"Best" brand of plated bullets??

[SLT223]

I use Xtreme in .38/.357 and .44. They seem to have sales and free shipping frequently. I have a had very good experiences with these slugs in both calibers on top of fast burning powders.

 

[SuperMan]

I and a WHOLE BUNCH of my friends use Barry's. I don't think there has ever been a defective bullet in the bunch and our orders usually total 60K+- bullets in just about all the calibers.

Had used Ranier personally until they dropped their .41 Magnum which was one of my major two bullets. Barry's have been excellent. Besides the .41 I also use:
350/.50
100/9mm HBRN
124/9mm HBFN
200/.44 FP (no longer available)
180/.45 HBRN

All have been excellent accuracy wise...Bob

 

[muddocktor]

I recently tried the Berry's 9MM 115 grain HBRN-TP bullets and like them a lot. They seem to be very consistent in their dimensions and they shoot well in every pistol I've tried them in. I was well satisfied with them and the only reason I don't have more to reload with at this time is that PV is out of stock on them.

The only problem I see with plated bullets is the fact that for about the same money, I can buy jacketed Zero bullets, which are a true jacketed bullet instead of plated. Take the 9MM 115 grain FMJ bullets for example. 2000 of the Berry's 115 HBRN-TP are $189.32 delivered (from Berry's) and from Rose Distributing (Zero's retail outlet), their 115 FMJ bullets are $193.40 delivered for 2000 bullets. I haven't tried the 9MM Zero bullets out yet, but I have their .357 158 grain JHP and SP bullets and have been fully satisfied with their quality and accuracy and the Zero bullets are actually cheaper than the Berry's plated in that caliber in 2000 lots.

Another line of bullets I am looking into and getting ready to try out are the Hi-Tek coated hard cast lead bullets. From everything I've read so far, the Hi-Tek coated lead bullets won't lead up a barrel at any pistol velocities and probably not at carbine velocities such you would see with a 357 Mag or 44 Mag out of an 1892 carbine either. I just got in some of these bullets to try from Bayou Bullets and if they do pan out they are even cheaper than the plated or the Zero jacketed bullets.

Since most everything I shoot is at the range and not hunting, price/performance ratio is king. And since I've been averaging at least 1k-2k rounds per month in various calibers, anything I can save on cost without compromising accuracy or reloading ease helps the old wallet out.

 

[shield]

...Of late I've been ordering all my revolver bullets from X-treme and auto bullets from Delta Precision. Auto bullets are jacketed for a little bit more money and to ME worth the difference.

The price difference between Delta and Xtreme on my last 230gr RN 45 ACP order was so small it made no sense to buy plated.

 

[The Norseman]

Plated bullets

I really like using Berry's Bullets. The bullet is a lead bullet with a coating of copper on it.
These copper coated bullets do not lead the barrel like the cast lead bullet I have.
Berry's Bullets come in a reusable plastic box.

Berry's Website recommends using published load data for LEAD BULLETS as long
as it is the same weight bullet.

My Ruger SR1911 45ACP appears to be very accurate with the 45cal 230gr round nose/
5.3 grs Alliant Unique powder/CCI LP #300 primer/Winchester case/Lee taper crimp die/COAL 1.230in.

 

[Moe Mentum]

xtreme, when they have free shipping.

 

[Johnnn01]

"xtreme, when they have free shipping. "
I will second that

 

[k20350]

I have shot a few thousand Berry's 158gn RN's out of my various .38's with no troubles. Uncle has shot a bunch of Rainiers out of his .45 1911 without any troubles.

 

[jjmdlm]

Plated bullets

I too, use RMR Rocky Mountain Reloading plated bullets--124 grain RN. I find them to be consistent in size and accuracy. I used to use Berry's but RMR is less expensive overall with the free shipping.

 

[MJFlores]

I've used countless boxes of Berry's 240 grain .44 cal flat nose in my .44 magnum. They're wonderful bullets, and a whole lot tougher than I thought they'd be. The plating is very tough and is not easily damaged by impact or crimping. I worked up a nice load in mag cases running just under 1000 fps, and I get great accuracy as well as a clean gun afterwards. It's not a full magnum load, but it's no slouch either. When ever I open a new box of bullets I always sample a few for weight and diameter, they've been very consistent in weight and in .430 diameter. I did have a box of bullets that measured .429, but I compared them to a loaded box of the others at .430 and couldn't decipher any difference in performance of accuracy. I've been so impressed with Berry's that I just started to load their 158 grain round nose in .357 mag.

 

[Speedo2]

I'm finding that Bayou "hi-Tec" coated bullets are more accurate than either Berry's or Rainier plated bullets in my 9mm's; they are also significantly cheaper than either of those two. No experience with Xtreme bullets.

For 38 Spl's my best accuracy comes from 148 Gr.HBWC's (uncoated). I've not yet tried Berry's plated HBWC's but will do so in the near future; I too am a fan of lead avoidance. -S2

 

[cloudswimmer]

And yet one more vote for Berry's (mostly in the .500 flavor myself)