44 Mag & Berry Plated Bullets ~ How Hot can you load them?

[Glennster]

I'm just getting into loading the 44 Mag, I'm loading some light loads for fun plinking (12 Gr. of 2400 behind 220 Gr. Berry Plated bullet), but also want to load some hot stuff for the rookies that want to get hammered by the force of the 44 Magnum....
How hot can I safely load the 220 grain Berry Plated bullet??? Are they safe as Magnum loads like a regular '' jacketed '' bullet?
THANKS ! ! !

 

[rcmodel]

NO. You can't load them as hot as jacketed bullets.
First, the plating isn't as thick as a jacket.
And second, there is no crimp cannelure on the bullets to hold them in place against recoil pulling them with hot loads.

Berry FAQ says 1,200 FPS.
Also says the .44 bullets do best around 1,150 FPS.

Suggest you read all about it here:
http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq.aspx?n=58009

rc

 

[Walkalong]

I have shot them in .44 Spl., and for light plinker loads around 1000 FPS in .44 Mag, but have never hot rodded them in .44 Mag. I used a medium taper crimp using a Redding taper crimp die. I just shoot .44 Spl these days when I want something lighter, and load .44 Mag close to or at full power. Lead or jacketed works just dandy for that. I would suggest using one of them to impress the rookies.

My nephew shot the .44 Mag for the first time a while back. He had a big ol grin on his face when he got through and wanted to know if I had anything bigger. Hah.....not me partner.

 

[PapaG]

I think your load of 2400 is too low. You should be using a charge of Unique or Universal for those bullets. 2400 never worked well for me below 17 grains in the magnum 44. I load Unique with the Berrys in 44 mag as well as in the 45 Colt.

 

[Glennster]

PapaG,
When you say 2400 didn't work well, what specifically do you mean? Accuracy?
I shot some test rounds as described above, they were grouping well, but the cases had black burn marks on them and there seemed to be a lot of residue left in the case, kind of like unburned powder. It's a messy load.....

 

[Walkalong]

Too low a load for 2400. The pressure is not enough to get a good clean burn. Try Unique as PapaG suggested.

 

[hancjamk]

I've tried lower charges of 2400 and got globs of unburnt powder. Unique works much better for medium power loads. Plated bullets must be under 1200 fps, due too seperation issues. Also, a very light crimp can be used, but must be done with care. Too much crimp will cause seperation issues, as well. I tried 200 berrys 240gr bullets and I was'nt impressed. I also, found them too limited. I'll stick with 240gr SWC...

 

[Casefull]

One thing about the plated bullets is you will not have jacket separation when you load hotter loads. In that respect I prefer them. My casull will tear the jackets off of most pistol bullets.