357Mag, Titegroup and 160grn RN Copper Plated

CyaN1de

CyaN1de

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Anyone have a start load for these?

Bullets are Monarch brand Copper plated or Copper washed bullets.

New to handgun loading and can't find a recipe for this combo.

I also have Lil' Gun in the shop if that can be used with this combo as well.

Any help is appreciated.
 
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Others will no doubt disagree but I would avoid plated bullets in any revolver requiring a good crimp. The plating is so thin that it will in fact break thru upon crimping, resulting in separation and a spray of copper plating from the cylinder gap upon firing. You may have pieces of plating in your hand but most likely it will strike you in the cheek or other parts of the left side of your face. Its painful and not pretty but it can be a badge of courage. Its more dangerous for those around you. I no longer load plated bullets in any of my revolvers for that reason. Some may try and tell you your gun is out of time but that is not the case at all. You will not see this happen with lead or jacketed bullets but only with plated. Be careful and wear glasses for sure! I have had this experience with more than 1 brand of plated bullet over the years, so I avoid them all(for revolver use). If you are loading for a light load which requires no crimp I am sure you will be fine but a 357 calls for a good crimp.
Good luck.
dB
 
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Thanks daBear, these are for inside loads so they will not be full power loads.

I would like to be around the 700-750 fps range. Will this require a crimp?

I also have some 38 special brass I could load up with these bullets if that would help me out.
 
daBear said:
If you are loading for a light load which requires no crimp I am sure you will be fine but a 357 calls for a good crimp.
Good luck.
dB
Click to expand...
I would add that a heavy crimp is only required for slow-burning magnum powders, H110 specifically. No heavy crimping required using Titegroup.
 
I would seriously avoid them in a 357 just for peace of mind. You can use them in a mild load like a 38 but again, use only enough force to hold the bullet in place. Any additional pressure by the crimp will break thru the plating meaning you just get the metal bits lodged in your face at a lower speed:D. You will need to try if u want to proceed with using them, but be sure there is nobody standing beside you or slightly behind you as that stuff will fly. If its a matter of funds, you can load up some hard cast lead which moves at a hi velocity with no leading issues IF you have a hard enough alloy. Then again, some clubs wont allow lead which is a bit silly as its not the bullet that presents the health problem, unless you're standing in front of it!
Good luck..
dB
 
I did not know that about plated bullets!

Gentleman that was some great information and I going to check my munnitions supply out to make sure I don't have some stashed.

I'm to pretty to get gun scars:D
 
Well we can shoot lead at our range but I didn't pick any up this weekend and I wanted to shoot my new gun this Thursday. The copper plated were the only ones I got :(
 
In my experience, so long as they're not crazy-hot loads (which they won't be if you're using Titegroup), your plated bullets will be just fine. I've used'em on occasion, never maimed anyone.
 
We found one these bullets on the range, going by the marks it appeared to have shed it's copper skin in the barrel...
 
Consider it more of an information exchange. If you're going to shoot plated in a powerhouse revolver beware of what CAN happen if you DO choose to crimp. I use TG a lot in med-warm-toasty loads and use a fair crimp(certainly not as much as with H110/W296). I no longer use plated in a 357 for the reasons above. If I want to use light loads, there's 38Special for that. Best to hear it from somebody it has happened to if you're new, or even experienced but not having used plated before. There are some xlnt plated bullets out there but few will tell you about the revolver situation. I must admit that the only manufacturer that I have ever seen a warning from is actually AIM bullets on their website. Forewarned is prepared. I wish somebody would have mentioned it to me, but I got used to the idea that it wasnt a good day on the range unless you had a bloody face and bits of copper embedded in your face... I am much smarter now:rolleyes:
Cheers
dB
 
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