Coated vs plated bullets

[tylenol9999]

Are polymer coated bullets better than plated ie. Xtreeme? Price is about the same for the Blue Bullets and xtreeme for 9mm.

[dodgeit101]

You can try Bayou Bullets and Black Bullets International for coated bullets, slight cheaper. Not sure if they're polymer. It's more wax isn't it?

[KahrGuy9]

Are polymer coated bullets better than plated ie. Xtreeme? Price is about the same for the Blue Bullets and xtreeme for 9mm.

Depends on your load and whether you are shooting a rifled barrel or polygonal barrel. Polymer bullets are not a wax coating, they are a two part epoxy cured at 375 to 400*F for about 10 minutes. Plated bullets are just 'washed' in copper. Jacketed are completely encased in a copper jacket, moly bullets are Molybdenum Disulfide which reduces friction and fouling. Plain cast bullets usually have a grease lube in the ring. Typically jackedted are the most expenisve and cast the least expensive. What type of shooting are you looking at?

[mjmagee67]

I don't know about Polymer coated bullets, but I do shoot tons of the Hi-Tech coated bullets that Bayou Bullets and SNS cast sale. In the past I have shot Xtreme bullets, but I have found that I prefer the coated bullets, they cost less, more venders sell them, they use .1 to .2 grains less powder, and I feel they are more accurate.

Xtreme's are fine bullets, but when ever I shoot them I would always get a flier of to out of 100 shots. When I shot coated bullets I noticed my groups were smaller (3inches compared to 5inch) and there were no fliers. I would shoot Xtreme's and coated back to back and I would consistently see that. I don't know if it was me, the bullets, or something in my reloading process but the coated bullets shoot better for me, so they are what I shoot now.

I shoot USPSA and shoot about 1000 rounds of 9mm a month plus other calibers for fun. All of my 9mm loads run about 1050fps to make power factor. The slight cost savings in the bullets and powder do add up. Coated bullets shoot just as well as Montana Gold jacketed bullets at 4 cents less a bullet and they are 3 cents less than Xtreme.

As with all things in life YMMV.