Editing Handloading (section)

=== Plated Bullets ===
{{main|Total metal jacket}}
A more economical alternative was made available to the handloader in the 1980s, the copper-plated bullet.<ref>[http://www.rainierballistics.com/cohistory.htm Ranier Ballistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928013832/http://www.rainierballistics.com/cohistory.htm |date=2007-09-28 }} has been making plated bullets since 1983.</ref> Copper-plated bullets are lead bullets that are [[electroplate]]d with a copper jacket. While thinner than a swaged bullet jacket, the plated jacket is far thicker than normal electroplate, and provides significant structural integrity to the bullet. Since the jacket provides the strength, soft lead can be used, which allows bullets to be swaged or cast into shape before plating. While not strong enough for most rifle cartridges, plated bullets work well in many handgun rounds, with a recommended maximum velocity of 1250&nbsp;ft/s (375&nbsp;m/s).<ref>[http://www.rainierballistics.com/faq.htm Ranier Ballistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928013826/http://www.rainierballistics.com/faq.htm |date=2007-09-28 }} plated bullet FAQ, listing maximum recommended velocity</ref> Plated bullets fall between cast and traditional jacketed bullets in price.

While originally sold only to handloaders as an inexpensive substitute for jacketed bullets, the plated bullet has come far. The ammunition manufacturer [[CCI Ammunition|Speer]] now offers the Gold Dot line, commercially loaded premium handgun ammunition using copper-plated [[hollow point bullet]]s.<ref>[http://www.speer-bullets.com/html/products/ProdDesc.asp?prod=bullet_hand_GoldDot Speer Gold Dot description] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203042104/http://www.speer-bullets.com/html/products/ProdDesc.asp?prod=bullet_hand_GoldDot |date=2009-02-03 }} and patent number</ref><ref>[http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=19&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=5,079,814&OS=5,079,814&RS=5,079,814 Patent 5,079,814] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124030337/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=19&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=5,079,814&OS=5,079,814&RS=5,079,814 |date=2016-01-24 }}, for an electroplated hollow point bullet (the Speer Gold Dot)</ref> The strong bond between jacket and core created by the electroplating process makes expanding bullets hold together very well, and the Gold Dot line is now in use by many police departments.<ref>[http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/9mm.htm Comparison] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130123054658/http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/9mm.htm |date=2013-01-23 }} of various 9×19mm expanding bullet loads, including the Speer Gold Dot plated bullet</ref>