Plated Berry's Bullets

[GypsmJim]

Just looking for some other unbiased opinions on these bullets. I load home brew lead and of course jacketed for hunting, but I wanted some other data from those that have tried them.

My handgun reloading consists of 380, 38, 357, 9 mm, 41 mag, 45 Colt and 45 ACP.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I load them in 380, 38 super, 9mm and 45 acp. No complaints at all and I’ve loaded them for a few years.

 

[VAPA]

I loaded hundreds of them in 45acp, never had a problem with them.

 

[CJSmith]

I have used them in most of those calibers and never had any issues.

 

[iouri]

I've loaded Berry's in multiple calibers: 9x19, 9Mak, 45ACP 500 Mag (~1600 fps), 7.62x39 (per their recommendation under 2000 fps). No complaints. From your list the only one I'd be cautious about is 41Mag. Make sure you don't exceed their recommended velocity.

 

[GypsmJim]

Mine was a loaded question....

I have loaded my own cast lead for 50 years with good success. Since my lead supply is diminishing I decided to use some store bought bullets to supplement my own. My indoor range requires lead, so I figured the plated would suffice for outdoors, and thus extend my supply.

I tried them first in 357 and 38. Worked well. Then I tried 45. Worked well again.

Then, because of my lack of patience, I bought a supply of 380, 9mm and 41. No problem until I used the 41.

Horrible shotgun accuracy. Its a Model 57 with a low count and its been flawless for 20 years. I checked the bullets and they were 0.409. Berry's says that's within the spec tolerance. Oh ****. All my other home brews are 0.410 and they work fine.

So, in my PO'd mind I went back and checked all of my other 3000 rounds on hand, and found every caliber was about 0.001" below specs. In other words, a .45 miked out at 0.451.

Apparently, the other guns could live with the undersize, but my beloved 57 could not.

Any comments now with the full story?

 

[GypsmJim]

I've loaded Berry's in multiple calibers: 9x19, 9Mak, 45ACP 500 Mag (~1600 fps), 7.62x39 (per their recommendation under 2000 fps). No complaints. From your list the only one I'd be cautious about is 41Mag. Make sure you don't exceed their recommended velocity.

These are light target loads, no velocity issues...

 

[psquarejr]

I never have had a proplem with Berry's bullets. I load them with Accurate powders and they shoot just fine. I'm not looking for super accuracy, just to plink and perforate paper and they do the job. No complaints at all. I load 9MM, 38 Spec, 357 Mag, 40 S&W, 10MM, 45ACP, 44Spec and 44 Mag with Berry's to have fun at the range.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Mine was a loaded question....

I have loaded my own cast lead for 50 years with good success. Since my lead supply is diminishing I decided to use some store bought bullets to supplement my own. My indoor range requires lead, so I figured the plated would suffice for outdoors, and thus extend my supply.

I tried them first in 357 and 38. Worked well. Then I tried 45. Worked well again.

Then, because of my lack of patience, I bought a supply of 380, 9mm and 41. No problem until I used the 41.

Horrible shotgun accuracy. Its a Model 57 with a low count and its been flawless for 20 years. I checked the bullets and they were 0.409. Berry's says that's within the spec tolerance. Oh ****. All my other home brews are 0.410 and they work fine.

So, in my PO'd mind I went back and checked all of my other 3000 rounds on hand, and found every caliber was about 0.001" below specs. In other words, a .45 miked out at 0.451.

Apparently, the other guns could live with the undersize, but my beloved 57 could not.

Any comments now with the full story?

If they don't work out for you in the accuracy Dept. .........

you can always just use them for chrony work or testing out new powders, where you don't have to use your "Good" bullets.

Stuff happens.

 

[wx7b]

Loaded for years, in almost all calibers 32 to 44. Just keep the velocity to recommended levels. Do use CFE Pistol in some calibers to help remover copper.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have shot thousands of Berry's Bullets in pretty much every caliber from .32 auto to .45 auto. No complaints. My .38 supers (all 9mm bore) are especially fond of the Berry's 130 grain designed for that caliber. The modest number of them I have shot in .41 have been thru a Model 58, also no complaints, but have not bought any in that caliber in the last year or so.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Berry's Bullets

Mine was a loaded question....

No problem until I used the 41.

Horrible shotgun accuracy. Its a Model 57 with a low count and its been flawless for 20 years. I checked the bullets and they were 0.409. Berry's says that's within the spec tolerance. Oh ****. All my other home brews are 0.410 and they work fine.

Any comments now with the full story?

Well, my "Berry's" story is similar but with opposite calibers.

Years ago when I first tried Berry's I bought a large box of 210gr PRNFP in 41 Magnum & they shot great. (Moderate loads, ~1050-1100fps)

So next I bought a large box of their 240gr PRNFP in 44 Magnum and they were JUNK loaded about the same!!

They were so undersized I couldn't keep them seated to the correct OAL". They'd get easily pushed in no matter what I did.

At the time I only had a digital caliper & it showed they were .428". (I shortly thereafter realized it's short coming & graduated to a reasonably priced micrometer; much better for such readings!)

Short story I complained to Berry's & sent them a handful for their "review".

They too told me they were within their specs. Garbage!

I ended up scrapping them & using them for ballast in my portable reloading table's legs & stopped buying from them.

With one slight exception.

I did reluctantly try their 350gr PRNFP bullets for use in my reduced 500 Mag loads.

While they "work" they have one of the same problems the 44 bullets had, besides sizing (.499"), the bearing surfaces are not parallel.

Definitely not the best quality but in the 500 it just "pounds" them into shape, it seems, & they were doable for some "blasting".

Yeah, I moved on from Berry's.

.

Berry's 240gr PRNFP 44's
.

.

 

[prairieviper]

They were my go to bullet for .40 S&W and 9mm. I used them for light target loads and I had no complaints. I still have a quantity on hand but don't shoot those calibers as much as I do others.

 

[Rambler42]

I use Berry's in .32, .38, and .45. Never had a problem.

 

[pantannojack]

I got mine at Cabelas, saved shipping cost. Ran maybe 4000 9mm 124g RN. I like them very well, but I never shot that gun, (39-2), well so I now use it for a boat anchor.

 

[GaCop]

I ran into a similar problem with 158 grain TMJ-HPs from ExTreme Bullets. The shoot like **** in my 686. Miked em and they are .357". I've shot them in my 38 Super and they were great, but not my Smith.

 

[stansdds]

I have found it is difficult to get a really good roll crimp to work with plated bullets. Taper crimping is not a problem, so I have used plated bullets with good success in semi-auto pistols, but I have not had as much success with revolvers.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have used them in the past in 9mm , 380 acp , 45 acp and yes --- 41 magnum with " ZERO " problems . None of my loads were just plinking , target rounds . The 41 magnum loads were well into magnum territory , they shot accurately . Regards Paul

 

[robert1804]

I use lots of Berry's in hand gun calibers. They're fine for plinking and some target shooting. Berry's .308 rifle bullets are surprisingly accurate. I use 150 and 220 round nose in 300 BLK, 7.62X39, 308 and 30-06. Just use cast bullet data, mostly 1300-2000 fps range for some low noise fun!

 

[max503]

Their 125 grain is the most accurate bullet yet in my Rossi 357 magnum rifle.