.44 Magnum question

Not sure I would exceed maximum published loads. If you want faster... I suggest switching powders. Otherwise, just accept the max load as your limit.
My opinion only.

Wonder at your own risk. Stick with published data. IMO.

The standard recommendation from plated mnfrs is to go sub 1,200 fps. Plated is not the same as JHP. Based on the data you presented, you can probably surmise what will happen.

Well that data points to the fact that you could go to 9.4 gr without issue.

You would have to do some more research and see why they are stopping at that charge weight. The pressure at 9.4 gr under that bullet is still well below SAAMI MAP for 44 Mag but you might be out of case volume (unlikely in this case) or the pressure vs charge weight curve is getting very progressive and ill behaved (possible). Or is this simply all the faster they wanted to push a plated bullet (most likely). In my experience pushing plated bullets too fast always results in plating peeling off the bullets and accuracy suffers as a result.

The safe solution is to stick with what is published. If you had a good chronograph and a copy of Quickloads you might play with some numbers and creep up on 10 gr but it should be done cautiously. The real question is do you need the extra velocity for your plinking loads? Seem using that powder is more critical than maximizing performance. Stay with you 9.0 gr load and enjoy...

JSmith said:

Yes, Berry's warns not to push their standard plated bullets over 1,250 fps. I'm normally at about 1000.
Thanks for the safety warnings, guys. (No, really. Shows you care.)
So let me ask the question in a different way: plating aside, what is there about a 5gr.-heavier bullet that would let you use a 1.6gr. higher max load for a given powder?
"The real question is do you need the extra velocity for your plinking loads?"
Nope, not at all. I was curious about the reasons for the difference in max loads given what seems a very small increase in bullet weght.

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Nothing, in fact as a very general rule, for a given powder, in a given cartridge, as bullet weight goes up, powder charge goes down, to maintain similar peak pressures. In this specific case I think Hodgdon stopped simply due to the plated construction of the bullet and reaching a good velocity and not for any pressure related reasons. Later when I have a chance I can plug it into Quickloads for you (I would need the bullet length and OAL of the loaded cartridge) and see what the pressure vs charge weight curve looks like.

When you push Berry's too fast:

The blue arrow indicate places where the plating has peeled off the bullet and it sticking out.

JSmith said:

Interesting to see. Thanks, mcb, I've never loaded those to the point where the plating starts stripping.

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Some riflings are harder on Berry's than others. The above bullet where fired in an XD-40 at ~960 fps. That same exact ammo going roughly the save velocity but fire in my S&W 610 almost never has a peeling problem. The corners of the XD's rifling where sharp enough to make the problem worst. Over crimping Berry's can also exacerbate this problem too.

mcb said:

Some riflings are harder on Berry's than others. The above bullet where fired in an XD-40 at ~960 fps. That same exact ammo going roughly the save velocity but fire in my S&W 610 almost never has a peeling problem. The corners of the XD's rifling where sharp enough to make the problem worst. Over crimping Berry's can also exacerbate this problem too.

Click to expand...

ETA that is also from 10+ years ago and I believe Berry's bullet have also improved their plating process since I was shooting a lot of them back then in USPSA when metal prices pushed Montana Gold out of my price tolerance. I suspect I would not have the same issues with the newer Berry's bullets until I got them going a bit faster than 960 fps.

ETA: Oops that was suppose to be an edit to my post not a reply, fat fingered the mouse...

It's mostly unrelated, but I haven't had the best luck with plated Berry's in 44. I have a 250 box of their 240g flat point and bth my Super redhawk and Henry Big Boy shot them...well, medicore. I'm loading them over 8g of Unique in magnum brass...so I'm not pushing them past their recommended FPS.

That’s why I buy CamPro. They are rated for 2000fps.

Besides holding the velocity down below 1250FPS, because there is no cannelure in the Berry's bullets, any higher recoil may tend to make the bullets jump the case. There's a reason Berry's plated are cheaper than quality jacketed.