Ammo opinions: Lead bullets vs. coated

echo6mike · Nov 26, 2019

Polymer coated, or copper plated and bonded vs non, compared to lead for plinking and target shooting. Opinions from any and all, I'm wondering.

I've never felt there's too much difference between different bullets for my recreational shooting, but I'm wondering what everybody else thinks.

Not in terms of reloading, although I may start that eventually, but just how the different options have been for others - accuracy, barrel wear, fouling/cleaning needs...

Todd S · Nov 26, 2019

Less smoke when shooting coated.

Muleskinner · Nov 26, 2019

I have reloaded and fired thousands of Berry's and xtreme plated bullets in pistol calibers. Very little lead build up. I can't imagine how badly the build up would be with unplated

ToBeFree · Nov 26, 2019

Hicok45 says "after shooting lead boolits and before you put it away shoot some plated."
He thinks it takes some the fouling out.

John from MD · Nov 26, 2019

I find no accuracy differences between the lead, powder coated or jacketed or mild steel loads that I load. For some calibers, there will be a point of impact change but that is about it. As someone pointed out, you get more smoke from lead bullets due to the lubricant. Powder Coated bullets smell bad, I probably wouldn't use them indoors unless they had a good ventilation system.

As for shooting some jacketed bullets after the lead, I have yet to see any scientific evidence to say this works. Some people believe that it just "irons" the lead down and spreads it out. The only rifles I shoot jacketed after lead are my AR15's (300 BO and 7.62x40WT). The reason is that it cleans up the gas system. If I don't do this, I get lead build up on the tail of the bolt and the back of the BCG. My lead loads are always reduced power to stay within the bullet alloy limitations. Shooting full power jacketed loads appears to blow the lead out as, when I do this, the bolt and BCG are clean.

Pinecone · Nov 26, 2019

I shoot plain lead (actually bullet alloy, lubed) in handguns. Leading is not a bit problem due to the velocities.

I plan on shooting some light loads in bolt action rifles (.30-06 and .30-40 Krag. THE Load), but will probably still do standard lubed bullets.

I have loaded a mess of plated bullets for a certain indoor range that did not allow bullet where they could see exposed lead. Not sure why plated were OK, once they hit the baffles.

I have not shot any of them.

alucard0822 · Nov 26, 2019

Comes down to how "user friendly" the bullet design is, how wide it's pressure/velocity range is, and how it deforms in rifling and on the target. Cast can be extremely clean, and can hit a target hard without as much deformation as swaged lead, but takes rifling and can seal a bore better than jacketed, but too much pressure or the wrong load for that bullet can cause leading, and there is the issue with polygonal rifling. I like plated for lighter loads, the bullets are really forgiving and deform easily being swaged lead, but run clean, and work well under their max velocity(usually 1200FPS). Jacketed can run as hot as you want, and are clean, they hit targets hard, but have found them to be less consistent in light loads. Haven't done much with polymer coated, seem ok, don't seem much different than cast, but for nearly the same cost, and greater availability locally, I just use plated.

John from MD · Nov 26, 2019

alucard0822 said:
I like plated for lighter loads, the bullets are really forgiving and deform easily being swaged lead, but run clean, and work well under their max velocity(usually 1200FPS). .

Don't use Berry's 148 gr plated HBWC's 'cause they suck. The alloy is hard and the plating is way too thick. I had to load my 38's up to 4 gns of Bullseye to get the things to work in my Smiths otherwise they were inconsistent. :sad20:

babalou · Nov 26, 2019

Really

ToBeFree said:
Hicok45 says "after shooting lead boolits and before you put it away shoot some plated."
He thinks it takes some the fouling out.

I always thought him racking the slide a million times during a review did that lol

sgt23preston · Nov 26, 2019

The reason that most indoor ranges require FMJ or Copper Plated Bullets is to protect the shooters & employees from Lead Poisoning...

Lead bullets have been shown to begin to melt before they leave the barrell...

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/workers-at-gun-ranges-are-suffering-from-lead-poisoning-and-regulatory-agencies-may-not-be-doing-enough-to-stop-it

Ask me how I know..?

Because I had my blood lead levels checked...

So years ago I switched over to Berry's Plated Bullets, 45ACP x 200 Grain flat point, 38 Special x 158 Grain flat point & 9mm x 124 Grain flat point...

They loaded easily on my Dillon 550, flew well & went where I intended them to go...

I never had a gun jam or reloading issue...

Hope this is helpful...

jimbobborg · Nov 27, 2019

I have been using polymer coated bullets for years now. Most of my pistols don't like plated bullets, but they love coated bullets. When I reload coated bullets, I get a consistent 50 fps increase in speed versus copper with the same powder charge. They're also quieter, and don't foul my brakes like FMJs and straight lead bullets do.

Pinecone · Nov 28, 2019

sgt23preston said:
The reason that most indoor ranges require FMJ or Copper Plated Bullets is to protect the shooters & employees from Lead Poisoning...

Lead bullets have been shown to begin to melt before they leave the barrell...

Sorry, most of the lead exposure from shooting is from the primers.

If you go to a total metal jacketed bullet, you get lead in the air.

BTW, full metal jacketed bullets, have exposed lead at the BASE, where the hot powder gases are.

Ammo opinions: Lead bullets vs. coated

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