Any experience with Ranier Leadsafe plated bullets

[Dave68]

I saw these on the Midway site. They're almost as inexpensive as regular lead but are supposed to be a bit cleaner. Are they a good alternative to jacketed bullets for indoor range use?

 

[LOCKHART]

Ive used them, they ok, but cant push em real fast, guess the plating comes
off if you do. They dont seem to be as accurate as any of my good cast bullets
tho. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Dave68]

I'm reloading 380 and 32H&R Mag, so I wouldn't exceed 1,000 fps with any of my reloads.

 

[ROGER4314]

Yes, I bought several thousand of the Ranier bullets in .45 acp. They shoot good and use the same load data as lead bullets.

Be warned, the plating is very thin. Go easy on crimps or tight bullet seating or you'll break through the plating. Plating thin or not, I've never seen any evidence of the jacket material flaking or flying off as the round is fired.

I'll give them a "Thumbs Up!"

Flash

 

[rsayloriii]

Good experience with the product. Excellent business with customer service. Ended up with a single 9mm bullet in a box of 45. No big deal. It was a box of 500 and don't know if I got 499 45s and one 9mm, or 500 45s and one 9mm. I didn't keep count, and since I loaded a few, shot a few, loaded a few, shot a few ... there was no way to be sure. Sent them an email as more of a heads up for quality control issues. They sent me back 1000 45s, a hat, pens, usb drive and can't remember what else it was. Didn't expect it by any means, but was nice to see the company make the effort to make things right with the customer. Way too many companies don't care anymore.

 

[Dawico]

I will buy the Ranier bullets anytime. They make good stuff.

 

[DubiousDan]

They have a good reputation and the plating helps prevent leading with mild to moderate loads with out the mess of lubed bullets. I don't know how they would work with full blown .357 or .44 magnum loads.

I wouldn't think they'd work as well as jacketed bullets in an indoor range because they're as likely to splatter as any other lead bullet when they hit the backstop.

 

[rsayloriii]

Most jacketed bullets are exposed lead on the bottom. Plated are totally covered. I'd say the lead exposure is no more plated than it is with jacketed. If anything, it's less because you don't have the hot gasses on the exposed lead, right at you, versus at the other end of the range.

 

[Texasjack]

As others have stated, plated bullets don't handle high velocity very well. But at slower (i.e., non-magnum) speeds, they do just fine. Ranier has good quality control; I've never had a problem.

 

[TAZ]

I've run well over 10k of their 45 through my guns. No issues. Just load them as you would a lead projectile and you should be good to go.

 

[LOCKHART]

I shoot IHMSA silhouette, and have tried the Ranier bullets in that game. They
work well enough for practice, but not for competition. But, the price is sure
right on em. I buy mine at Cabelas.

 

[Army 1911]

Another company to look at is Xtreme. Theirs are very good and double struck (sized). I have used both and they both work at regular lead velocities. I like the Xtreme better.

 

[Ranger60]

Using them for years, never any problems, but generally load about mid range.

 

[TexMex247]

Rainier plated bullets are some of the best out there. I push them up to 1100 fps out of several different 9mms and they perform just as well as typical factory ammo when loaded correctly. I have also used Berrys and xtreme in several calibers. The xtremes are slightly undersized in almost every caliber I have used. I prefer a tighter fit more so than a looser one. The berrys bullets are flat based and have been slightly less accurate for me. The Rainier bullets(9mm) also have concave bases and are fully encapsulated like others have stated.
However, after a few years in the reloading game, I have moved away from lead completely except for the 45 LC/ACP and have gravitated toward more high end bullets like hornady combat target and montana gold. For the few cents a round difference, it's worth it to me to throw down on some better performing projectiles.

 

[Fyrbyrd80]

I used to reload these in 9mm. They work pretty well. I may still have a box in the garage.