability is spotty at my LGS (I like to buy local).
But the Extreme deal was too good to pass on.
I'm pretty sure they'll work just fine for my needs.

 

The main adv. to plated is the cost vs FMJ.

I have been shooting the 230 gr plated from RMR, they are some of the best and only 124.00/1k delivered.

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/45-2...5-230-Gr-RMR-Hardcore-Match-Round-Nose-Plated-1000-Ct-45-230-RMR-HC-RN-1000.htm

 

You can get jacketed 45 230 gr bullets for $120/1k delivered (when you buy at least 2k).

http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchan...hant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RZD&Product_Code=R123-B&Category_Code=ZBJ-45ACP

230 gr jacketed hollow points are only $8.50 more per 1000 (when you buy at least 2k). $132.50 delivered.

http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchan...hant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RZD&Product_Code=R123-B&Category_Code=ZBJ-45ACP

 

I shoot plated bullets quite a bit mainly because they are cheaper than FMJ and don't shave off like lead when reloading.

 

FMJ, plated, lubed lead, coated lead. All are good. I don't forget any of them.

For anyone desiring to eliminate bare exposed lead (including exposure to powder flame), fully coated lead bullets and plated bullets are great. Encapsulated FMJ bullets also fill that bill, available from a couple manufacturers at twice the cost and usually harder to get.

For those set up for FMJ, plated bullets are the cheaper alternative if the shooter is OK with slightly less accuracy in most cases. For practice they are perfectly adequate.

Cast lead with traditional wax lube is cheapest of all, easily purchased, king of accuracy, everyone knows how to expand/flare to seat without damage, perfectly adequate for just about every application. And you can make your own!

FMJ is toughest and can be quite accurate. Records have been set, especially where required for Service Pistol or other applications requirig FMJ and superb accuracy.

Take your pick. All are good and have their advantages. I won't dismiss any of them.


downtown0309, Xtreme are know to be among the best plated. If you can get them locally or directly from Xtreme, go for it.

 

Ever notice the best , most accurate (and expensive) .22 match ammo uses unplated bullets?

 

Plated bullets.....

I have never been a fan of plated bullets. I really haven't seen that much of a savings, and prefer JHP bullets for all of my competition shooting.

I shoot an STI Eagle 9mm with a Kart Match barrel. For range practice, I use 125 gr. RN Bayou Hi Tek coated bullets.....they are not quite as accurate as my JHP rounds, but are fine for practice. I have never had an issue with "smoke" with Bayou bullets and my powder choices.

For match shooting, I use a 124 gr JHP from Prec. Delta. From a sandbag rest, they will shoot about 1.5" groups at 20 yds using mixed headstamp brass. The Bayou bullets will group about 2.5" at 20 yds. from a rest with my reloads. If I needed better accuracy, I would use once fired all matching head stamp or new brass, with the 124 gr. JHP from Prec. Delta.

I use more bullets in practice than in matches, so using the Bayou Bullets saves money and still allows acceptable training.

 

You might find jacketed more accurate, you might not. Depends on you and the type shooting you are doing, the load and the particular bullet. When it gets right down to it, for most of the shooting I do, it doesn't make nearly enough difference to matter. For me, it's down to cost. I shoot indoors and wont shoot cast. I eventually will try some coated. But, someone always mentions jacketed being the same price and I never seem to find that to be the case. A penny more each? Maybe (although seems closer to 2 pennies a bullet when I'm bullet shopping) but saving a penny or two a bullet adds up enough over time that, again, with my shooting, I'll take the plated as I just don't see enough difference with most of the shooting I do.

Long way to get to this ... you've been shooting plated. Try some jacketed. See if it makes enough difference to you.

I also agree with the others who suggest checking out the online dealers, especially if you are able to buy in quantity. Some offer free shipping, or regular discounts and better pricing on bulk quantities. I don't know what you pay locally, but you may very well find better prices on line. No tax will offset some of the shipping cost if free shipping is not offered and most ship bulk rate and they can get a lot of bullets (near 70 lbs.) in a medium, bulk rate USPS Priority mail box. Plus, your postal carrier will really appreciate you.

 

In post #14 that's the prices I pay locally. The Xtremes are from my LGS and I get an extra 10% off that. The Hornady FMJs are from Midsouthshooterssupply.com which I'm very lucky that I live a mile down the street from so no shipping cost! Thank to all for the advice. As all my centerfire handguns are for defense/carry, I'm really not looking for distance accuracy. Yesterday at the range I shot a few X-Tremes (45acp 230gr)that I had left over and some XTPs (45acp 185gr). No noticeable difference at close range.

 

Just checked your post #14. I don't know about the Hornady's in terms of price but Precision Delta has great FMJ's at better pricing. If they still offer it, shipping is free when you buy 2K bullets. Last I checked they were close to $40 less per 1K than your Hornady price. They could very well be more now, but they will still be significantly less than Hornady FMJ's. Also check Zero bullets. If they are in stock, their FMJ prices are good as are their reviews.

The $130 for plated (230gr) is a bit over what I paid, last time. I haven't checked Xtreme's prices online lately. But they offer 5% off of something all the time and probably have that offer for 9mm and 45acp at least once per month. I'm not sure if they still have occasional free shipping offers. Haven't seen one in my email for a while that I can recall. Also, Xtreme isn't the only game in town for plated bullets. Do some googling, see what you come up with.

 

I believe Xtreme ran a black Friday special last year that was 15% off and free shipping. Stock up then and there's no comparison to jacketed prices that I'm aware of.

 

Yep, same here. I bought 2,000 230gr HPs figuring they would be cheap range fodder, especially for those folks that just like to shoot mags as fast as they can. Turned out they are one of my most accurate loads outta my Colt Government, even as compared to Nosler and Hornady 230 gr JHPs. One never knows.......

 

I've loaded and shot literally 1000's of both and never had a problem with either. Never found either to be more accurate that the other on the range. Like you I shoot 9mm 115gr RN Plated, and 124 gr RN Plated. In .45 ACP, 230gr RN Plated. I shoot Rainier and Berry. You are limited to lower Muzzle Velocities with plated but I've never found that to be an issue.

Frankly I find that the bullets tend to be way more accurate than I am from a Weaver Stance and Super Accurate shooting from the bench over bags (1 to 1-1/2") groups at 45'. Thats good enough for me.

 

I only shoot lead out of my handguns. All the bullseye shooters since day one have used lead to set the records. Plus once you shoot jacketed, the only way you can get all the copper out of your barrel is with electrolysis.....I was schooled on that by my old boss with his shelf full of bore cleaning chemicals, 2 days of scrubbing every 40 minutes, and his bore scope.

 

Lot's of copper has gone through lots of barrels and it just keeps shooting fine. I use some ammonia based cleaner once in a while, when needed, and I haven't seen any loss in accuracy after many, many thousands of rounds in the guns I've owned for a while. It's not my intent to argue that it might take some process other than chemical to remove every bit of copper. What I'm saying is that it just doesn't seem to matter.

As far as lead goes, I shoot indoors almost exclusively. It's what I prefer. The range doesn't care what I shoot. Reloads, cast, they don't care. But the smoke and breathing all that extra crap in is not something I care to do. So while I have done so in the past, I wont be loading and shooting any lead ... except on the occasional outdoor range trip. Lead is just not practical for me to load and shoot. Otherwise, I'd save some money and shoot it. Hence, why I will eventually try some coated bullets ... a little bit of cost savings and, reportedly, indoor friendly. Although, some report a burning odor, so I do have some reservations about breathing in some new/more unknown crap, in addition to what already is necessarily inhaled when shooting.

 

I keep some plated in stock for my 45ACP and like them for target. Easy to load and they feed well.

I shoot mostly lead out of my guns as I cast my own. Much cheaper, I can shoot 38/357/45 cheaper than 22.