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Where does "Coated" fall in this discussion?
For those have used Plated and FMJ and Coated, do the performance advantages of Coated lie somewhere in between, or is Coated only about "cost"?
I've never used coated and joined this thread for input between Plated and FMJ, but Coated is getting more prevalent (it seems) so I thought it would be one more option in the mix.
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Others may have different opinions, but....
Some people like lead - it's cheap, can be cast at home, and is usually oversized slightly (e.g. .356 for 9mm, vs .355 for most FMJ, JHP..). The oversize can improve accuracy. However, lead is smoky, and MAY leave lead/fouling in your barrel.
JHPs tend to be the most accurate bullets, at least for me, between the truly flat base and a bit more rearward weight (e.g. Montana Gold/PD/Zero 124gr JHP, Hornady HAP, ..).
Plated and coated IMO are really solving the same 'problem' - less smoke and barrel fouling. Care must be taken with either one to not over-crimp, even with so called 'thick' plated bullets, IMO (short of e.g. Speer Gold Dots, which are actually plated, but are much closer to jacketed vs typical plated bullets).
I haven't seen much difference, if any, accuracy-wise between e.g. Xtreme plated, Bayou RN, ... other than in price. Rainer and Berry's tend to be more $ than either typical coated or Xtreme plated, in some cases as much as jacketed, so I don't use either of those two any more.