FMJ vs plated

[Pofoo]

Looking at 9mm ammo, I see that some brands offer fmj and copper plated lead RN for about the same price. I'm pretty sure that I have shot both previously and didn't notice any difference.
Anyone know if there are any major difference for target loads?
Deposits in barrel?
For the same price, which would you buy?

[Old4eyes]

If you do a lot of shooting indoors, the Total Metal Jacket - TMJ - will give a less exposure to lead since a FMJ has exposed lead at the base of the bullet. Some ranges demand the use of TMJ to reduce lead exposure to the range. TMJ also touts that it has less lead deposit to the barrel. If none of that is a deciding factor for you, if the ballistics are the same and the cost is the same or less, TMJ is a round worth considering. If the rules or personal lead awareness is a high consideration, the TMJ is the answer.

[Win231]

Since FMJ & TMJ are usually more expensive than plated, I'd choose jacketed.

Plated bullets are only suitable for low - medium velocities. At higher velocities, the plating can come off & stay in the barrel.

[XCC_RIDER]

Verify what max fps the manufacturer recommends for their plated bullets and load them (if reloading) well below the max.
Also some plated bullets tend to shed their plating when fired from a carbine.

If it's the same cost then I'd always shoot the fmj ones (barring the indoor range concerns)

[Turbinator]

Plated bullets are only suitable for low - medium velocities. At higher velocities, the plating can come off & stay in the barrel.

Just curious, have you seen this happen with plated?

My experience is that the plating separates from the lead at higher velocities, which can be dangerous when shooting revolvers, but I've never had plating stay in my barrel.

Turby

[bubbapug1]

I have done a LOT of chrony work and accuracy testing with plated versus FMJ.

But let me relate one very embarrassing experience I had with plated bullets.

I own two Springfield 9mm 1911's. they are both excellent guns. Not to show I am just a Springfield fan boy I own three 2011 STI's in 9mm too. I love them more, but thats another thread.

I had one Springfield act up horribly and my usually 2" groups at 10 yards expanded to 6" groups. Rather than be self aware and question the ammo or myself I condemned the gun. I sent it back to Springfield. They paid freight...both ways. They re crowned the barrel, put in a new barrel bushing, and did some other stuff, tested the gun and sent it back with a clean bill of health.

I took it to the range. It still shot like dog butt. I ran out of my reloads and the guy in the next lane handed me some WWB. The gun returned to its old self....I loaded up some FMJ from Everglades and tried the gun again....perfect. Than i tested the plated again...sucked. I also did the same test in an UZI....similar results however not as bad.

I tried calling Springfield to pay them for their work and the shipping. They flat out refused. I asked for a manager...he laughed at me and refused.

So goes my beginning to examine plated bullets in fast loads. Accuracy does begin to flag a bit around 950- 1050 fps in pistols and is just worthless if you want to use plated bullets in a 30-30 at 1850 fps. I even loaded 30-30 with extreme slow loads using red dot and green dot, the plated bullets just don't maintain concentricity for the 100 yard ranges. Do yourself a favor and stick with FMJ unless you are shooting lower speeds at bigger targets. I have nearly a TON of plated from Xtreme bought in the "old days" before they caught on to the market but I pay the new prices to buy FMJ from everglades or whoever to get tighter groups.

However, if you can live with lower speeds like 1050 or less plated might be OK for more plinking or speed work on bigger steel plates, etc.

[bwhited]

Have loaded well over 100,000 plated bullets.
Have had zero issues.
This does include 2" groups at 50 meters from a Ransom Rest.

[Win231]

Just curious, have you seen this happen with plated?

My experience is that the plating separates from the lead at higher velocities, which can be dangerous when shooting revolvers, but I've never had plating stay in my barrel.

Turby

It is more common for the plating to come off at high velocities - less common (but more dangerous) for it to stay in the barrel.

I've never had plating stay in the barrel but I did have plating come off & cut into my arm 1/4 inch when shooting my S&W 500. I loaded plated bullets under the suggested velocity from the manufacturer.

[aspenvalley]

If your buying loaded ammo I would always go FMJ if the cost was the same. It normally is not. I reload coated because it works better than I can shoot in my guns.

[Carcassonne]

Since FMJ & TMJ are usually more expensive than plated, I'd choose jacketed.

Plated bullets are only suitable for low - medium velocities. At higher velocities, the plating can come off & stay in the barrel.

TMJ bullets are plated.


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