What? Plated lead bullets restricted to 1250fps? Why?

[Elric]

Folks, this conundrum of .41 caliber lovin' has got me flummoxed. I bought some 210gr Berry's plated lead bullets, and Berry's recommends "Can withstand velocities up to 1250 fps.".

https://www.berrysmfg.com/item/bp-41-210gr-fp

Uh, pardon me, but gas checked lead will reach over 2000fps (over 2500fps, and more!).

So... if NOT fired in a pistol, with a cylinder gap, why couldn't a plated bullet be fired in a carbine or rifle in velocities of 1600fps or better?

Is it that 1250 is related to the highest revolver velocity, hence pressure, that the plated bullet will experience?

 

[RicinYakima]

They are concerned with obturation of the lead alloy within the bullet. At high pressure it looses form and increases in diameter. When that happens the plating cracks and lead metal is exposed, violating some state ordinances for exposure to the environment. It is one of the protective warnings for their company's fiscal health.

 

[Elric]

They are concerned with obturation of the lead alloy within the bullet. At high pressure it looses form and increases in diameter. When that happens the plating cracks and lead metal is exposed, violating some state ordinances for exposure to the environment. It is one of the protective warnings for their company's fiscal health.

Kalifonia Dreamin'.

Seems like something to investigate with my 414. Target velocity of 1600fps. My only concern is that the lead core remains reasonably intact after impact with a deer.

 

[RicinYakima]

It all depends upon what the core was swaged from. My experience with plated Berry's Bullets is that they cut along the land lines pretty easy, so you are on your own for this experiment.

 

[Brad]

Bet those Berry's bullet cores are swaged. That means a low Sb alloy most likely and swaying means work softening.

Those bullets are for "standard velocity" loads. Not a manufacturing defect, they just make stuff geared to the 99% who stay within those velocity limits.

Want a high performance bullet? Then make it. No different than a NASCAR team not buying cars off the lot.

 

[freebullet]

I could save you some trouble- when you run plated above 1400fps you get some neat looking copper plate fouling in your bore...ask me how I know.
It wasn't easy to remove, & may be abrasive. Then the leading will start as Brad's observations are correct. Some are double swagged, before & after plating. Upto about 1400fps they worked fine.

I shot tons of plated before I began casting. They are made undersized & plated up to size. Unnecessary & not really helpful for your desired velocity but, heh giver a go if you like.

 

[Elric]

I could save you some trouble- when you run plated above 1400fps you get some neat looking copper plate fouling in your bore...ask me how I know.

As I was up early anyways, I wonder if part of the copper fouling problem is due to the plating buckling, then shedding bits of itself during travel down the bore. Think of having a gas check get loose in the neck of a bottlenecked case, so that it lodges partway down the bore. Now follow the first round with more. Sorda (mix of sordid and sorta) like a bore constriction, and more copper plating is added with further rounds.

I am not an engineer, nor do I play one on the internet. YMMV. Follow application instructions. May cause dizziness, fainting, urge to gamble, internal bleeding.... And so forth...

 

[Pistolero]

Berrys are very soft. I have had zero luck with some .30 cal FP that I bought. I need to load down even farther,
but starting real rifle loads were dismal accy. Maybe at 9-10 gr of Unique level they will work.

Probably just found that they quit being accurate around that speed.

Bill