Question about 110g plated .30 carbine bullets

[Lee T.]

Folks,
I've been handloading .30-06 and .45 acp for a couple years and I'm getting ready to start with some .30 carbine. Reading that velocity should be up around 1900-2000 fps to cycle the action, and the recommended max for plated is about 1500 fps, I'm wondering what else plated 110g .308 bullets would be used for? .30 carbine handgun load?

Reason I ask is because I've been sitting on a few hundred plated ones for a while, now I don't think I'll be using them. I'll be starting with a standard load of 13-14g W296 under a 110g RNFMJ. thanks, lee

[Major Tom]

I would load up a few plated bullets with your powder load and see what happens. I personally have never had a problem with plated bullets not performing well.

[PhillipM]

I've seen guys at the range using plain cast, so you may want to research your velocity figures some more.

[Tuna]

Try to keep your velocity to about the 1600 fps mark. Plated should be treated just like cast bullets as the amount of plating between lots and between different makers is different. Some are thicker and some are thinner and if driven too fast the plating can come off the lead and fill the bore.

[Lee T.]

Try to keep your velocity to about the 1600 fps mark
Yes, and there's the rub.......with the standard H110/W296 powder it's also advised to not download from the 13-14g 1900-2000 fps. I got this from searching old threads here.
So I guess I'm stuck having to use FMJ projectiles, or go with a somewhat faster powder (which I don't have). I choose FMJ. Thanks for the help all!!

[Sunray]

Any cast data load for any cartridge that uses .308" bullets. Plated bullets are not jacketed bullets.
.30 Carbine handgun data is very close to regular Carbine data. Have it if you want it. It's out of the Lyman Handgun book.
Reduced loads of Win 296 are not recommended. No mention of not reducing H110 loads.

[Lee T.]

Thanks Sunray,
I've also compared the pistol vs. rifle loads on Hodgen's online data and it's the same load (13g / 110g FMJ) but has a lower velocity for the 'pistol' with a 7" barrel. I don't quite get that difference unless they're using velocity at the muzzle?
Also - I think H110 and W296 are virtually the same powder, much like HP-38 and W231 for pistols.

[joem]

I have loaded and shot hundreds of 110 gr plated carbine bullets. I use AA#9 and they are loaded to 1950 FPS checked with a chrono. I have had zero problems and will load and shoot them in the future. I have recovered some bullets and I can see where the rifleling had gone through the copper plate. Barrel shows no leading.

[Tuna]

Consider yourself lucky Joe. Keep driving them and one day you will get a load of copper in your bore when you get an order of bullets that are thinly plated. Once it gets into the gas system then it's a pain in the arse to clean it all out. Go ahead and ask me how I know. Jimb has gone through the same type pain too. LOL.

[Lee T.]

Thanks Joem, that's an interesting side of the argument.
Do you think the brand of plated would make a difference, or has it been many makes over all those rounds?

[PhillipM]

Consider yourself lucky Joe. Keep driving them and one day you will get a load of copper in your bore when you get an order of bullets that are thinly plated. Once it gets into the gas system then it's a pain in the arse to clean it all out. Go ahead and ask me how I know. Jimb has gone through the same type pain too. LOL.

I hesitated to mention that issue, but I've wondered about lead shavings in the gas hole.

[Tuna]

The best way to stop any problems with lead is to use a gas check bullet. They work very well and no leading what so ever.

[Former Cav]

I bought some plated bullets to shoot in my 45 ACP on the cheep.
I'll NEVER buy them again. I can buy full metal jacket for almost the same price at precisiondelta.com and those WORK and don't "collapse" in my dillon 550 when I am seating the bullet!

[joem]

I now shoot hard cast lead in my pistols except for the S&W 460 Mag. At 2000 FPS it needs a solid jacket. If I changed the break I guess I could shoot cast lead.

[PhillipM]

I bought some plated bullets to shoot in my 45 ACP on the cheep.
I'll NEVER buy them again. I can buy full metal jacket for almost the same price at precisiondelta.com and those WORK and don't "collapse" in my dillon 550 when I am seating the bullet!

What do you mean by collapse? BTW, Precision Delta is in my neck of the woods and has a stellar reputation.

[NuJudge]

I bought some Blazer Brass 9mm and used it in a pistol class earlier this year, and they had plated bullets. There was a problem with the copper adhering to the Lead core. Bullet holes in the target frequently were surrounded by small thin holes made by pieces of plating, hitting the target like little throwing stars. It did have an effect on grouping.