Plated 45 bullet question

[opos]

I have not been a copper plated bullet loader..always used either lead or coated lead bullets or on occasion jacketed bullets..thought I'd try some copper plated and got a question.

I currently load and shoot .452 diameter lead and coated lead in both my 45 acp and 45 Colt...shoot a 12 bhn Missouri #4 RNFP (I know that 's light for a Colt but it works well with Trail Boss and I'm old and got arthritis so like the soft loadings).

I got to looking at Xtreme, Berry's and Ranier catalogs and find that Ranier only offers .451 for all their .45's....Berry's only offers .452 for all their 45's and Xtreme offers both diameters in much the same shape and weights of bullets...I shoot a CZ 97 in 45acp and Ruger single actions in .45 Colt...I'm pretty sure that the .452 (the diameter I shoot in lead) would be ok but was a bit confused about the differences between manufacturers...any input? Anyone have a preference? thanks

[jericho89]

Typicly it is .451 for FM and .452 for cast and coated. It has to do with leadind and groove engagement. The coper plated falls in the middle and I do believe it depends on how thick the plateing is. Some offer the extra thick plating and if I remember correctly (don't quote me) you use .451 with the heavy plateing

[Fordtrucks]

My experiance is that either one shoot well if they are plated. I have never had a plated boolit lead a barrel no matter of speed, but that's just me.

Lead a needs to form a tight seal in the bore to not allow the hot gasses to escape around the boolit in the rifling or it will melt the lead and deposite it in the rifling.

With plated boolits, they won't melt even if gass escapes around into the rifling. Plated are also soft enough to compress into the rifling and shoot well even if a smidge small.

Use lead load data, but diameter can be std jacketed diameter and still shoot well in my experiance.

[potguts]

RMR makes really good plated bullets at .452, they are all I buy now

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/45-452_c14.htm

[Captiontom]

RMR makes really good plated bullets at .452, they are all I buy now

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/45-452_c14.htm

Was just about to recommend them. There hard core match plated bullets are my favorite, they are a little cheaper than extreme, but I feel they are higher quality. They have more consistent measurements and run a little on the heavy side when I weighed them vs extreme, which were a little lighter than advertised. They also ship out orders fast.