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I'm not sure why you're picking on Wildbill.

My responsees were harsher than his.

I concede that there is every chance that the Ranier plated bullet might perform as well as FMJ.

There are some members, a small minority here, who have chosen to carry FMJ for reasons of their own.

Should you wish to carry Ranier plated bullets for self defense, more power to you. But when you don't get the answers that you wanted to hear, don't be so critical. I take some comfort in the fact that your chance of ever being in a self defense situation will likely make it moot anyway.

I know of no factory loadings using the Ranier bullets, so simply using reloads as carry ammo will be looked upon with disfavor by most. I hope you're not so cost conscious that you just won't pay for decent ammunition.

If you insist on using Ranier, try their hollow point offerings, as they should offer at least some expansion.

Good luck to you,

It sounds to me like we failed to get the point across that Ranier bullets should NOT be a choice for self defense.

There is absolutely NO grounds for assuming that the copper plated Ranier will perform as well as a hollow point lead bullet.

Someone shot with them could very well succumb, but they should not be preferred over better performing bullets.

There are lead cast bullets with no plating. These are usually the least expensive but they do have velocity limits unless a gas check is used. A gas check is a copper cup that is attached to the base of the lead bullet.

The Ranier is a cast bullet that is copper plated. It is recommended to hold them to similar loadings as cast lead bullets.

Then there are jacketed bullets of full metal jacket (FMJ) style, as well as half jacketed soft points and hollow points.

Jacketed bullets are constructed well enough that they can be driven to higher velocities than lead or plated.

When considering a self defense load, the bullet must retain most of its weight, achieve adequate penetration, and expand, ideally forming a large diameter mushroom shape.

Of the premium defensive loads, you can find endless discussion here and elsewhere about what is best. Actually, any of the premium defensive loads will do well.

But I think everyone would agree that the Ranier is an inexpensively constructed bullet suitable only for practice and plinking. It should never be considered for defensive purposes.