why brass jacketed?

[fishfree]

9mm auto ammo is so confusing...so many variations.

Like why brass jacketed hollow points vs conventional copper jacketed hollow points?

then there's solid copper (no lead) hollow points, semi-jacketed hollow points, pow-r-ball...

[WildBill]

9mm auto ammo is so confusing...so many variations.

Like why brass jacketed hollow points vs conventional copper jacketed hollow points?

then there's solid copper (no lead) hollow points, semi-jacketed hollow points, pow-r-ball...

Some of it is marketing - brand differentiation.

[cbunt1]

Some of it is marketing - brand differentiation.

This.

Some of it is legitimate, in the engineering attempts to manipulate the "hardness" of the jacket around the hollowpoint, to better control the expansion. Brass is just a bit harder than plain copper (Brass being an amalgam or alloy of copper and zinc). On the other hand, plain cast or swaged hollow points work quite nicely as well.

Most of it, however, is making PDX4 look/handle a little different than Golden Sabers or XTP's. I'm not going to tout the claim that "hollowpoints are hollowpoints" but I will say that there are more similarities between them than there are differences in them.

[AEA]

I didn't even know there were brass jacketed boolits!
Till I got a few boxes of Remington 125gr .357mag Golden Saber HP's.

They do look different. I have read reviews of them and they are in the top tiers in performance. I actually didn't know what I was buying till I got them. I got them for a good price and just went with it since I wanted 125gr .357 HP's for my SP101 3".

I have not shot any since receiving them.

[JCole]

I didn't even know there were brass jacketed boolits!
Till I got a few boxes of Remington 125gr .357mag Golden Saber HP's.

That's a great load, especially in a shorter barrel. It's kind of a 3/4 magnum that takes advantage of the technology of the bullet, without the 'drama' associated with full-power 125 gr .357 Magnum loads. I like it.

[Greybeard]

IIRC, the Remington Golde Sabres (with brass jacket) were/are favored by some LEO agencies for claimed superiority in holding together better than some others after impacting auto glass. Years ago, I had a Glock 29 (10mm - hog hunting backup gun) and tested and chronographed a variety of ammo thru it. The Golden Sabres were the ONLY type of hollowpoint that would malfunction in that one ...

[CC Italian]

The Golden Sabres were the ONLY type of hollowpoint that would malfunction in that one ...

They work great in my Glock 20 with the stock length barrel and 6in Glock barrel. Problems is that even the newer bonded ones fragment pretty bad in either barrel with the 165 grainers and the 180 does ok in the 4.6 but fragments a lot with the 6in barrel. Of course these are all full power loads. Never have a problem with 180xtps, 165-180 gold dots or of course the Barnes bullets. Don't get me wrong Golden Sabers are great but even in the bonded version they have limits. They are best for the lower velocity rounds. I wouldn't be surprised if they frag a lot in .357 mag loaded to full power loads in a 4inch or better barrel. It is probably the best popular "old technology" jhp bullet for self defense though. They open up better then xtps and the old hi shok. Silvertips open up well also.

[jimlongley]

Some of it is marketing - brand differentiation.

This.

Some of it is legitimate, in the engineering attempts to manipulate the "hardness" of the jacket around the hollowpoint, to better control the expansion. Brass is just a bit harder than plain copper (Brass being an amalgam or alloy of copper and zinc). On the other hand, plain cast or swaged hollow points work quite nicely as well.

Most of it, however, is making PDX4 look/handle a little different than Golden Sabers or XTP's. I'm not going to tout the claim that "hollowpoints are hollowpoints" but I will say that there are more similarities between them than there are differences in them.

Brass is an alloy, but not an amalgam. Amalgams are alloys of mercury specifically, not just any two metals.

[CC Italian]

Fragment in what, exactly?

Your standard water jugs. I know it's not scientific and the bullet stays together in the velocities it was designed to but the xtp and gold dots in the same weight will still stay together better. Usually pieces of the petals will break off and core jacket separation can still happen in the bonded ones. Remember I am talking about the hottest loads in 10mm and in a 165 grain that is about 1400fps with a stock glock 20 barrel and even faster with the 6inch (I have gotten over 1500fps with the 6inch on the high end). My comment was purely relating to greybreads 10mm comment. I just wanted to point out the differences between them and say the xtps or gold dots in the higher velocities. Plus, fragmenting is not necessarily a bad thing. All those little pieces in flesh is not a good thing. I have found that almost all the 155 and lighter grain bullets will lose their jacket, fragment or the pedals will start to peel back to far in 10mm after a certain fps. The ONLY one that doesn't do this regardless of weight is the Barnes bullet!

My old Springfield was loaded with the 230 grain Golden Sabers and they were the non bonded, they were awesome and stayed together every time.

Here is an old article that relates to the Golden Saber (non bonded version). I am assuming phone books cause even more disruption then water but what do I know. Maybe not? Also, this guy chronographed his at 1300fps from DT loads. This is what I get from there loads usually. Underwood, Reeds and Swamp fox had the full power Golden Sabers and they run much closer to what they claim. This is why so many use the xtp in 10mm, they are cheaper and still stay together.

Edit: Had to remove the link it is at brasstard.com