Test Firing of Copper Plated Blullets

[ulflyer]

Some of us were/are concerned about how well plated bullets hold up. I loaded up 30 rounds using three diff loads and chronoed them on my pistol range. The three averages were: 1709, 1761, and 1800 fps. I didn't go any higher since my book listed the higher one as "max". Ran a dry patch down the bore after each firing and saw no evidence of copper. I did see two miniscule specks when I cleaned the bore. About three patches and the bore was acceptably clean.

Realize this was not a very comprehensive test but it does serve to allay my concern about the bullets. I can't comment on the accuracy since I was shooting on a 15 yard range in my back yard. When I get the chance I'll load up a few more and test them for accuracy on a longer range. The carbine used has a generouls bore of 3 and is slick and shiney.

I bought these copper plated bullets from a gent in Florida who advertised on GB. 30 cal Carbine 110gr gr M1 bullets 500 FREE SHIP : Supplies at GunBroker.com
They were at my door in a couple of days.

FWIW I used Alliant 2400 and Federal primers. The three loads were 11.4, 12, & 12.5 gr.

Information

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[painter777]

Thank You for that....................................
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;-)
Charlie-painter777

[c east]

Thanks I'll send powder for you to do more..We use to push gas checked slugs to 1900 with no problems....I have a bunch of these "Copper plated"and would like to shoot them at 1900 rather than 1600....Charlie

[Tired Retired]

Flyer, If you were hitting paper at 15 yards, it will give you an idea of the accuracy. I pushed some copper plated too fast once in 9mm. I didn't get any more copper in the barrel than I got with regular jacketed bullets, but I could not even hit paper at 15 yards off a rest with a 5 inch barrel 92FS!!! So if you even hit paper, they were holding together....

Couple of other questions (and I know this is not a reloading forum)...

1) Those powder weights are for jacketed bullets (at least in my books). Did you find any references for lead or plated bullets before you loaded? I am having a devil of a time finding printed (i.e. we assume the liability) reference points for plated bullets anywhere.

2) Given that they are malible like lead (not jacketed) and generally use powder loads closer to lead load, I am curious if the 12.5 limit on 2400 is a bit low?

Where are references when you need them! Ugh!

[ulflyer]

Tired: Just took another look at the Lyman #49 that I used and it lists:
110gr Jacketed @ 12.5 to 13.5 compressed load ~ 1950 fps. (didn't see this yesterday, or I might have cranked it up a bit more)

115gr Alloy @ 11 to 12.5 compressed load. (these were the ones I used).

I guess I could crank it up a bit more but since I only shoot for fun, with modest attempt at accuracy, I'll prob stay at 12 or below. When I get around to it, I'll load a batch at diff loads to check for accuracy. Might get my nephew to come test them as he can shoot the hair off a hornets arse at 40 yards. I'm lucky to hit a 2" bull.

As to accuracy: I didn't make any effort at grouping yesterday; just wanted to run em thru the chrono, but they did group well, considering. I think they'll do good at longer range.

[c east]

Ok here is a link to their web site:


Berry's Manufacturing

[ulflyer]

C East: The bullets I tested above were not from Berry's. I got them from a Gunbroker ad: 30 cal Carbine 110gr gr M1 bullets 500 FREE SHIP : Supplies at GunBroker.com

[painter777]

Ulflyer,
I bought from the same seller. The description in your link reads.....

Description for Item # 168466913
Up for auction 500 count ) Berry's MFG .30 Carbine 110 grain .308 diameter plated bullets........

C East found this on the Berry MFG site about how fast you can shoot them,
Berry's Manufacturing

I noticed this on the Berry Mfg site which is how to load the .30/ 308...

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14...r_RN_.308.aspx

But also noticed this,

Berry's Manufacturing

It leads me to believe they're a mid range/ mid load bullet.
But I'm not a reloader....... just a guy with a bag of 500 of these sitting on the work bench. My friend that reloads for me doesn't seem worried about them.......... but it won't be his carbine trying to spit them out.
When I asked the seller about what range of FPS these could safely be loaded at, he replied....

Hello Charlie,
"In my personal experience you have take people's opinion with a grain of salt on the internet. Everybody seems to be an expert and want to give you advice but very few have real experience. We reload on a regular basis with components that many forums says is impossible to do. Berry's MFG has been manufacturing those for 40 years+ specifically for the 30 carbine. They recommend to not exceed 1950 fps. If you stick to the manufactures instructions I think you'll find that shooting your M1 carbine just got funner as do many of our return customers for those(we can't seem to keep those on the shelf!) because the recoil is less then with regular ball ammo plus less powder and cheaper bullets makes a good day of shooting more affordable"

Ulflyer,
Please keep us posted on your results. Be safe.

Charlie-painter777

[emmagee1917]

...I knew nothing about these bullets , so I went and read thier site. Less than 10min max time. The lead bullets are placed in a bath and plated using electric current. The time in the bath controls the thickness of the plating.
They make different bullets , but mainly pistol and rifle types. The pistol ones are made for a max of about 1200 fps , not for magnum loads. In the rifle section is listed the 30 carbine , it says there on THAT page a max of 1950 fps. Maybe they make the core a little more undersized than pistols and leave them in the bath longer to bring them up to spec. with a thicker-than-pistol plate on them.
Does not sound like rocket science to me.
Chris

[ulflyer]

Painter: I should be saying "Oh good grief" also inasmuch as I totally missed seeing in the first line of his AD "BERRY"S bullets". I had previously read the Berry site that said thiers was rated at 1950fps but did my little test run thinking these were from a diff maker. Oh well, it was a fun test and I hadn't done any reloading for some months so it got me going again. Now I can concentrate on finding the most accurate load.