Berry's Mfg Bullets... How do they compare... really?
Quote from Reloader on May 6, 2008, 7:24 amThis month's Blue Press had they bullets for sale and I am really intrigued with the price, however, I have absolutely no experience with plated bullets. My question is, has anyone here ever used these bullets in reloading and how were they in terms of ease of reloading, reliability in chambering and accuracy out of the barrel? I've actually seen on a couple of different forums that, like Rainier bullets, the cases should be belled a bit at the lip to ease in seating the bullet without peeling away the plating. I've also heard that Rainier's bullets are rather soft and will either deform easy or dent if dropped. Now I'm not reloading for magnum or +P loads... I'm mainly interested in reloading for 9mm and 45acp. Are these bullets really worth the savings? How is the quality of the plating? Some plated bullets, I've heard, look like FMJ and others look very rough and grainy. Thanks in advance for the replies.
This month's Blue Press had they bullets for sale and I am really intrigued with the price, however, I have absolutely no experience with plated bullets. My question is, has anyone here ever used these bullets in reloading and how were they in terms of ease of reloading, reliability in chambering and accuracy out of the barrel? I've actually seen on a couple of different forums that, like Rainier bullets, the cases should be belled a bit at the lip to ease in seating the bullet without peeling away the plating. I've also heard that Rainier's bullets are rather soft and will either deform easy or dent if dropped. Now I'm not reloading for magnum or +P loads... I'm mainly interested in reloading for 9mm and 45acp. Are these bullets really worth the savings? How is the quality of the plating? Some plated bullets, I've heard, look like FMJ and others look very rough and grainy. Thanks in advance for the replies.
Quote from Reloader on May 15, 2008, 3:05 pmAlright, i have also just discovered Berrys bullets and also am pleased to see the awesome prices. although i havent ordered any yet, i can tell you that the rainier bullets are excelent, i just finished relaoding 2000 of them, in 9mm. i have droped a dozen or so on the ground from my bench and noticed nothing. i recently competed in a local ipsc match and had very good accuracy with them. im not the most experienced reloader here, but i honestly coundnt tell the difference between the plated bullets and the FMJ's. they chambered fine and loaded fine, i bell my cases a little over .001 and never scraped a bullet either. i recommend the rainiers, and as soon as i order some of berrys bullets ill let you know what i think. i am all about saveing every cent possible in reloading so i tend to get as cheap as stuff as i can find, thats still good quality. rainier is just that, BUT there prices just JUMPED 30 dollars per 1000 on dillon site. so my next puchase will be the berrys. GL
PS. unless your a master or grandmaster shooter in compatition matches, i dont know if you will be able to tell the difference between a fmj and a plated bullet. but thats just me, some will say different and call me crazy but hey everyones got an opinion. see ya
Alright, i have also just discovered Berrys bullets and also am pleased to see the awesome prices. although i havent ordered any yet, i can tell you that the rainier bullets are excelent, i just finished relaoding 2000 of them, in 9mm. i have droped a dozen or so on the ground from my bench and noticed nothing. i recently competed in a local ipsc match and had very good accuracy with them. im not the most experienced reloader here, but i honestly coundnt tell the difference between the plated bullets and the FMJ's. they chambered fine and loaded fine, i bell my cases a little over .001 and never scraped a bullet either. i recommend the rainiers, and as soon as i order some of berrys bullets ill let you know what i think. i am all about saveing every cent possible in reloading so i tend to get as cheap as stuff as i can find, thats still good quality. rainier is just that, BUT there prices just JUMPED 30 dollars per 1000 on dillon site. so my next puchase will be the berrys. GL
PS. unless your a master or grandmaster shooter in compatition matches, i dont know if you will be able to tell the difference between a fmj and a plated bullet. but thats just me, some will say different and call me crazy but hey everyones got an opinion. see ya
Quote from Reloader on August 16, 2008, 9:24 pmI've reloaded several thousand Berry bullets (in 9mm) in several different weights and styles and I like them. They are consistent, easy to load, and they shoot well. If you are buying less than 1000 (from Berry), then they come in nice reusable plastic boxes.
I got onto plated bullets out of concern for breathing the burned lead on indoor ranges. I had noticed a lot of the other FMJ I was buying were showing lead on the aft end. For what was approx the same price, it just wasn't worth the risk to me.
I have not tried their "double-struck" bullets. The standard bullets are highly consistent in diameter and have always met my needs.
The Berry brand bullets do have sort of a micro version of the "pebble finish", but it's just not an issue. The "look" I'm concerned with is on the paper.
Hope this helps!
I've reloaded several thousand Berry bullets (in 9mm) in several different weights and styles and I like them. They are consistent, easy to load, and they shoot well. If you are buying less than 1000 (from Berry), then they come in nice reusable plastic boxes.
I got onto plated bullets out of concern for breathing the burned lead on indoor ranges. I had noticed a lot of the other FMJ I was buying were showing lead on the aft end. For what was approx the same price, it just wasn't worth the risk to me.
I have not tried their "double-struck" bullets. The standard bullets are highly consistent in diameter and have always met my needs.
The Berry brand bullets do have sort of a micro version of the "pebble finish", but it's just not an issue. The "look" I'm concerned with is on the paper.
Hope this helps!
Quote from Reloader on September 3, 2008, 6:07 pmIve used Berry's for years. You just cant push them hard. Their accuracy is not bad. I tried to push them 1200 fps in my 10 mm and the accuracy dropped like a rock, 4 inch groupings at 20 yards. I then started backing off the powder until I was down to 950 fps. Then that put me back to 2 inch groupings at 20 yards. For price they are not bad. I found the cheapest way to go is at my local Cabela's. If you order them online from Berry's they charge extra for the lead. This then puts the savings to null.
Greg
Ive used Berry's for years. You just cant push them hard. Their accuracy is not bad. I tried to push them 1200 fps in my 10 mm and the accuracy dropped like a rock, 4 inch groupings at 20 yards. I then started backing off the powder until I was down to 950 fps. Then that put me back to 2 inch groupings at 20 yards. For price they are not bad. I found the cheapest way to go is at my local Cabela's. If you order them online from Berry's they charge extra for the lead. This then puts the savings to null.
Greg
Quote from Reloader on February 8, 2012, 2:20 amSurely you've had all the answers to your 2008 question you need by now, but:
I've reloaded Berry's plated bullets in both .45 and 9MM and have fired easily 4 or 5 thousand of each with no problems - possibly near 10,000 of the 9MM. The plated bullets do not leave "lead fouling" in the pistol riflings. I do not load these bullets "Hot" as it is not recommended. Cannot beat the price. I have had to discard 2 or three bullets when I failed to get the bullet loaded on the case properly. Bullets were "deformed" by the die when I cycled the press.
Want to load hot, use a jacketed bullet.
I use the bullets for practice and shoot IDPA matches from time to time. Practice 2 or 3 times per month on average over the past few years and usually fire from 200 to 300 rounds each practice session.
On the point about "belling the case" I'm a bit puzzeled as to why that is mentioned as I "bell the case mouth" on every bullet I've ever loaded and have been reloading rifle and pistol since 1985 or thereabouts. Why would you not bell the case using the "expander" die the die manufacturers supply when you buy a set of dies?
Surely you've had all the answers to your 2008 question you need by now, but:
I've reloaded Berry's plated bullets in both .45 and 9MM and have fired easily 4 or 5 thousand of each with no problems - possibly near 10,000 of the 9MM. The plated bullets do not leave "lead fouling" in the pistol riflings. I do not load these bullets "Hot" as it is not recommended. Cannot beat the price. I have had to discard 2 or three bullets when I failed to get the bullet loaded on the case properly. Bullets were "deformed" by the die when I cycled the press.
Want to load hot, use a jacketed bullet.
I use the bullets for practice and shoot IDPA matches from time to time. Practice 2 or 3 times per month on average over the past few years and usually fire from 200 to 300 rounds each practice session.
On the point about "belling the case" I'm a bit puzzeled as to why that is mentioned as I "bell the case mouth" on every bullet I've ever loaded and have been reloading rifle and pistol since 1985 or thereabouts. Why would you not bell the case using the "expander" die the die manufacturers supply when you buy a set of dies?
Quote from Reloader on February 8, 2012, 5:30 pmJust FYI, Berrys is now offering a 9mm and a 40 cal bullet for USPSA major velocities. They have a thicker plating, and a longer bearing surface. We should have them shortly.
Just FYI, Berrys is now offering a 9mm and a 40 cal bullet for USPSA major velocities. They have a thicker plating, and a longer bearing surface. We should have them shortly.