Handgun Re-loading....plated vs FMJ vs lead bullets.....

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lyle1

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Hello, I am seeking advice from experienced handgun reloaders. I would like to get back into
handgun reloading, after taking a break from it for the last 20 years. However, I have been loading for my various rifles over this time. I will be loading for revolvers only, in .38 Special and .45acp. It looks like powder is difficult to come by, but I have found a small quantity of Hodgon Titegoup and VV N320. I am been told that both of these powders work well for these calibers. Any opinions?
I am trying to load, light recoiling, target ammo. So I am trying to decide on what brand of bullets, what style/shape of bullets, what grain to use and most importantly, plated, lead or FMJ bullets? It looks like the plated bullets are very similar in price to lead, and are "supposed" to be "cleaner" than lead bullets?

Anyways, I would appreciate any and all advice that some of the "old timers" could give me on the many questions I have. Thank you in advance.:)
 
Tightgroup is what I use for both calibers you listed, and universal as well for 38. Wadcutters are nice for target shooting with the 38, they punch nice clean, sharp holes. For 45 ACP, either a 230gr RN or 200gr SWC are my choice. Plated bullets are much cleaner than lead, no lube required and no lead covered digits from thumbing them into mags all day.
 
pearcetopher said:
you will never be happy casting for an autoloader unless you size your bullets and use all the same cases
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I shoot almost exclusively cast WW boolits in my 45ACP and have never sorted any brass, not once lol. I do lubesize them though, this is a must for most autoloaders. Casting from free wheel weights is the best decision I ever made in regards to handloading, I'm sitting at $65/1000 rounds out the door for 45ACP not factoring in my time.
 
Given comparable pricing, my first choice between plated and lead would be plated. I would choose lead if I could get a significant cost saving, which isn't always the case with commercially available bullets. Casting might be worthwhile if you can get scrap lead very cheaply and have somewhere to melt the lead into ingots and remove the impurities.

Jacketed bullets are usually too expensive to shoot in quantity.
 
It looks like plated bullets are a great way to go. For loading information, do you use the same powder charges as lead bullets?
Can you download plated bullets at the same velocity/pressure as lead bullets?
 
lyle1 said:
It looks like plated bullets are a great way to go. For loading information, do you use the same powder charges as lead bullets?
Can you download plated bullets at the same velocity/pressure as lead bullets?
Click to expand...

ideally you treat plated as lead, but i will often use jacketed load data and work up a load.
 
I cast lee tumble lube 230gr RN for 45 ACP and neither size nor sort. Then again I'm a 15 yard shot anyway. My JR carbine groups them nicely at 50m though.

I've used cactus plains lead bullets by the thousand for all handgun shooting. Since buying a Glock I've switch to campro for 9mm, since they aren't much more costly.

Bullseye and titegroup are my powders and I load somewhat north of mid range, which seems the most accurate, or at least more accurate than I can be.

Don't discount cast bullets if you can find a supply, especially for the 45. If I was buying them they'd be $95 per thousand, whereas campros are closer to $135. But if you're not going through a few thousand rounds a year, perhaps that's not an issue.

I'm also using those Russian primer than Canada ammo is selling under their house brand. Dirt cheap if you buy by the case, and they work well in all of my handguns.
 
The only real down side to plated vs. jacketed is that generally it is recommended to not shoot plated bullets over 1200 fps because the thin plating can separate from the lead core. At target velocities this is not an issue and plated are normally quite a bit cheaper than FMJ. However, if you cast your own bullets the price really drops. I shoot almost exclusively home cast lead bullets (9mm, 38 Spec, 40 S&W, 44 mag, 45 ACP) and the cost never exceeds $5-6 per 50 rounds (and sometimes a lot less if I happen to luck into some cheap wheel weights).
 
Mark-II said:
I'm also using those Russian primer than Canada ammo is selling under their house brand. Dirt cheap if you buy by the case, and they work well in all of my handguns.
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I've fired a couple thousand of these (SP & LP) without a single dud. If you buy by the sleeve (5000) and your order totals over $200, shipping is free so even with shipping & tax in the cost is under $30/1000 ($29.40/1000 to be precise). Tough to beat that. Some of the US brands are going for $50/1000 and more.
 
ted_dent said:
I've fired a couple thousand of these (SP & LP) without a single dud. If you buy by the sleeve (5000) and your order totals over $200, shipping is free so even with shipping & tax in the cost is under $30/1000 ($29.40/1000 to be precise). Tough to beat that. Some of the US brands are going for $50/1000 and more.
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And since if I am going to load pistol, I will crank out 2k rounds of that calibre, it's not like I'm sitting on thousands of primers for very long. I'm a bit hesitant about the rifle primers in regards to their strength and heat, when it comes to loading for auto loaders and with ball powder. I've read some mixed reviews on US sites about the rifle primers (murom brand in the states), but I've no reservations about the pistol ones for any load calling for non-magnum pistol primers
 
...I admit that I hate the gunk in dies part, especially when you finally notice your shrinking OAL because your seating die has a growing plug of lube in it. >_<
 
While we are talking about plated bullets, for .38 special target loads, what grain and shape?
And for my 45acp in my S&W revolver?
What brands of plated bullet do you recommend that we can purchase here in Canada.
 
lyle1 said:
While we are talking about plated bullets, for .38 special target loads, what grain and shape?
And for my 45acp in my S&W revolver?
What brands of plated bullet do you recommend that we can purchase here in Canada.
Click to expand...

I have a local seller for Campro, which works well for me. I've also used some of the Frontier plated ones, and have been satisfied with their price and performance.

I use 158 for .38 and 230 for 45acp. Some sort of flat point or SWC for .38 and RN for 45 (I've auto loaders).
 
lyle1 said:
It looks like plated bullets are a great way to go. For loading information, do you use the same powder charges as lead bullets?
Can you download plated bullets at the same velocity/pressure as lead bullets?
Click to expand...

Do NOT load campro plated bullets at the low end of the cast data, or you might stick one in the barrel. Start at the low end of jacketed as a minimum, and work up from there if needed. They have a thicker plating then some others, and can be pushed faster. Go to their website and read the loading. data.
 
lyle, you've already got a few suggestions for plated bullets; I've used CamPro bullets myself more than a few times.

Just dropping in to this thread to recommend lead bullets from The Bullet Barn in BC. I've shot many thousands of them in various calibers, including .45ACP, .38spl, 9mm, .40S&W and .44Mag, and have always been more than satisfied. Best value for money in my experience. The only trouble, like Mark-II said, is wax build-up in the dies, but that's a problem easily fixed in 2 minutes. Definitely worth the trouble in my opinion.
 
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