Berry's in stock at Cabela's

[Patriot]

On the Cabela's website. Multiple choices of weights, mostly jacketed flat points. Had more choices earlier. I ordered some 165 gr for plinking.

[DM1906]

They are good for plinking, but that's about it for 10mm. They are a .40SW bullet, design to practice.  I resize some of their .41 Mag bullets, and they do very well (210 gr.), but that plating is almost like a full thickness jacket.  If it wasn't, it would be worthless for the .41.  Outside of that, keep your velocities below about 1100, and they are OK. Above that, and you'll be lucky to have the plating and core leave the bore in one piece.  I've done a bunch of them faster than that, and it competes with birdshot patterns on the target (and anyone's guess where the bullet went).  I also get LEADING at warp speed (really fast 10mm and mild .38-40).

[Patriot]

Yeah, I plan on using them with mild loads of Unique or WSF at about 1050 fps. Should be good for killing paper.

[DM1906]

Yeah, dead paper, no problem. I started using WSF for some other loads, and it's looking like a very consistent (fast) powder.  I found a decent amount available for a decent price (no gouge), along with some WST.  Both are working out very well for range fodder in the lighter cartridges (.380-.44 Spl). I've used these powders, under their previous aliases, years ago.  Very economical and effective, if you don't try to drive them too hard.  Ideal, I think, for your plinkers.

[gandog56]

They are good for plinking, but that's about it for 10mm. They are a .40SW bullet, design to practice.  I resize some of their .41 Mag bullets, and they do very well (210 gr.), but that plating is almost like a full thickness jacket.  If it wasn't, it would be worthless for the .41.  Outside of that, keep your velocities below about 1100, and they are OK. Above that, and you'll be lucky to have the plating and core leave the bore in one piece.  I've done a bunch of them faster than that, and it competes with birdshot patterns on the target (and anyone's guess where the bullet went).  I also get LEADING at warp speed (really fast 10mm and mild .38-40).

Ummm, I've used Berry's 180 grain .40 cals with no problems. I just keep any plated bullets muzzle velocities below 1200 fps, like Berry's says to do.

[DM1906]

They are good for plinking, but that's about it for 10mm. They are a .40SW bullet, design to practice.  I resize some of their .41 Mag bullets, and they do very well (210 gr.), but that plating is almost like a full thickness jacket.  If it wasn't, it would be worthless for the .41.  Outside of that, keep your velocities below about 1100, and they are OK. Above that, and you'll be lucky to have the plating and core leave the bore in one piece.  I've done a bunch of them faster than that, and it competes with birdshot patterns on the target (and anyone's guess where the bullet went).  I also get LEADING at warp speed (really fast 10mm and mild .38-40).

Ummm, I've used Berry's 180 grain .40 cals with no problems. I just keep any plated bullets muzzle velocities below 1200 fps, like Berry's says to do.

Ummm.... That's kinda what I said.

[Patriot]

Only the 180gr FP left.

[REDLINE]

Rainier says their plated bullets can be pushed faster than what the Berry's bullets seem to handle.  Any truth to that?

[DM1906]

Rainier says their plated bullets can be pushed faster than what the Berry's bullets seem to handle.  Any truth to that?

Not from my experience.  Same 1100-1200 envelope.  The Rainier core lead appears slightly harder (informal test), but the plating was less smooth. They shred the same at higher velocities, and seemed to cause more leading at ultra high velocity.  Their .41 bullets are useless at magnum velocities, while Berry's hold up very well.  I tried to resize the Rainier .41 to .401, and the plating would wrinkle, or just flake off.  This was from only one lot of the Rainier, so I don't know if it's the standard or not.

[REDLINE]

Interesting.

[gandog56]

Rainier says their plated bullets can be pushed faster than what the Berry's bullets seem to handle.  Any truth to that?

Not from my experience.  Same 1100-1200 envelope.  The Rainier core lead appears slightly harder (informal test), but the plating was less smooth. They shred the same at higher velocities, and seemed to cause more leading at ultra high velocity.  Their .41 bullets are useless at magnum velocities, while Berry's hold up very well.  I tried to resize the Rainier .41 to .401, and the plating would wrinkle, or just flake off.  This was from only one lot of the Rainier, so I don't know if it's the standard or not.

Berry's says they are double plated, I know the Rainier plating was thinner and more uneven.

[sqlbullet]

Rainier says their plated bullets can be pushed faster than what the Berry's bullets seem to handle.  Any truth to that?

Not from my experience.  Same 1100-1200 envelope.  The Rainier core lead appears slightly harder (informal test), but the plating was less smooth. They shred the same at higher velocities, and seemed to cause more leading at ultra high velocity.  Their .41 bullets are useless at magnum velocities, while Berry's hold up very well.  I tried to resize the Rainier .41 to .401, and the plating would wrinkle, or just flake off.  This was from only one lot of the Rainier, so I don't know if it's the standard or not.

The Berry's I have were already pretty rough looking.  I hate to think what they would look like more rough.

I do find the limitation of plated bullets to be a bit odd though.  I routinely run 175 grain SWC cast bullets very hot and don't have issues with leading as long as they fit and are well lubed.  CHecking some of my range logs I see a load I tested last fall of  Lee 175 SWC TL lubed with LLA, unsized (.402-.403") that I stoked with 14.7 grains of AA#9 at 1.245" COAL.  These made 1243 average from my glock 29 and 1331 average from my 1911.  Bores were all shiny.  Case heads were .432 in the Glock and .429 in the 1911.

Makes me wonder why the plated bullets have issues.

[Patriot]

I have received some messages from some of our members asking why the Berry's are considered weak and can't hold up to high pressures the same as other jacketed bullets.

The simple answer is Berry's are not jacketed. They are plated. Like jewelry that is gold plated. It's a thin metal coating.

People read "plated bullet" and they are confusing it with "jacketed bullet." If you are new to reloading, I suggest you really read up on the types of bullets out there. Berry's are great for just plinking. But they can leave copper fouling if you take them to high speeds. I keep them at around 1000 fps in 10mm with Unique of WSF. These are loads I let my daughter or girlfriend shoot. Just to kill paper.

[gandog56]

Rainier says their plated bullets can be pushed faster than what the Berry's bullets seem to handle.  Any truth to that?

Not from my experience.  Same 1100-1200 envelope.  The Rainier core lead appears slightly harder (informal test), but the plating was less smooth. They shred the same at higher velocities, and seemed to cause more leading at ultra high velocity.  Their .41 bullets are useless at magnum velocities, while Berry's hold up very well.  I tried to resize the Rainier .41 to .401, and the plating would wrinkle, or just flake off.  This was from only one lot of the Rainier, so I don't know if it's the standard or not.

Well, my last batch of Rainiers, the plating was NOTICELY uneven, and very thin. I would push a Berrys closer to that 1200 fps than a Rainier....no matter whet Rainier says.

The Berry's I have were already pretty rough looking.  I hate to think what they would look like more rough.

I do find the limitation of plated bullets to be a bit odd though.  I routinely run 175 grain SWC cast bullets very hot and don't have issues with leading as long as they fit and are well lubed.  CHecking some of my range logs I see a load I tested last fall of  Lee 175 SWC TL lubed with LLA, unsized (.402-.403") that I stoked with 14.7 grains of AA#9 at 1.245" COAL.  These made 1243 average from my glock 29 and 1331 average from my 1911.  Bores were all shiny.  Case heads were .432 in the Glock and .429 in the 1911.

Makes me wonder why the plated bullets have issues.