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Berrys Bullets

9K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  kungfustyle 
#1 ·
I just purchased some bullets from Berrys. They are 9mm 124grn hollow point, 38 special 125grn hollow point and 40 cal 180 grn hollow point. Now the hard part, trying to figure out how to properly load them. Anyone here ever used any of these and can give me some pointers? I wish Berrys would publish some loading data.

Max
 
#2 ·
I load Berry's 124gr, RN 9mm bullets with VV N329 and W231 and 148gr HBWC .38spl with W231. started with recipes fom Vithavouri's and Hodgdon's web sites. Started with the lowest powder loads and worked my loads up in 0.2 gr increments. Since Berry's bullets are copper plated they should be loaded in the low to medium range for jacketed bullets. My loads turned out to be slightly below the midpoint of the ranges recommended by VV and Hodgdon.

There is one powder manufacturer which has published load data for Berry's. I think it is Alliant, but I'm not completely sure. I'll check tomorrow.
 
#5 ·
You got the "Load them to lead specs" right but missed it on the heavy crimp part. The plating on them is only a few thousands thick and damages easily. Berrys also recommends to keep velocities under 1200fps as this will cause the plating to peel and lead the barrel.
 
#8 ·
So how do you determine what the min OAL should be? I could line up every hollow point bullet of a given calibur and weight and because of the different profiles every one of them could be a different length which would affect the OAL. Different profiles would have a different bearing surface which would affect the pressure. How can you just say load them as a lead bullet? Which lead bullet?

Max
 
#9 · (Edited)
I wouldn't worry about oal as much as case volume. You stick to an oal for one bullet, another manufactureres same weight bullet maybe longer or shorter. Smaller case volume=higher pressure. For given bullet weights I try to stick w the same seating depth so presures remain the same. Of course you want to pay attention to OAL so you don't get into the throat too deep. That's very easy to check after loading the first round
 
#10 ·
I contacted berrys and they said to load as a lead bullet with the same gr. and profile. they also said that they should be loaded like a jacketed bullet of low to med. loads. But as said not to crimp in excess because the plating is only .002 thick and excess crimp could lead to the plating severing and staying in the barrel. I have loaded about 4000, 9mm. with no problems, and I really like them. I have also loaded 2000 32 H&R mags. with their HBWC in 83 gr. and find them very accurate. Hope this helps, every thing I have read on here is very info., but watch the crimp. There is a site on the internet (M.D.Smith reloading) that I like alot. Good Luck, Jed
 
#15 ·
I just yesterday received this reply from Jay at Berry's re: the 125 grain hollow point for .38 special...."The COL for the .38 125gr HP in the .38spl is 1.52”.

That was the only question I asked about after reading their loading suggestions on the site, that is also the only bullet I have from that manufacturer at this time...I did shoot some Berrys loaded .38 Spl yesterday over a mild +P load, and found them accurate at 10 yds. The only distance I tried due to a limited quantity of loaded ammunition. There was no mushrooming of the bullet, however. I guess I'll just stick with 158g Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullets for defensive purposes. At least they've got some weight behind them. The Berry's will be plinkers I think.
 
#18 ·
I recently loaded the Berry's plated 125 grn HP. I shot 50 with 7gr Unique and CCI 500 primers last weekend. They performed fine. I did not see any signs of copper fouling in the bore when I cleaned it. There is a pretty good discussion about plated bullets in this forum from 6-11-09.
 
#19 ·
Berry's are great for plinker loading and I've used some of 3 different calibers..
the only issue I've had was with the 9mm 124 HP's in my CZ, just shorter with the HP, but had magazine FTF issues. Round nose and Flat points not a single problem, but those 125 gr HP's didn't function 100%. I messed around with magazine springs and that helped most of the problem.
 
#20 ·
I spoke with Jay at Berrys last week and he told me that some of the newer guns made within the last few years had a problem with the 9mm 124gn HP. They are in the process of making some changes to the profile of this bullet and he is going to send me some to try later this week.

Max
 
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