38 Special Berry's 148 gr. Plated DEWC

[IWAC]

Plated bullets definitely have their limitations

Like what, for instance? Poor accuracy or difficulty loading properly? Not trying to be difficult, just seeking information so I don't make mistakes. I have about 300 of their 125 gr. flat point. No cannelure, and I'm wondering if, instead of using a taper crimp, I should just sell them, and buy their bullets with a cannelure/crimp groove, which seem to me should work better in my revolver. My velocities will be ~1,000 fps, because at 85, I don't need " full snort" drama! What say, Berry's shooters?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Like what, for instance? Poor accuracy or difficulty loading properly? Not trying to be difficult, just seeking information so I don't make mistakes. I have about 300 of their 125 gr. flat point. No cannelure, and I'm wondering if, instead of using a taper crimp, I should just sell them, and buy their bullets with a cannelure/crimp groove, which seem to me should work better in my revolver. What say, Berry shooters?

So far my only problem with the plated Berry’s Bullets has been the speed limit: 1250fps for the 124gr. 9mm turned out to be a gross overestimate. It’s not the linear velocity they have problems with, it’s the rotational velocity. Barrel length and rifle groove make a huge difference. I don’t blame anybody - Berry’s, myself, the distributor or retailer - it’s a matter of testing and platform. My wife’s CZ 75C pushing Berry’s at close to 1100fps resulted in bullet disintegration at less than 25yds. They spun themselves to pieces. Xtreme “seem to be” much harder and the plating is much thicker - or, the bonding method is better. Not sure which but they hold together better than the Berry’s. They’re also more expensive.


As for the cannelure, I don’t worry about them. Just use a taper crimp and expand the necks as little as possible when seating. Good neck tension and stiction will do what needs to be done to keep the bullets from pulling. I load NCG bullets in .357Mag at hunting velocities and don’t have a problem. Use an FCD and swap the .38 insert for the 9mm insert if you’re really worried. Don’t worry about “swaging” the plated lead, either. The plating will prevent leading as long as its intact. If you open the plate with a roll crimp then all bets are off and you probably will get some leading, bad accuracy and rotational torsion damage in flight.

And, as always, my advice and experience is worth exactly what you paid for it. IMHO-YMMV-YBY

 

[Steve51]

I have never used Berry's plated DEWC bullets but have used X-Treme plated DEWC and Missouri Bullets coated lead DEWC. I load them to a OAL of 1.22" - 1.23"
For powder, I use either 4.0 gr. of HP-38 or 4.2 gr. of Unique. Don't have any velocity measurements for these loads but I think the lead wadcutters have slightly better accuracy than the plated wadcutters.
With my eyes, however, it may actually be a toss up.
A few years ago, I did stick a plated wadcutter bullet in the barrel of my Ruger Blackhawk with 6.5" barrel using 3.5 gr. of Unique - don't want to repeat that event.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Like what, for instance? Poor accuracy or difficulty loading properly? Not trying to be difficult, just seeking information so I don't make mistakes.

I've tried Berry bullets twice, 9mm and 40 SW. The accuracy was awful. Plus I can darn near buy rmr and precision delta bullets for what berry sells for a subpar product.

 

[DMW1116]

Timing is everything. I just started loading these for my Blackhawk. I load them with 3.5 grains of W231 at 1.265” COAL. I am preparing to try them with HS6 in a 357 Magnum case in the 1100-1250 fps range. I’ll have to move them out to 1.480” instead of seating flush. If all goes well, I’ll be able to test them tomorro afternoon.

 

[Barmcd]

Like what, for instance? Poor accuracy or difficulty loading properly? Not trying to be difficult, just seeking information so I don't make mistakes. I have about 300 of their 125 gr. flat point. No cannelure, and I'm wondering if, instead of using a taper crimp, I should just sell them, and buy their bullets with a cannelure/crimp groove, which seem to me should work better in my revolver. What say, Berry shooters?

I have no issues using Berry's bullets in 9mm, 45 ACP, 38 Special, 44 Special, or 45 Colt. The thick plate bullets have a higher velocity rating and can be used in magnum loads. They also have a crimp groove.

Thick plate 38/357 bullet. Max velocity 1500 FPS.

Regular plate bullet. Max velocity 1250 FPS.

 

[Barmcd]

So far my only problem with the plated Berry’s Bullets has been the speed limit: 1250fps for the 124gr. 9mm turned out to be a gross overestimate. It’s not the linear velocity they have problems with, it’s the rotational velocity. Barrel length and rifle groove make a huge difference. I don’t blame anybody - Berry’s, myself, the distributor or retailer - it’s a matter of testing and platform. My wife’s CZ 75C pushing Berry’s at close to 1100fps resulted in bullet disintegration at less than 25yds. They spun themselves to pieces. Xtreme “seem to be” much harder and the plating is much thicker - or, the bonding method is better. Not sure which but they hold together better than the Berry’s. They’re also more expensive.


As for the cannelure, I don’t worry about them. Just use a taper crimp and expand the necks as little as possible when seating. Good neck tension and stiction will do what needs to be done to keep the bullets from pulling. I load NCG bullets in .357Mag at hunting velocities and don’t have a problem. Use an FCD and swap the .38 insert for the 9mm insert if you’re really worried. Don’t worry about “swaging” the plated lead, either. The plating will prevent leading as long as its intact. If you open the plate with a roll crimp then all bets are off and you probably will get some leading, bad accuracy and rotational torsion damage in flight.

And, as always, my advice and experience is worth exactly what you paid for it. IMHO-YMMV-YBY

Have you tried the thick plate bullets? I shoot the 115 grain 9MM bullets at 1100 FPS out of a 5" barrel 1911 and haven't had any issues with them disintegrating.

 

[Walkalong]

Like what, for instance? Poor accuracy or difficulty loading properly?

Easy to load, can be accurate/very accurate, will struggle if you push them too hard, or damage them crimping, or scrape them up with not enough belling/flare.

 

[Mountainman2]

Look up reloadammo.com. They show a number of loads for a 148 wad cutter. They show a hp38 load of 3.8 gr at 879 fps.
sorry this is for lead wad cutter. I wasn’t paying attention

 

[goon]

In the Hornady manual, loads for lead bullets are smaller than the loads for jacketed bullets for a given bullet weight and velocity.

Yep. Lead doesn’t produce as much friction as copper, so you don’t need as much powder to get it to speed or drive it out.

 

[LV Gun]

I have used both of Berry’s plated DEWC and there Plated HBWC I have always loaded them flush with a light roll crimp over the end using Bullseye , Titegroup or 700X but I still prefer the LHBWC’s from Precision Delta. Gun I use is a S&W 14-2 with a 6 inch barrel.

 

[DMW1116]

Loaded up the test charges for tomorrow using the Berrys DEWC and about 9 grains of HS6 in a 357 Magnum case. I seated them long as mentioned above. They look gigantic.

 

[Riomouse911]

The only “donts”I have run across loading plated WC involves;

Don’t forget to put a decent flare on the case. It will cut/gouge the plating if the bullet catches the case mouth when seating the bullet.

Don’t overcrimp the case mouth. This will cut the plating, which may cause separation of the plating from the bullet in flight.

I have done both of these don’ts myself learning how to load plated bullets.

As for accuracy, I haven’t seen a real measureable difference between lead/lubed, coated or plated wadcutters over the years, but I don’t claim to be a cutting edge bullseye shooter so those better than I sure may see a difference. (But I do bump the Bullseye to 3.0 gr to be sure all bullets will be sure to clear the 5”, 6” and 8 3/8” barrels of my S&W Model 14’s. )

Stay safe.

 

[P Flados]

I try to minimize personal lead exposure and barrel leading in my firearms. It works well enough with most calibers of bullets in plated or jacketed. I had never loaded wadcutters until I saw these on Berrys website so I tried them out. If it doesn’t get better, I’ll order some coated HBWC and try them because I’ve come to appreciate their performance on paper targets.

If your effort with the plated does not meet what you hoped for, I would definitely recommend trying coated. When the HBWC got its reputation for super accuracy in a 38, I am pretty sure it was with factory ammo and swaged bullets. For a coated wadcutter I would probably stick with a DEWC. Something like the Missouri 148 or the ACME 148.

 

[DMW1116]

Just a trophy shot for the Berrys DEWC users.

 

[Barmcd]

I’ve got the load at the velocity I want, 3.5 gr. of HP-38 gives me a little over 750 FPS when seated to 1.200”. Now I have to determine how accurate they are. I only loaded 6 rounds each .1 grain between 3.5 and 3.9 grains so there weren’t enough rounds to determine how accurate they might be.

 

[styles]

I don’t understand why would I want to plate a dewc which will probably be fired at 650 fps

 

[DMW1116]

I like to push them considerably faster. Even in my 38 Special loads it’s over 700. Also, no exposed lead and less messy to load compared to HBWC from Hornady.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I have no issues using Berry's bullets in 9mm, 45 ACP, 38 Special, 44 Special, or 45 Colt. The thick plate bullets have a higher velocity rating and can be used in magnum loads. They also have a crimp groove.

Thick plate 38/357 bullet. Max velocity 1500 FPS.

Regular plate bullet. Max velocity 1250 FPS.

I tried shooting the thick plated bullets from Berry's and I ended up with dingle berry's of copper stuck to the inside of my barrel, of melted copper. I was shooting them in .357 mag at 14.9gr of 2400/ 158gr thick plate bullets.
I had balls of copper stuck to the inside of my barrel, they knocked right out of my barrel but I decided the pure copper was too soft for a load like that despite Berry's saying they are good for 1500fps. A bullet jacket is around 35 brenell in hardness and the electroplated copper covering doesn't come close to that.
So be careful with the claims of 1500fps. They will exit the barrel without coming apart but there is still a price to pay for it.

 

[Barmcd]

I tried shooting the thick plated bullets from Berry's and I ended up with dingle berry's of copper stuck to the inside of my barrel, of melted copper. I was shooting them in .357 mag at 14.9gr of 2400/ 158gr thick plate bullets.
I had balls of copper stuck to the inside of my barrel, they knocked right out of my barrel but I decided the pure copper was too soft for a load like that despite Berry's saying they are good for 1500fps. A bullet jacket is around 35 brenell in hardness and the electroplated copper covering doesn't come close to that.
So be careful with the claims of 1500fps. They will exit the barrel without coming apart but there is still a price to pay for it.

Good to know. I use them for lighter 357 loads that chronograph between 1200 and 1300 FPS.