Berry's Bullets - Report Your Recent Experience
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1sailor
Member
Berry's has become the only bullets I buy anymore. With my M&P in 9mm I find I can group consistantly below about 2.5" at 50ft. After about 10 rounds all the remaining bullets just keep fitting through the existing hole. I recently bought a Beretta 92fs but only had 22 bullets left. Even though it is a new gun I was still able to keep most my shots within a 3" circle at 50ft. Counting the couple of flyers they still kept to within about 4". That was with a gun I had never fired before. I'm pretty happy with them. I just ordered 3 250 round boxes of assorted bullets to work up some loads for my new Beretta.
Bullseye Smith
Member
They are what I shoot the most, I'm waiting for the new HP's to get out before I order any more.
AZ115
Member
I reloaded 250x Berry's 124gr. HBFP 3.6 gr.Titegroup @ 1.090" COL. Shot good on 2 different range trips, fed reliable on 3 different 9mm guns accuracy was also pretty good. It was a bit challenging getting my Lee turret press set up for these the first time. Not much reloading data out there for these either. I still have about 30 of these left.
I also reloaded a bunch of the Berry's 115gr. RN. I really like these more than their 124 gr. it was a breeze setting up the press and cranking them out. I loaded the following. I got the best results with the 4.5gr.and 4.7gr. of Titegroup. I just reloaded another 200 of these today at 4.5gr.
50x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.3 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
250x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.5 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
200x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.7 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
Reloading is fun. Shooting is funner!
I also reloaded a bunch of the Berry's 115gr. RN. I really like these more than their 124 gr. it was a breeze setting up the press and cranking them out. I loaded the following. I got the best results with the 4.5gr.and 4.7gr. of Titegroup. I just reloaded another 200 of these today at 4.5gr.
50x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.3 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
250x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.5 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
200x Berry's 115 gr. RN 4.7 gr Titegroup @ 1.135" COL
Reloading is fun. Shooting is funner!
Maximumbob54
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I want to see two things:
How much they cost
Gel testing
I can't wait to see both and I hope they can keep the cost down without jumping too much and I hope they perform just like the one they show in the picture. I might go back to buying plated bullets again.
rodell
Member
Berry's plated bullets are not self-defense bullets. They are for plinking and practice. Use a serious bullet for serious work - skip the gel test.
I have shot thousands of them and continue to do so in semiautomatics and revolvers. I'm a satisfied customer.
I have shot thousands of them and continue to do so in semiautomatics and revolvers. I'm a satisfied customer.
socal s&w
Member
The last batch that I tried were not the best for accuracy. I bought the HBWC plated 148gr bullets and had some issues with them.
The hollow bases had gunk in each one, looked like either excess material or debris stuck inside the base. I was able to get most of it out of several, but didn't want to do that for the entire batch of the 500 that I bought.
Once I fired all of those bullets, I have not bought any more as the accuracy just was not there.
Maybe I caught a bad batch or maybe they were having production issues at that point in time. I will give them another try someday, after I shoot the 10K of Bear Creek 148gr LHBWC that I currently have. They work great!
The hollow bases had gunk in each one, looked like either excess material or debris stuck inside the base. I was able to get most of it out of several, but didn't want to do that for the entire batch of the 500 that I bought.
Once I fired all of those bullets, I have not bought any more as the accuracy just was not there.
Maybe I caught a bad batch or maybe they were having production issues at that point in time. I will give them another try someday, after I shoot the 10K of Bear Creek 148gr LHBWC that I currently have. They work great!
LE-28
Member
I'm pushing 5K or 9mm,2K of .357, and first box of 1000 of 32 cal.
They have always been very accurate for me.
Very happy with them. Like shooting soft lead bullets without the smoke, but I can push them faster than lead.
They have always been very accurate for me.
Very happy with them. Like shooting soft lead bullets without the smoke, but I can push them faster than lead.
riverrat38
US Veteran
I have found that plated bullets need more pressure to seal up and give good accuracy, especially, the WC's, which Barry's says to use data that gives at least 800 FPS. I stuck a Rainier plated DEWC 5 inches down a 6 inch M14. It was very difficult to remove.
I don't have the option to use lead bullets, as the indoor range checks my ammo with a magnet and a fine tooth comb.
Using the DEWC's, I was getting tight groups with my 6 inch M686 and WW231, as long as I used a full jigger of powder.
Rick
I don't have the option to use lead bullets, as the indoor range checks my ammo with a magnet and a fine tooth comb.
Using the DEWC's, I was getting tight groups with my 6 inch M686 and WW231, as long as I used a full jigger of powder.
Rick
TSQUARED
Member
In my limited experience the plated bullets povide ca. 10% lower velocity than a lead bullet of the same weight with the same powder charge. The plated bullets are gedeat for the usual pistol games such as IDPA, USPSA, steel challenge and ICORE. However, the only plated bullet which I tested that even approached bullseye level accuracy was the Rainier 200 gr. 45 cal SWC. For bullseye pistol I use lead in 32, 38 and either lead or jacketed in 45ACP.
GTbob
Member
I love Berry's plated bullets. They are all I use currently for reloading .40S&W and .357 Mag.
I'm up to about 5K myself and love them. Great for plinking and very accurate. They're all I use anymore. Mid range velocitys won't wear out your firearms. Free shipping is a big plus for me too.
De Oppresso Liber
De Oppresso Liber
Berry's 124 gr. RN .356" for 9mm. Loaded as per Berry's directions. All went bang. No residue in barrel. All hit target within a reasonable distance from point of aim. Same as any other bullet (jacketed or lead) I've reloaded...
frankw
Member
I have been loading from a box of 1000 124 HBRN-TC with W231. They are accurate and function 100% so far.
$98 from Berry's with free shipping, $84 from Powder valley after shipping added.
$98 from Berry's with free shipping, $84 from Powder valley after shipping added.
Maximumbob54
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Why in the world wouldn't these be decent for self defense??? The simple and lowly SWCHP is still a good bullet all these years later despite all the fancy new bonded wonder bullets. Sometimes simple works pretty darn well. And it would be great to be able to load up in bulk and practice in volume with what you would trust in the nightstand.
Shooting Padre
US Veteran
I have used Berry's bullets ever since I started reloading five years ago. As stated, they are not self defense rounds, but practice or plinking rounds. I have never had any issues with them. Good product at a good price. I like their targets also, 100 for around eight bucks. As for self defense, not so much a bullet issue as a legal issue. A prosecutor will look for any reason to cast a bad light on your use of force to defend yourself. Reloaded ammo is sometimes used as an issue to claim you stepped outside the bounds. Just saying.
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dwpmusic
US Veteran
I just ordered some Berry's bullets today to start loading .38spl. Hope they turn out as good as everybody says.
And awa-ay we go!
This has never happened.
This has never happened.
This has never happened.
Not once.
EVER!
buck460XVR
Member
Rodell.....I believe Bullseye Smith is referring to the new Berrys Hollowpoint bullet that is supposed to be the equivalent of Speer Gold Dots at a cheaper price.
Link is here.....http://www.berrysmfg.com/products-c117-New_Hollow_Points.aspx
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Berry's plated bullets should never be confused with jacketed bullets, solid or hollow-point. Plated bullets are a relatively soft lead alloy swaged to form, then plated with copper (or copper alloy), resulting in a bullet that is far more consistent in shape and dimensions than any cast bullet.
These should be treated in a similar manner to cast or swaged lead bullets for loading purposes. This means selecting powders in the middle of the burning range for the intended caliber and keeping pressures within the bounds that will prevent excessive deformation of the bullet.
Relatively light loads of fast burning powders can be counted on to deform the bullet more so than moderate loads of a slower burning powder. Heavy loads of any powder can produce the same results.
Deformed bullets cannot be counted on for accurate shooting beyond very, very short ranges.
So, there are some limitations to be understood and observed, but there is no inherent reason why the plated bullets would not be useful for any use that a handgun might be called upon for.
Understanding such basics is the key to success with any projectile selected.
These should be treated in a similar manner to cast or swaged lead bullets for loading purposes. This means selecting powders in the middle of the burning range for the intended caliber and keeping pressures within the bounds that will prevent excessive deformation of the bullet.
Relatively light loads of fast burning powders can be counted on to deform the bullet more so than moderate loads of a slower burning powder. Heavy loads of any powder can produce the same results.
Deformed bullets cannot be counted on for accurate shooting beyond very, very short ranges.
So, there are some limitations to be understood and observed, but there is no inherent reason why the plated bullets would not be useful for any use that a handgun might be called upon for.
Understanding such basics is the key to success with any projectile selected.
