copper plated 223 bullet?

[Blwnbwtie]

I thought i have seen copper plated bullets for 223, but i can not seem to find them any where. Anyone seen these before or use them, or was i imagining things? I did the paper work on a lower over the weekend and i am pricing out how much it would cost to reload. If anyone uses them what are kinda loads are you putting behind him. Any info would be helpfull thank you in advance.

[StraightShooter]

I can only assume that by saying copper plated you mean copper jacketed. If you are new to reloading for the .223 you may be looking for .223 diameter bullets when you actually need to be looking for .224 diameter bullets. Pretty much all of them are copper jacketed unless you get into the frangible type stuff or lead free stuff.

Here's what I use for plinking. If you are going for precision then you need to match the bullet weight to the rifling twist of your barrel to get the best accuracy.

[Blwnbwtie]

I was looking at those hornady bullets also, but i thought i remembered seeing berrys or someone making something cheaper. I see on their site that they make bullets for the 7.62x39 but i dont see the 223 bullets any more. Guess i will just use the hornady bullets.

[StraightShooter]

Golden West Brass is also a good source for fmj projectiles. You can order from them on the web or over the phone.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I think there is an upper limit to the velocity you can load the plated bullets to, either 1600 or 1800 fps. There is a note about it on the Berry web site or the side of the box. If loading 223 for an AR it probably wouldn't cycle the action at that low pressure, but would work OK for a bolt rifle. I use the 7.62x39 110g plated for Enfield and Mosin bolt guns and going 1600 fps, makes a plinker with no recoil and still enough elevation on the rear sights to get on target, and easy on the brass. The plated bullets are mostly for handgun loads. Work OK in my M1 carbine also. These all stay under 1800 fps.

[Builder]

The FMJBT 55 gr. from Hornady is great for plinking. Midway ($71.99 sale price) is usually more expensive than Lock, Stock, & Barrel ($68.79 reg. price). http://www.lockstock.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HRN2267B
If cheap is the goal, then pulled FMJBT 55 gr. from Ammunition Store http://www.ammunitionstore.com/price...g_supplies.htm is only $36.95 / 1K or new Igman is $39.95.
Thanks,
Builder

[ar15barrels]

I think there is an upper limit to the velocity you can load the plated bullets to, either 1600 or 1800 fps.

It's not so much a velocity limit, but a pressure limit.
Of course that resulting pressure limit dictates lower velocities.

The issue is one of jacket strength.
A cast lead bullet with copper plating is just not strong enough to be pushed to rifle pressures.
When the 6.8 SPC first came out, Silver State was loading cast/plated bullets.
There were all kinds of problems related to the jacket failures.
What happens is that when the presure builds up in the case and starts pushing the bullet into the rifling, the rear of the bullet would expand while the front was obturating into the rifling.
Then, the mushroomed bullet would shed a layer of copper jacket in the chamber.
The next round into the chamber would show high pressure signs because there was still a piece of the last bullet in the chamber.

I used to have a picture showing the ring after being removed from the chamber, but I can't find it.

Maybe Ted has the picture?

[grywlfbg]

http://montanagoldbullet.com/ also has a great price on 55gr FMJ-BT's.

[mbkmkk]

If cheap is the goal, then pulled FMJBT 55 gr. from Ammunition Store http://www.ammunitionstore.com/price...g_supplies.htm is only $36.95 / 1K or new Igman is $39.95.
Thanks,
Builder

I do not think Ammunition Store is taking orders, It appears they are out until Sept 1st.