[shoen1200]

I have been ordering/using Rainier plated 200gr SWC or FP for years for my .45 Springfield with great results.

I recently placed an order for the same Rainier but received Berry’s instead.

Are these considered to be interchangeable?

Do both products have equivalent properties and quality?

The Berry’s look a little rougher than I remember the Rainier but that may be due to the handling during shipping. The box is so destroyed I am surprised all 2000 rounds made it.

Please let me know your experiences with Berry’s.

Thanks.

[FullEffect1911]

They both have their fans. Supposedly Berry's has a slightly thicker plating then the Rainiers. Unless I am mistaken Rainier suggests lead load data Berry's suggests low to mid range jacketed data for the respective bullet weight and shape of course.

Directly from Rainier's website

Q6. What if I can't find load data for your bullets?

A. If you have a load for a cast lead bullet, that will transfer across the board as far as our bullets go. We recommend that you reduce
a load for a jacketed bullet by 10%.

Directly from Berry's website

*How do I load Berry's Preferred Plated Bullets?
Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.



I'm starting to think it's six of one half a dozen of the other.

[Walkalong]

I have had excellent luck with Berry's bullets in .45 ACP. I also agree that the Ranier 200 Gr SWC is a very accurate bullet, although I did not care for their 200 Gr TrFP.

[Canuck-IL]

Berry's are a slightly harder/thicker plating. I've only used their double-struck bullets and they've been very uniform - slightly better than Rainier's.
At least in RN 45s, the nose profile is different, with the Berry's bullet a conventional hardball design while the Rainier is more pointed.

I use the same loads for both .... low end lead loads up to mid-range jacketed. neither are 50 yard, Bullseye accurate but they're fine for USPSA/IDPA games.
/Bryan

[ilbob]

I have used both brands in 38 special. I can't tell much difference, but I did only target loads.

[Griz44]

I have used several batches of the rainiers 230g RN in .45 acp. They shoot nice with decent accuracy. I load midrange lead data with 5.0g of HP-38 or 4.4g of Titegroup. I like both powders and use Winchester primers.

[Idano]

Berry's are a slightly harder/thicker plating. I've only used their double-struck bullets and they've been very uniform - slightly better than Rainier's.

Canuck-IL,

I think you may have the technology reversed there; Berry's bullets I believe are only swagged once where as Rainier bullets are swagged a second time after the plating thus term coined RESTRIKE (http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm). The load data for both bullets are for all practical purposes identical. Like you said Berry states "When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low-to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual" and Rainier states "If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend reducing maximum charge by 10%" which would be in the low-to mid-range for jacketed data.

shoen1200,

Personally I have good success with both bullets but lately I have found the Rainer bullets have bee more expensive, hell in fact I just bought some .40 S&W 135 grain XTP in 250 count for less then either Berry's or Rainier go figure.

[rcmodel]

Berry offers some bullets that are double-struck.
Indicated by DS on end of bullet number like this one:

http://www.berrysmfg.com/50.php

rcmodel

[Idano]

Canuck-IL,

I owe you an apology I wasn't aware of Berry's "Double Struck" (DS) process. I have never noticed any with DS on the shelf at Cabalas.

What is "Double Struck" (DS)
Double-Struck bullets go through an extra sizing process after being plated. This makes the bullet 100% symmetric. This can give you an edge in competitions, but most shooters won't notice the difference. We only offer double struck in the most popular bullets.


RC,

Thank you for enlightening me.

shoen1200,

Well now I don't see a bit of difference between them.

[rcmodel]

I wish Cabala's did offer DS Berry's.

I bought a box of 9mm 124 HP last fall and found .355", .356" and .357" bullets in the box.

The .357" ones would not chamber in my SIG, and I had to run them all through my Lyman Lubrasizer to make them small enough to fit.

rcmodel

[The Bushmaster]

RCmodel & Walkalong...I just got my order from Midway this morning. Part of it was 100 Rainier .45 ACP plated 185 grain HP and 500 Rainier 9mm X 19 plated 124 grain HP. So I will be learning a new game as I have always loaded jacketed bullets and have not done lead or plated bullets before...

So guys...Keep posting...I'm listening...

[brokencowboy]

For my 44 reloads, I prefer the Berry 240gr HP bullets. They have very good expansion using 5gr of IMR 700-X (they clock at about 750 fps). I'Ve also used the 200 gr HP in my 45; they seem to feed better than the Rainier HP's.

Graf:s carries the entire line of Berry:s bullets and they pay the freight.

[Walkalong]

but lately I have found the Rainer bullets have bee more expensive, hell in fact I just bought some .40 S&W 135 grain XTP in 250 count for less then either Berry's or Rainier go figure.
Ghost Holster has the excellent Zero bullets cheaper than Raniers or Berry's right now. :eek:

I really like a couple of the Berry's .45 Cal bullets so I will probably pay a few dollars more per K for some more, but I bought 2000 185 Zero JHP's last time, before they all go up again. :cuss:

Now where did I store my casting equipment? :D

Bushmaster. I'll be glad to give a few tips for the plated bullets. I have been shooting them for years, but have really shot them a lot in the last 2 years.