Berry’s “Hybrid Hollow Point” Bullets?

I too am interested in the same thing. Purchased a couple boxes. Haven’t loaded any yet.

I have tried these in 40 and 10mm in the 180g variety, I couldn't get consistent expansion in clear gel even at full throttle 10mm velocities. I have dedicated them to plinking bullets. They may be better in other calibers but the 180g 40 is a non performer in my experience.

jski said:

I saw 1 YouTube video of some guy firing Berry’s HHP 230 gr 45 ACP bullets into 1 gallon jugs filled with water that showed good expansion but that’s not exactly a credible testing procedure.

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That's more than I seen.......but if it's a true test then a test in jell should expand at least as good. Wanted to buy some, but was waiting for data.....and waiting. Maybe I don't know where to look.. They Look as fancy as Gold Dots.....minus the reputation.....so far. Would use them in .40 and .45......if.

As for the "other" argument.....loaded vs factory for self defense and legal risks, that is an ongoing forever thing.....also without real data. Still looking for a legal case that went bad for a reloader. Just rumor and unbased fearmongering.

You are not alone. This subject has been covered here many, many times before.

May I suggest you do a forum search on "Berry Hybrid" and read the 50+ previous threads.

Hope this helps.

GW Staar said:

As for the "other" argument.....loaded vs factory for self defense and legal risks, that is an ongoing forever thing.....also without real data. Still looking for a legal case that went bad for a reloader. Just rumor and unbased fearmongering.

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Please, not again. I started looking in reloading forums in about 2007 and this topic was "discussed" then. The only conclusion I've come to is there ain't enough actual facts for either side of the Handloads vs Factory SD controversy...

And I've probably read them all.......and none of us are any more enlightened....just preempting the many paranoid posts to come. I suggest we just talk about the merits of the bullets.

Anyone with real information about their performance, I'm anxious to read about it. Like the Youtube video Jski referred to. Link? I do like the company.....Berrys.

I have some loaded up pretty tight that group great out of both my long barreled Glocks in 10mm and 45.

Hopes are to find a few feral hogs that want to donate to science and see how they actually perform on a realistic test media.

Not sure how they will work out but figured any way I slice wm they are gonna knock a knot on one.

41 Mag said:

I have some loaded up pretty tight that group great out of both my long barreled Glocks in 10mm and 45.

Hopes are to find a few feral hogs that want to donate to science and see how they actually perform on a realistic test media.

Not sure how they will work out but figured any way I slice wm they are gonna knock a knot on one.

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I’m very interested in your results.

Those look oddly similar to the Remington Golden Saber bullets... I bet they would do a lot of damage compared to a sharp stick!

I wouldn’t feel under-armed with them in 45 auto. It’s big enough that expansion is less important than in 9mm. I’ve always been curious what the soft plated Berry’s round noses do on impact.

I’ve loaded several 100 in 9mm. Now I need to do a penetration test because of this thread.

my penetration tests consist of shooting into lodgepole pine rounds, splitting them, measuring them.

Not scientific. But I did this years ago with .338 Nosler Partitions versus Barnes X bullets. The Nosler averaged 11” of penetration, the Barnes 18”. Never shot another Nosler outta that gun.

But for a handgun, the test will be the same; comparing Berry’s versus Hornady XTPs.

Since I have everything to do this test tomorrow, I’ll post the results, but it ain’t gel!

Last night after reading this thread, I went on line looking for test videos of Berrys Hybrid Hollow Point Bullets vs gel. Mixed results, Some had zero expansion, some had nice "flower like" even expansion. I took into consideration the shown velocities vs expansion, but still, results seemed inconclusive...

I use berry's .451 plated 230hr HP. They start to expand good on milk jugs filled with water above 800fps.
My 45acp silencer load is one of those over a standard load of about 5.4gr of HP38.
Load them to standard velocity of 830 to 850fps or faster if you can.

jski said:

I saw 1 YouTube video of some guy firing Berry’s HHP 230 gr 45 ACP bullets into 1 gallon jugs filled with water that showed good expansion but that’s not exactly a credible testing procedure.

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That is my experience of bullet type and testing “methodology” as well. Gallon jugs with leather and denim cladding (thrift store jackets). May not be sufficiently scientific but expansion was good, they held together, and performance was to my liking.

mdi said:

Last night after reading this thread, I went on line looking for test videos of Berrys Hybrid Hollow Point Bullets vs gel. Mixed results, Some had zero expansion, some had nice "flower like" even expansion. I took into consideration the shown velocities vs expansion, but still, results seemed inconclusive...

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You know, that makes me wonder if the seating stem in those loader's die sets were having an influence. A too-tight top-punch can squish the hollow cavity and such. Just a thought.

Yeah don't squash the HP. Crimp separately.

jski said:

Called Berry's today and asked if they had any gel tests they could could share for their 45 ACP and 9mm bullets.


BTW, he said that Berry's would be introducing a .357 Hybrid Hollow Point at the next Shot Show. He also said they were developing this bullet with the added plating required for .357 mag loads then COVID hit.

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Impressive! Im going to have to look for some of their 45acp HHP bullets now!

jski said:

Those gel tests do appear to be impressive.

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And what's interesting is apparently the "fake" gel which it was is shown, usually gives more penetration than FBI gel so I imagine the expansion would be better in real world use.
Edit: they are available at Chattanooga in 50ct boxes for $14.79! This is their dealer cost BTW so idk what MSRP would be. 29 cents per bullet is not bad at all. I wish I could get some 230gr Gold Dot bullets though... Sigh...

jski said:

I just bought 250 for $62 from Brownell’s.

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Dang that's cheap! Hmm wierd how Chattanoogas dealer cost is more than Brownells normal person price...

"And what's interesting is apparently the "fake" gel which it was is shown, usually gives more penetration than FBI gel so I imagine the expansion would be better in real world use.".
For my info only, what is "fake" gel?