Berry's Plated Bullet's Quality

[blujax01]

I'm not sure if something was lost here but my point in sharing & creating this thread was intended to be about the relative quality, & lack of consistency, in the Berry's product I have observed with my limited purchases, & to see if it has been observed by anyone else & bring awareness to it, for what it's worth.

Okay, I'll play.

When you speak of "relative quality & lack of consistency", the obvious question is "relative to what?" Inexpensive plated bullets from other manufacturers? Other lots from Berry's? Other calibers of plated bullets?

Or is it one lot of one caliber from one manufacturer - which allows for zero discussion of relativity.

Lack of consistency? It appears to me that each and every one of those bullets is identical in size, shape, and weight. The fact that you don't like the size, shape and weight is another conversation.

As Nevada Ed pointed out, plated bullets are fine for what they are - inexpensive practice ammo. I cannot use open lead at my range, something about lead dust in the air. Whatever. Plated bullets fill my need and Berry's shoot just fine in 9mm, 38 spl and 45 acp. And lot after lot, thousand after thousand, year after year, they are consistent in size, shape and weight.

If I'm looking for high power or super accurate loads, I'm looking at FMJ/JHP/SJHP, which cost 2x plated.

Shoot them or send them back.

 

[novalty]

I had great success with Berry's 230gr. RN for my 1911 was a very accurate bullet for me.

Forrest r, we are generally right in sync with our reloading thought, but I have to disagree with your statement.

I'm with you bluedot, that undersized tapered bullet just makes life harder. It makes them allot harder to crimp & bad things can happen when you get anywhere near full house loads.

As far as I know you are only supposed to taper crimp these bullets, any over crimping will affect the plating on the bullet. .428 at the bearing surface still seems sufficient to get a light crimp on the bullet.

As far being near full house loads, Berry's specifically warns against loading over mid-range.

When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.

As far as cost versus quality. Cabelas list those 44 cal. 240gr. FP bullets at $41.99 for 250--or $0.17 per bullet. Rainier is showing a 500ct. of same style bullet for $81.99--or $0.18 per bullet. Now make the jump to FMJ, Hornady 240gr. XTP-HP's $27.99 per 100. Nosler JSP's $52.99 per 250 or $0.21 per bullet. Sierra JSHP's for $26.99 per 100. Now on the opposite end Oregon Trail $134.99 per 1000, or $0.135 per bullet. So Berry's is priced like they state between lead and FMJ bullets. If you want a different plated bullet, try purchasing from Rainier or Xtreme. I haven't tried any of their bullets but general reviews are good.

 

[Bkreutz]

Another option is Rocky Mountain Reloading. .45 cal NEW 230 grain Hollow Point PLATED I use them exclusively after trying a bunch of different brands of plated and Jacketed bullets. They meet my needs for accuracy and the price is right. (and they seem to always have stock on hand, maybe I'm going to screw that up by posting this).

 

[riverrat38]

Berry's web site says that all plated pistol bullets are double struck.

"All of our Preferred Plated bullets are swaged from a custom alloyed lead for uniformity, then plated to final weight and put back in a carbide die to be Re-Struck to the preferred dimension."

Best,
Rick

 

[steamloco76]

I've used several thousand Berry's Plated bullets with very good results. Their 158 gr RNFP has proven to be a very accurate bullet in .38 Special and mid range .357 Magnum loads. Also love the 230 grain RN for 45 ACP and the 240 FP for .44 Special.

Nice to shoot at the indoor range without the bullet lube smoke cloud.

PS-I just received my first order of Extreme Plated bullets. 240 grain FP in.430 which have a cannelure ! and 124 grain RN .356 for 9MM. They look very good too. Had to go with them since Berry's has been out of stock forever.

 

[riverrat38]

XtremeBullets are what I currently use. I have found Barry's and Rainier Bullets to work well, also.
I like that Xtreme bullets can be bought with a cannelure, even the WC's.
They also sell 158 gr SWC's. As far as I know, they are the only plated bullet manufactures to do so.
All of their plated bullets are double struck.
I crimp my plated rounds with a Lee FCD, using one half turn for a light crimp. All of my plated loads are sub sonic.

Best,
Rick

 

[Culina]

Try measuring a gauge pin the same way you are measuring the bullet. I know my 20+ year old Mitutoyo calipers are off by pretty close to that much. They need to be professionally adjusted or calibrated every so often. These days its probably cheaper to just get a new set.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The point, again, was that the Berry's 44 bullets have tapered bearing surfaces, the Berry's 41 bullets do not. The type of tool I used to determine that, or it's degree of preciseness, does not change that fact, nor that you can see that taper with the naked eye, as shown in the photos.

 

[novalty]

The point, again, was that the Berry's 44 bullets have tapered bearing surfaces, the Berry's 41 bullets do not. The type of tool I used to determine that, or it's degree of preciseness, does not change that fact, nor that you can see that taper with the naked eye, as shown in the photos.

I think we all understand that the bullets are tapered, but with Berry's offering to refund your money to make you satisfied, it comes across even by the title of your thread that Berry's makes bad bullets. I bought a bag of Winchester 25-35 brass from MidwayUSA last year, while seating a bullet one of the cases split from the mouth to the shoulder. I called Winchester to make sure there were no recalls. They told me there weren't any and ended up refunding me some money-via Wichester coupon. Do I think all Winchester brass is poor quality--no. Do I think manufacturers are pumping out products as fast as they can to try to meet the demand of a market that has exploded in the past year--yes. However, it is appreciated by members when someone posts about an issue they've had, so other members can keep an eye out on similar products they've purchased.

I hope the refund from Berry's will be useful in trying a different manufacturer for your plated 44 cal needs.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

....it comes across even by the title of your thread that Berry's makes bad bullets.

Which is why in my original post I asked: "What's your opinions? Has anybody else noticed anything like this?"

The title does not state anything pro or con about Berry's.

I can only go by the 450 bullets I've bought. One caliber's box was great & the other caliber's box was poor. That's all I've got to go by, as stated.

Unlike some other posts here, I've not tried to be contentious, just present something I encountered.

 

[blujax01]

We get it. Shoot them or send them back.

 

[tacotime]

Thanks for mentioning the issue - I did not suspect it, and was about to buy some of that brand... I'll still try a box with caution.

 

[S&WIowegan]

I have used Berry, Rainier and West Coast(defunct) plated bullets with satisfactory results. None of these are match quality, high-grade fodder. They are plinking or paper punching practice bullets.

We use them to avoid leading and smoke. If you need high grade, perfect bullets you'll need Sierra, Speer, Nosler ,etc.

Berry Bullets aren't any worse quality than most commercial cast bullets. You have discovered one of them there hard facts of life.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Thanks to those that related their experiences with Berry's & those that have provided constructive comments/opinions.

Concerning a refund/exchange, brought up by some, I never asked Berry's for a refund in my correspondence with them, nor have I received a refund from Berry's. I did, however, offer to return the whole box of unsatisfactory .44 bullets to them in exchange for another box of their bullets. They did not acknowledge that request.

I want to believe the 44's were just from a "bad" lot, not that the 41s were from an "exceptional" lot, which is why I sent a sample to them, but unfortunately they said or did nothing help show me that.

 

[Harrison]

I agree with the OP there is a problem if he is trying for real good accuracy. I have a Marlin 1894 rifle which would positively hate those Berrys and probably tumble every one of them sideways into the target!

That is because your Marlin has an oversized bore. SAAMI allows a larger bore size for 44mag rifles, than for 44mag pistols. It makes no sense but that's the way it is. The Barrys bullets are sized for a pistol. Marlin in it's infinite wisdom chose to make it's rifle barrels two to three thousands larger than spec for pistols, yet both fire the same ammunition. Other makers of 44 mag rifles bored their barrels .428-.429.

 

[blujax01]

...
Concerning a refund/exchange, brought up by some, I never asked Berry's for a refund in my correspondence with them, nor have I received a refund from Berry's. ...

Interesting.

"... I just got an email back. Initially it said I could have my money back if I wanted but nothing as to whether they considered them out of specs. I pressed them for an answer..."

It appears that you were offered one. Why have you not taken them up on their offer?

 

[Bkreutz]

I've never checked my bullets for parallel so today I was thinking about this thread and thought (Just for s&g) lets see what my Rocky Mountain Reloading bullets look like. I grabbed a random dozen or so out of the tub and they all looked like this. Good enough for me. I used to use Berry's but the only reason I changed was availability. RMR seems to always have bullets when everyone else is backordered and they're about the same price (8-9 cents each depending on quantity)

 

[BLUEDOT37]

They offered you a full refund.

It appears that you were offered one. Why have you not taken them up on their offer?

OMG!! Don't make me keep telling you this. If I get a refund I'm NOT sharing with you! Geez, you're a bad as my wife, always nagging me about money.

.

 

[SuperMan]

I have used Berry, Rainier and West Coast(defunct) plated bullets with satisfactory results. None of these are match quality, high-grade fodder. They are plinking or paper punching practice bullets.

...Oh...

Berry's 185 RNHB....50'



Berry's .41/210 50'...first shot was the aiming point for the other 5



Berry's 124 9mm FPHB....15 yards...small holes in the forehead are .22s...



Berry's 100 grain RNHB...10 rounds at 50'



Berry's 124 FPHB at 50 yards...5.5"



Was shooting in Idaho a few weeks ago across a dry lake bed with targets out to 550 yards. There was a 5 gallon plastic bucket at 400. Fired 9 rounds at the bucket and the width of the group was only as wide as the bucket...





The 250 yard target..




These bullets are just as accurate as the shooter is...

Bob

 

[fredj338]

Like any manuf today, QC can vary. I have seen some pretty bad bullets come out of Berry's, mostly \undersized, but also some good ones. Since I shoot mostly lead in my guns, only lead in my revolvers, I pretty much gave up on plated but for a few guns w/ poly rifling. A good cast bullet shoots as well or better, cheaper too.