shooting 158gr plated in Marlin 1894c/ w 2400 ??

[_n4z_]

Anyone here have a nice load to be used with 158gr plated boolits and 2400 powder.

Will be shooting 18 inch barrel. Just plinker and target loads.

I have 2400 powder on hand and very little in 4 different loading manuals for this combo.

Also have some Bullseye, but I figured it too fast for the rifle.


Please, all info appreciated.

[Hobie]

Bullseye will work fine in the .38 Special with 158 gr. bullets. 2.5-3.5 gr. will make a dandy fun round.

Alliant doesn't give data for the .38 Special and 2400.

[El Chivo]

Hey that's funny, I'm doing that right now. I have to use the plated copper bullets at the indoor range, and I wanted to use up the last of my 2400.

Anyway, I loaded them with my regular load of 10 grains 2400, a moderate load and they shoot fine. That's way under the max, but I was told those bullets act more like lead than jacketed. I'm trying to keep velocity around 1200-1300.

I've got about 150 left, I'll have to let you know about leading. I think they'll be ok, but I'm only shooting a few a week what with the primer shortage and all.

[Rusty]

The last time I had any plated bullets I shot them in my Ruger Speed Six. After about 20 rounds I looked at the bore an it looked like a smooth bore.

I never cared for them again after that.

[_n4z_]

El Chivo, please do post your results when you get done with that particular load. I've been using jacketed rounds with 14.5gr of 2400 and it works quite well. But I've got a boatload of plated on hand that I'd like to use.

No problems downloading the 2400 to 10gr?

I'll have to give it a try.

[El Chivo]

I'll shoot about 20 more this week and check my bore.

I had leading problems using 2400 and Lasercast bullets with the light load. Apparently the hard bullets don't obturate well and flames would reach around and melt some lead. Hopefully the copper plated are made of softer lead.

That's why I wanted to use up my 2400, I'm trying some IMR4227 hoping it burns a little cooler and won't lead.

One thing I notice with the 2400 is a lot of flash out of the short barrel.

[meanc]

I used the Rainier 158gr plated bullets under 15gr of 2400 with a medium crimp from the LFC die.

I think I was getting just around 1700fps.

No leading. No copper separation. Superb accuracy.

I was getting 1" - 2" at 100yds with the scope.


Bullseye also works great. I was using 5.5gr and was getting excellent accuracy at 50yds.

[El Chivo]

well, finally cleaned the gun after shooting about 100 rounds of the plated with 2400, no leading, bore has a mirror finish (and I had a little bit of leading before, it appears to be gone).

I like those bullets, they're not much more expensive than lead, and nicer to handle. I've been getting some nice groups at the indoor range. I might start using them for silhouette too, then I'd only have one .357 load to deal with.

[Leverdude]

I never got any leading from plated bullets. Before I knew I wasn't suposed to I pushed Raniers to 1750 or so FPS. Now I use 12 gr of 2400.
I doubt leading will be an issue unless your pushing them very fast.

[mikld]

Ya shooting 38 or 357? My Lyman 48th has loads listed for .38 158 gr. jacketed and 2400 (starting at 8.4 gr.). Also listed is a .357 starting load of 11.3 of 2400. Jacketed vs plated? dunno

[COSteve]

I never got any leading from plated bullets. Before I knew I wasn't suposed to I pushed Raniers to 1750 or so FPS. Now I use 12 gr of 2400.
I doubt leading will be an issue unless your pushing them very fast.

I've talked to Rainier about their plated bullets and while they state on their website that 1,200fps is the top, they'll admit that their 110 grn RN .30 cal bullets (made for an M1 Carbine) have been tested at over 2,100fps. I shoot them in my 1943 Carbine with great results.

Also, I've shot 165grn 10mm Speer Gold Dots in my 6" custom G20/21L at 1,503fps! You know what kind of bullets Gold Dots are? They're plated, just like Rainier's, Berrys', and X-Treme's. In addition, I've shot 158grn Rainier plated bullets in my 24" Rossi over 14.0 grns of WC820 (13% hotter than H110) lit by Win SPM primers, in Win cases loaded to 1.50" OAL.

They are what I originally used to shot out to 200 yds until my order of 158grn Zero JSP bullets came in. I haven't chrono'd them yet, but they are moving and I've had no problems at all and no leading at all.