Has anyone used Berry's 55g fmjbt for reloads in their 223? I ran across a great deal on 1000 of them. The way components are hard to find, I guess they are better than nothing.

I have shot a lot of the pistol bullets they make and never had a problem with them. They always were good quality. I have not used their 223 bullets but I would for sure.

I have also used a lot of their pistol bullets and really like them a lot. I would have no reservations using their 223 bullets.

Another fan of their pistol bullets but don’t have any experience with their 223.

Same.
They have a great rep but I haven't used their rifle bullets either.
I would hope and expect them to be the same excellent quality as their pistol bullets which I've used with success.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Check their web site, to start.

And watch your velocity!
Plated bullets cannot suffer the same load as jacketed.

Let us know what you find...

They sell some plated bullets for lower velocity rifle rounds but their 223 bullets are jacketed.

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Carlos
SWCA #3537

I use their 220 grain 30 cal bullet in 300 Blackout. I have no idea how they hold up to 223 velocity, but my Blackouts are subsonic! When loading the bullet be sure to put a real flare on the case mouth to keep from damaging the plating, but keep the flare as small. Make sure your neck tension is .003 or .004 tight. That will hold the bullet in the case under recoil or keep the bullet from pushing back while chambering. With good neck tension, you only need to crimp enough to close case mouth not crimp it in. (This also protects the plating!)

Measuring Neck Tension: Before sizing measure neck all thickness, usually .015-.017, times both neck walls= .030-.034 + the bullet diameter .224 = .254-.258" subtract desired neck tension of .004 Puts you around .250-.254" after sizing (If smaller is OK if larger You need to size neck smaller) Them you can seat the bullet, it will expand the neck and you can measure if you want and that will tell you the exact neck tension. (If you don't own good measuring equipment- measure after sizing and after seating that give you a very rough idea. Try pushing seated bullet in to the case, if it won't go you are great! If it went half way easy you have a problem.)

Ivan

Yesterday, Berry's Website said they are "Heavy Plated"!

Ivan

They have a good reputation for a LONG time. I'm sure that they wouldn't make a bullet that wasn't suitable for it's intended purpose. There may be some caveats, but they'd be up front about it.

I just checked the page and their .223 bullets are jacketed. They have heavy plated in other rifle calibers that aren't quite so demanding.

I think I'll try some eventually.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I just checked out some more pages. The "Heavy Plated" 223 bullets are discontinued, and they are now selling Jacketed 223 bullets. The Jacketed bullets have a Cannalure, the plated don't

That's even more attractive to me.

I lightly crimp my .2223s and a cannalure is nice to have.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I have 500 of The Jacketed 55 grains but haven’t loaded them yet I normally use the Hornady #2267 55 grain FMJ for My AR plinking ammo


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I have had good luck with Berry’s 125/158 .357, 240 .44 and 230 .45 bullets. I’d give one of my plums for 500 of their 55 223s.

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213th FBINA

I just ordered 500 each pf Berry's 9mm and 38/357 from Cabela's. Price is a little high in my opinion but the 9s will go as trading stock. I already have a 1000 or so 9s. The 158 357 bullets I need to finish up a couple thousand 38s I am loading. They were out of stock on the 223 FMJs...but I do have 1500 I got a month ago

I'm BIG ON BERRYS! & especially like their 9mm 124gr HBRN-TP & HBFP-TP bullets for both 9mm & 357 SIG use: they rate them up to 1,500 fps and there is even published 9mm load data from Hodgdons for 18(!) different powders (for the RN version). I typically use something near their starting data for XTPs in the 357 SIG application.

Cheers, and Happy New Year to All!

P.S. Never had a problem with the .223 55gr FMJs from X-treme, either... Nor with their 9mm FMJ bullets in 115 & 124gr, when available. I guess I load a lot of different plated bullets for the range.

Berry, Extreme and Dog town plated bullets all work in my rifles for target loads and Varmints.

Try a box and see if your rifle likes them, but don't go too crazy with the speed.

Sounds like they have a good rep. These are not plated,..they are full metal jacket. Out of stock when I checked their site, as all other sites I've checked. I had a lot of .243 bullets that I will never use because I discovered some that shoot excellent in my gun and the testing stages are over. I'll keep what works for me and trade the rest for a 1000 of the Berry's .224. Thanks for all the input.

They are jacketed. Seem to shoot pretty well. The cannelure ain't a real good one...at least on the one's I have used so far. I have put some cannelures on other 22 cal bullets for loading in 223 that are much better.

What do you have in .243? I have some 55's they are not Berry's but they are Hornady FMJ BT. I also have some 75 grain match grade HPBT, but they are kind of expensive. I have others but would have to look to see what I have and how many, I don't remember exactly. Maybe we can work something out.