Berry 124 Hybrid3rd & Final test

Nevada Ed · Apr 13, 2023

My test have been with 9mm 3.5 & 5" barrels, to give this Berry bullet a chance, at a "Like".
I have tried the Berry's OAL of 1.09" out to a full 1.12" that I think
is maximum for this short 124 gr. plated HP, bullet.

My final try was with some light target loads with a OAL of 1.12"
to get the bullet closer to the lands, to see if it would help out on accuracy.
I used four different powder burning speeds, that have worked for me in the past
with a plated 124 gr. bullet from several makers, including a coated 125 gr by Eggland. (oal 1.06~1.16")

The 124 plated FMJ at 1.14" feed and ejected with both loads without any problems. (loads 5 & 6 )

All four test loads with the Berry Hybrid bullet, with a OAL of 1.12"
and light target loads on this test,
FAILED to feed or eject all five (5) test loads, in my 9mm pistol
without a problem or jam.

I hope it does better for those of you that are shooting this bullet.

If any of you have a load that feeds and ejects well in a 9mm with this Berry's 124gr bullet
could you please list the name of the powders/fps that they may have
to maybe help me on a load to finish off the bullets that I have left
without any more feeding problems, thank you.

Here is my target.

BB57 · Apr 14, 2023

I tried the Berry’s 124 gr Hybrid hollow points in ballistic gel about a year ago.

At velocities around 1015-1050 fps from my Kimber Micro 9 it either did not expand much or failed to expand at all and penetrated 17”-19”. The load was a max load of Power Pistol.

Here’s one of the bullets launched at 1015 fps after being dug out of the block. I could have probably loaded and shot it again.

In contrast the same load launched from my 4” Kimber Pro Carry at around 1125 fps penetrated 10.5” to 12” and demonstrated massive expansion.

Here are both bullets dug out of the block.

Given the total failure to expand at 1015 fps and beginning to expand at 1050 fps in my 3.15” barrel Kimber, along with the massive expansion with slight under penetration at 1125 fps in my 4” barrel Kimber, it appears to have a very narrow expansion window right around 1075-1100 fps where it would likely a) expand, and b) penetrate between 12” and 18”.

However, provided you have a chronograph and load it very carefully to achieve a consistent velocity right around 1075-1100 fps *in your personal handgun* it would be a very effective self defense load. Like you, I found it to be accurate, but unlike you I also found it to be very reliable in my Kimbers, my MP5 and in my CZ 75 Compact PCR.

I suspect it may come down to a very precise OAL. Unfortunately, I don’t recall what that OAL happened to be.

——

Just for fun, I decided to shoot it out of my 8.9” barrel MP5. At around 1350 fps the immediate over expansion and fragmentation was spectacular, with the larger fragments only demonstrating about 6” of penetration. It’s one of those cases where you don’t even bother removing fragments from the gel block, but instead just melt it and scrape the lead off the bottom of the block after it cools.

Nevada Ed · Apr 14, 2023

Thank you for all the data and pictures.

Wow, your Beta has see a lot more use than mine, looking at the wear and tear, it shows,
however mine got shot in the left "Arm" last year, but is still working.

Berry 124 Hybrid3rd & Final test

Nevada Ed

US Veteran

BB57

Member

Nevada Ed

US Veteran

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