Plated Bullet Success: 45 Short Line

I found a plated bullet load that works well for the short line in my 45 wad gun. If it gives similar results in my ball gun I will be loading a batch for use in CMP service pistol matches.

X-treme Bullets 200 gr plated round nose 0.452"
IMR Target 4.0 gr
Cartridge overall length 1.265"

This was with Blazer cases and CCI 500 small pistol primers but I doubt that cases and primers make much difference at 25 yards.

IMR Target is very similar to Alliant Bullseye but a bit hotter. 4.2 grains of Bullseye should give about the same velocity.

I've had even better results with the Speer #4473 185 gr TMJ SWC bullets but those are so expensive and scarce right now that I don't suggest trying them.

I have been thinking about trying the Berrys Plated 185 SWC for the short line. Anyone try these?

A HM once told me even lubed rocks will hold the 10 ring at 25yd.

What weight of lubed rock?

Rocks aside, I just want the aspiring service pistol shooters to know that they don't have to shell out the bucks for 45 jacketed bullets to clean targets on the short line. Save the Nosler and Zero bullets for the long line and you only need half to a third as many.

In 9mm the JHPs are more affordable but you can still be competitive shooting plated bullets for sustained fire.

I’ve shot 38 WC ammo commercially loaded with Berry’s, loaded Berry’s in 9mm, Rainiers in 45 and Xtremes in 9mm....

Xtremes MIGHT BE OK for the 25 yard line, I have some but I have not tested them.  But my experience with plated overall is ok but there are 7s in them (and at 25 yards!).  So use them in practice.

Now HiTek coated work and work very well. So there’s little reason to choose plated for our needs.

OP says Service Pistol matches....HiTek no go, plated or jacketed only.

My friend and I experimented quite extensively with plated bullets couple years ago.  Below is excerpt from my friend's file, where he maintains information on his and mine loads and related testing.  AP loading means that it is my load tested by him.  The only addition to below is that crimp was at 0.471"  Testing was done at 25Y.  Similar results were achieved using X-Treme 185 gr RNFP bullets with all same parameters but COL was at 1.178".  FWIW - both loads were suggested by Les Baer (himself) in one of our conversations. 

200 gr

X-Treme

Plated FP

Alliant Bullseye

5.0 gr

Win LP

1.20"

Taper

824 fps

16.4

5"

Win LP

06/10/18

AP loading: Extremely accurate. Relatively soft shooting.

 



AP

200 gr

X-Treme

Plated FP

Alliant Bullseye

5.0 gr

Win LP

1.20"

Taper

824 fps

16.4

5"

Win LP

06/10/18

AP loading: Extremely accurate. Relatively soft shooting.

I know I may be taken to task for saying this, but the cost of appropriate bullets is trivial - the importance aspects are training and practice.  Find a bullet that works for that, and shoot a lot of them.  For "government work", one box of 100 bullets (in the old days, I used Sierra 230 FMJ - the saying was, never go to a match without bullets from a green box...) is more than needed for an EIC (30 rnds) and President's 100 (40 rnds), which leaves 30 for finding your '0'.  If you already know your zero, use the 30 for the team NMC.

I have never had any luck getting accuracy out of plated bullets.   

David

David R wrote:I have never had any luck getting accuracy out of plated bullets.   

David

Even at 25 yards? I personally have never shot one so I don’t know

Plated = plinkers. I used to shoot plated in our club IDPA because the majority of shots were between 5 & 15 yards. if you want accuracy spend $10 - $15 more per 1000 for jacketed.

Bill

I don’t use JHP’s for the short line. I use SWC’s and the reason I am asking is my lead count is pretty high and plated would cut that down a bunch

Have you tried coated bullets to avoid the contact with the lead?

Yeah and I haven’t ruled them out. Steve is great to work with and I tested 2k of his 160’s

Here’s my thoughts on plated bullets for CMP EIC Service Pistol shooting.

An EIC match is 30 shots.  Presidents is 40 shots.  You shoot maybe 4 EUC pistol matches in a year.  Add the Team match and there’s an additional 30 shots.  So 200 rounds per year.  If you shoot your Service Pistol in the NMC portion of a CF aggregate as extra training, that might make it 500-1000 bullets per year total.  

So buy Nosler or Zero/MagnusPrecision Delta to fill that need.  Plated can be fine for training and practice, but I’d limit them to that.  That 9 or 8 that just appeared might cost you a leg.

I know in the original post it was mentioned Service Pistol but when it comes to my question that’s not what I am talking about
I am talking about the short line and that means about 15k per year for me

Coated bullets work great in 45 ACP on the short line for non-CMP matches and don't cost much more than plain cast bullets. I have been using them for years.

I get far better accuracy from coated than I do plated.  Even at 25 yards.

I too HAD high lead levels.   I quit casting, went to coated and wet tumbling.  I now shoot 3X a week and levels are acceptable.

I shot this hand held from a rest at 25 yards.  


I buy a box of Federal Gold Medal Match and try to get my loads to shoot as well.  I am really close with coated.  I do not have access to a ransom rest, so all groups are hand held from a rest, some times I attach a scope.
David