Berry's Plated 9mm

[razorback2003]

Have folks had good luck with Berry's plated bullets? They are the same price as cast lead bullets at Sportsman's Warehouse, so I thought I would try them. Are you supposed to use cast or jacketed data?

 

[1KPerDay]

Berry's is good stuff. Most people say use cast data.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I've had very good luck with Berry's and Rainier plated.
I use jacketed data and stay at least 10% below max or below 1,200 fps, whichever is lower.

 

[rcmodel]

See the Berry Bullet FAQ on how to load them.
Berry says to use mid-level jacketed bullet data.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-q9-c1-How_do_I_load_Berrys_Preferred_Plated_Bullets.aspx

rc

 

[ReloaderFred]

After loading and shooting nearly 10,000 of them, I'll give them a big thumbs up!

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[mokin]

I like Berry's. I've loaded and shot a bunch of 9mm, .40 diameter in both .40 S&W and 10mm Auto, and .30 "Carbine". Only problem I've had was with the .30 "Carbine". I need to keep working on developing a good load there. I believe it's on my end not Berry's. Just use cast data, start low, and work up. A chronograph really helps. Have fun and be safe.

 

[beatledog7]

I am a big fan of plated bullets generally. I have yet to find a brand or caliber that didn't load smoothly and shoot well.

I start working up from starting lead data plus about 5%. I don't load them heavy enough to exceed mid-range jacketed velocity.

 

[armoredman]

Been using Berry's in 9mm for some time. The 124 hollow base round nose is a fantastic bullet. I find I can use low to mid range jacketed data with no problem with the plated bullets, but I stay lower for a very low recoil plinking/target load.

 

[Walkalong]

If you want to push it in 9MM, the Berrys 124 Gr HBRN-TP can take everything the 9MM can dish out. I have also shot it in .38 Super at over 1300 FPS with good success. (In a gun designed to take it.)

Most of my 9MM shooting is with lighter loads though.

 

[Bowfishrp]

Loaded many many berrys plated in 9mm and other calibers with zero problems. I use low to mid jacketed loads without issue.

 

[sellersm]

No complaints here with Berry's.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've shot Berry's HBFN for about 3 yrs now with no problems at all in my 9mm.

 

[777TRUTH]

Berry's standard plate I use mid range FMJ loads.

The HBRN - TP is an awesome product.

 

[GarySTL]

I use the 9mm 115gr Fla t points and love them. On my third thousand and will be ordering more soon.

 

[TonyT]

Berry's plated bullets are quite good. In my limited expereince they produce ca 10% lower velocity as the same weight lead bullet. I shot biullseye pistol and in 45ACP i was never able to find a plated bullet which matched the accuracy of the lead bullets.

 

[Hondo 60]

I've loaded 1,000s of them.
Good stuff.
I have 20 empty boxes, so that's 5,000.
(and I used to throw the boxes away.)

Berry's recommends low to mid jacketed data.

 

[Walkalong]

I have shot a few thousand of the Berrys, as well as a few thousand Raniers, and a few thousand X-Treme bullets. I have my favorites of each one, although I cannot find Raniers where they are competitive any more. I have also shot a few thousand Zero jacketed bullets, and when they are in stock at Roze Distribution or Ghost Holster, they can sometimes be had for plated prices.

Since the Zero 124 Gr JHPs for .38 Super have been mostly out of stock lately, I tried the Berrys 124 Gr HBRN-TP bullet in .38 Super and it shot quite well. I have some of the Zeros put back.

 

[LiveLife]

+1 for Berry's HBRN-TP bullets. It is the only plated bullet I know that will outshoot my Winchester 9mm FMJ reference load.

 

[azar]

HBRN-TP?

I get the HBRN (Hollow base round nose) but what's the TP?

 

[1KPerDay]

Thicker plating, I believe.

 

[sargents1]

Have folks had good luck with Berry's plated bullets? They are the same price as cast lead bullets at Sportsman's Warehouse, so I thought I would try them. Are you supposed to use cast or jacketed data?

I have put together about a thousand in 9mm and 10mm (both Berry's and Rainier). They work well as long as you dont try to push them too fast. If you push them past ~1200ft/s you can tear the plating off them and send them tumbling. A friend had that happen with some 10mm loads that he loaded too hot. He was literally all-over-the-place.

I typically use minimum-load jacketed data as a starting point, but i am sure you could use lead data.

 

[Walkalong]

HBRN-TP?

I get the HBRN (Hollow base round nose) but what's the TP?

Thicker plating

Yes. I ave run the 124 at over 1300 FPS with excellent results.

If you push them past ~1200ft/s you can tear the plating off them and send them tumbling.

1200 FPS is a figure Berrys uses as a reasonable cut off. I have found it to be a good guide, as some will take more, and in some revolvers, some will take less. I have never had plating to tear off, although I have had some plated bullets shoot terribly in a couple of guns. Some guns just don't like them. I have a revolver that hates the 125 Gr Powerbond bullet, which is tougher than most and shoots great in my other guns, but likes the X-Treme 158. Go figure.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am at present loading Berry's plated bullets.
Their 9mm 147 gr roundnose makes a good subsonic IDPA ESP/SSP load. A 9mm 1911 really wants roundnose and the flatpoints of other brands, whether cast, plated, or jacketedl, are just not as reliable.

I have one box of their .45 185 gr hollowbase roundnose as a trial run. It works in light midrange loads and retains the hardball shape for feeding in unthroated or otherwise finicky guns. I sent them an e-mail suggesting one with a smaller base cavity to give a 200 grain bullet with hardball profile. Good enough for John Browning and Colt until the Army got involved.

 

[1in9twist]

Over 10k of em so far. Great stuff!

 

[jmorris]

I gone through around 200,000 of them, use the 147g 9mm for "minor" gun game loads and for use in suppressed and or SMGs. They work fine in everything except gain twist AET barrels (if you don't know what that means, you don't have one).