anyone using this ? 124g OAL 1.169

I've put a few downrange but can't really tell any advantage on steel plates.

Using N350 recipe for 1200fps.

Would appreciate field notes/comments from previous users.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Don't know about these but a friend of mine uses Berry's 185 gr HBRN .45 bullets and they ARE are a superior accurate bullet - some of the best groups I have ever shot out of my 1991-A1 were with them - This was at 17 yards with 4.9 gr of Titegroup. # 7 was an intentional flyer as I moved the gun slightly to the right for the last round.

I have used the Ranier 158 gr HP & FP coated bullets in 38/.357 with great results. Can't tell the difference in either as far as accuracy. Both shot very good in several different guns. I'm loading them light with 3 gr Bullseye. Was in Cabelas over the weekend and they had some of the Berrys HP in 158 with a pretty good price, so I picked up 500 to try. I don't think the HP affects the accuracy any over the FP but they do look cool. I have not tried to push them faster but I think they could easily be pushed to 1000 fps or higher with any leading problems.

I think the idea of HP for steel target shooting is the deformation cuts down on a direct back at you ricochet.

I have recently reloaded this bullet @ 1.205 for my 625 Revolver, shoots fine but that OAL won't seat into my Shield 45 which would take a 1.114 OAL which I passed up on.
I had a conversation with a gentleman at Berry's, he highly recommended the Hollow Base HP bullets just as an FYI. I think 'Target' in the designation may be more about target accuracy, not sure that other than what was mentioned about them deforming more for helping to eliminate ricochet that there is any other advantage for you.
Are you having to knock down the plates or just ringing them?
Karl

Was the OP's question about 124 gr 9mm bullets? Lots of input on 45 and 38/357 bullets though...

Ooooops...........well in case anyone was wondering about it in 45
Karl

appreciate all comments regardless of 'caliber'....

re: "Are you having to knock down the plates or just ringing them?"

Mostly the speed steel around here are non-knock down style.

The boolit I imaged above is considerably shorter than the standard 124 plated OR FMJ version.

I took a handful to range a few days ago. While they were all at least as accurate on the standard (falling plate rack~~yes they all fall nicely) steel distances (out to about 60' as tested) they seemed to provide a bit more emphatic recoil subjectively, than same recipe with standard Berry's 124 plated 9mm.

They fed without incident for the entire supply I took along.

Just trying to decide whether this is my 'standard' load now or not.
Better get out the paper targets for compare.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Those look a lot like the Hornady "HAP" series of jacketed bullets they sell for bottom feeder calibers. In Hornady's case, they tend to mimic their XTP lines as far as ballistics go and they might be better for knocking down plates (or not; I don't know). But I think another selling point with them is punching cleaner holes in paper targets too, because of the flat nose as compared to a regular round nose bullets.

Just me, but if i was doing a lot of knock down plates with 9mm, i'm going 147gr.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

appreciate the 147 note, this version of 'speed steel' is using dingers only, no knock downs.

And the New Pistol I got does seem to like the 147 as well as anything else, but time will tell. Perhaps its being able to see the sight alignment better.

....oh, and the trigger......

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

IF all that is needed is 9mm minor hit, a 147gr gets you there a bit better than 124gr IMO. Softer recoil impulse running 147gr @ 800fps vs 124gr running 1000fps.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I loaded a complete box of Berry's 180gr. THP bullets myself. I asked the same about advantages. Have not shot any yet. I bought them because they were less money than the other .40 projectiles (Berry's). (I am a cheapo) Bob

when talking with the customer service lady at Berry's I asked a ton of questions and got pretty simple basic answers.

While professional and 'responsive' her answers were not really very technically informative.

Basically she said to use published reloading tables, the hollow point on these were 'to cut better holes in paper targets' and had no information on adapting to the shortness of the slug.

I was disappointed in lack of much discussion of ***w short the OAL' in relationship to standard factors.

Perhaps someone else has better answers.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Yes, I picked up 100 and shot them just for the devil of it. For my use (which isn't hard-core target shooting) I saw no noticeable difference.

OK, a truncated cone shape bullet will be shorter than a round nose profile of the same weight. The material is distributed differently.

I can't see-assuming the shape is similar-how the THP of the same weight could be shorter than a plain truncated cone. In fact, the full diameter body will be longer because of the missing weight of the hollow cavity.

I'm using the .45 THPs, loaded to 1.160 inches.

WR: I agree with your logic; I don't have 'regular TP' to compare overall length to the THP. Side by side the RN and the THP of the same weight, shows considerable length difference. Not in front of me currently, I don't have the actual measurements.

My concern was how that shorter OAL would be affected in chamber pressure & groove engagement, from the standard RN.

Tomorrow I will do further measurements & probably just load what I got already.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I tried like heck to make the 135gr work in my 9mm's do to the
fact that it had a lower power facto than the 124 or the 147 in
one of my family members Kahr 3", 16 oz. light weight auto's.

However at a oal of 1.12 down to 1.165", it could not match the
groups/accuracy of the lighter or heavier bullets, that I tested with nine different type powders from three companies.

I did not like the "Bark" of the light 115gr bullets and liked the
feel and noise level of the 124 or 147 with all the protective gear.

With the new designs in bullets today, I have no idea if a bullet
that has a hollow tip or base, is better than a RN or tapered or cone tip, bullet, in the 9mm pistol ?

Over the years with all my testing.....
with all the new stuff coming out, I am sinking, deeper and deeper into the mud hole !!

"Over the years with all my testing.....
with all the new stuff coming out, I am sinking, deeper and deeper into the mud hole !!"

so....it's NOT 'just ME'!!!

as an old buddy told me once : "I may not be fast on the line, but I'm as inaccurate as ANYBODY".....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I have your disease and have only been into it for a little over two years LOL My shooting partner is just the opposite, one load, one bullet design, one powder for everything.
For me, I'll try most anything in bullet style and powder and blame inaccuracy on myself for the most part. Without a chrono and a bench rest I can't get too critical but what I have tried and learned has been a great lesson and journey and I am along for the ride!
Lead, coated, plated and plenty of powders, so far they all work!
Karl

I started my inquiry with an email and said I was having an issue with a particular bullet. If you do this you will likely get more of the info you are looking for, my contact guy was Jason, got a quick email back and was able to call him to follow up and he was very helpful still understanding that they are limited on what they can tell you about load data but very technical in his answers.
Karl

FWIW; I have always thought/reasoned hollow point bullets are not always used for "mushrooming" bullets. The weight distribution of a hollow point bullet often makes it a more accurate bullet, ie.; HPBT bullets for Match rifle shooting, and HP for pistol match...

OK, so far as chamber pressure, the important measurement is from the base of the bullet to the bottom of the inside of the case. Which is why I'm reluctant to try hollow base bullets:the hollow increases the effective case volume. This lowers pressures and velocities if you have to make a power factor.

The difference in bearing surface really isn't an issue.

Almost 40 years ago the USAF did a research project and discovered that truncated cone bullets are more accurate than RN. Hornaday made the test bullets and later introduced a truncated cone in both 9mm & .45. Later testing indicated that a HP configuration further increased accuracy, leading to the HAP line of bullets.

I`m not a fan of hornady HAP bullets... they measure very inconsistent.
I was never able to achieve much if any accuracy from their HAP`s. (9mm&45)

Berry`s plated, a much different story... far more accurate than the HAP`s in ALL my guns.

I tried the Berrys 158 plated hp yesterday. Tried 2 powders loaded very light. 3gr Bullseye and 3.5gr Titegroup. Extremely accurate with either load. Tried in a 3" mod 65, 6" mod 19 and 4" mod 15. All 3 loved both loads. I've had great results with Berrys cast swc as well. I'm sold on their quality.

I have been using these in .44 flavor for several hundred loads for my .44s, and they all seem to love it from the Redhawk to the Eagle. I have yet to crush a cartridge (unlike their .45 ACP which are inconsistent I've found) with these bullets. They seat properly and perform with a half dozen or so powders that I've used/tried. It's a good, solid load and is relatively inexpensive compared to a lot of others.