I wont use plated bullets any more unless that's the only bullet I can find for a certain application, like round nose bullets for a revolver. I had a bad experience with West Coast years ago. I bought a pallet of 30,000 bullets that would randomly keyhole. Took forever to shoot them up in practice. It's too easy to cut the plating when you crimp.
99% of what I've shot this year has been 125 blue boolits and titegroup. No smoke or issues. Might just be a issue with some, but I haven't seen it.
i used to wannabe
I've done a few. But the ones I like were
3.7 grains titegroup 125BB 1.115 with a .377-.378 this was like 128PF
3.6 grains titegroup 125BB 1.105 with same crimp. Haven't chronoed but feels good and I got the load data off Enos.
Just play around with it. Les has done a lot of playing and I really value his opinion. I on the other hand have found something that worked and stayed there. I hope to do a lot of load development after September.
i used to wannabe
The main problem you're experiencing with your Berettas is their bore size being at the upper end of the 9mm spec. Go to a .357 or .358 size bullet and you'll have better luck, even with Titegroup. I experienced leading, or excessive polymer residue with the HiTech coating, in my Berettas until I increased the bullet diameter. I found a .358 bullet works best in mine. Straight cast without a coated doesn't produce any leading. The HiTech coated bullets work the same but with less smoke.
SnS gets their HiTech polymer coating from Bayou Bullets, who were the first to offer it in reloading. I've found the price to be equivalent and the shipping time is faster from Bayou.
Last edited by Trooper224; 07-29-2016 at 07:14 PM.
We may lose and we may win, but we will never be here again.......
I use BBI (black bullets international). My 147 grain load is almost identical to Les. I actually use a tiny bit less HP38. It's worked well for me in my Berettas. I also use their 125 grain bullet and add 1 grain of HP38 to the 147 grain load. I've been very happy with it too.
I'm going to start experimenting with WSF soon, as I've got 8 pounds of it sitting there waiting on me.
Overall, I'll never do naked lead again. If I decided that I wanted something with a jacket, I'd go jacketed rather than plated.