Berry's 165 grain .40 S & W

DeltaWhiskey · July 9, 2005, 11:34 AM

Thinking about trying the above mentioned bullet in my next reloading project. Can't find any Hodgdon date for a 165 grain bullet, so am following Berry's advice and using low-to-midrange data for jacketed bullets. I'm pondering using 5.3 grains of Universal. Anyone have any experiences that they'd like to share?

Kamicosmos · July 9, 2005, 06:13 PM

Not direct experience, but a friend of mine was loading up Berry's in both 40 and 45, and he was disappointed with their accuracy. And he was comparing them to Rainers!

bigted · July 10, 2005, 05:27 AM

i used there bullets i dont like them woud not stay to gether zero is the way to go ty titegroup powder

caz223 · July 10, 2005, 07:36 AM

I'm not impressed with plated bullets.
Really, you can get good jacketed bullets for about the same price if you buy 'em in bulk, and they're more accurate.

Kamicosmos · July 10, 2005, 06:46 PM

Quote:

you can get good jacketed bullets for about the same price if you buy 'em in bulk

Roger that! I have started using Win or Rem bulk JHP/FMJ because they are like $2 more per 500 than the Rainers and berry's. Much more accurate and consistant bullets.

DeltaWhiskey · July 10, 2005, 07:17 PM

I tried that load out today and was pleased with the results. Grouped up nice and tight with no hiccups. However, I had four or five that I had seated deeper than the the 1.125 that I usually use and noticed a marked increase in recoil and reposrt, which I'm taking is signs of increased pressure. I won't doing that anymore!

Peter M. Eick · July 10, 2005, 07:26 PM

Yep, sharp report, deeper seating and higher pressure. Sort of go hand in hand.

I never had luck with plateds. I even invented a term for when you aim at a 10 and get a 6. I call it being "berry-ied" as in a derogitory term for a cheap bullet that makes your groups look bad. There is nothing and I mean nothing more embarassing then banging away with some expensive custom 1911's or in my case Sig 210's and putting up crappy groups when the guy next to you is using some cheap generic plastic gun and doing better.

I can normally cut my groups in half just by switching from plateds to jacketeds. As the saying goes don't get berry-ied, but your mileage may vary.

MrApathy · July 11, 2005, 02:14 AM

hodgdon 2004 load magazine list 5.1gr starting for Sierra JHP 165gr. max is 5.6gr max doing some 1050fps min doing some 950.

try and keep the OAL steady. recall hearing universal has tendency to spike.

nice yet cheap booklets to have "The Complete Reloading Manual"
although hardly complete it has nice data in it from other books. I have found it usefull for loading up Rainier 180gr Plated bullets with Power Pistol.
http://www.loadbooks.com/
cheaper at Scheels Sports, midwayusa.com both have them for $6.99 or less

dont have it at my side at moment as its 2 stories below me at work bench.

from what I have seen not all books at 165gr loads some have 170gr or 175gr which are fairly close.

saands · July 13, 2005, 07:30 PM

Wow ... I'm amazed to hear so many people reporting problems with Berry's bullets. I use them in almost every non-magnum load (they don't survive 1350+ velocities) that I shoot. I get ragged 2.5" - 3" groups at 20yds with my Springfield 1911, and slightly larger groups from my USP40c (but it doesn't have a 1911 type trigger, so I don't blame the bullets). I can't recall ever getting a flyer that I didn't pull ... but I haven't ordered any new inventory in a year or so.

As for seating depth ... small, full, straightwalled cases like 40, 9x19, 9x18, 32acp etc, are all REALLY sensitive to seating depth. The percent change in load density varies dramatically with small differences in seating depth. Nearly all the load manuals specify OAL of the loaded cartridge, but I always note the actual seating depth in my log ... this way I can switch from FMJ to JHP in the same weight (maintaining seating depth, but usually NOT OAL) and not be surprised by dangerous pressures.

Stay safe,

Saands

July 9, 2005, 11:34 AM	#1
DeltaWhiskey Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2005 Posts: 226	Berry's 165 grain .40 S & W Thinking about trying the above mentioned bullet in my next reloading project. Can't find any Hodgdon date for a 165 grain bullet, so am following Berry's advice and using low-to-midrange data for jacketed bullets. I'm pondering using 5.3 grains of Universal. Anyone have any experiences that they'd like to share? __________________ "I'm DeltaWhiskey on the other forums, too."

July 9, 2005, 06:13 PM	#2
Kamicosmos Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2002 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Posts: 193	Not direct experience, but a friend of mine was loading up Berry's in both 40 and 45, and he was disappointed with their accuracy. And he was comparing them to Rainers! __________________ "Dreams only have meaning because we struggle in the waking world." -- Major Motoko Kusanagi GitS:SAC Member of NRA and Western Missouri Shooters Alliance

July 10, 2005, 05:27 AM	#3
bigted Junior Member Join Date: April 30, 2005 Posts: 8	barry i used there bullets i dont like them woud not stay to gether zero is the way to go ty titegroup powder

July 10, 2005, 07:36 AM	#4
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I'm not impressed with plated bullets. Really, you can get good jacketed bullets for about the same price if you buy 'em in bulk, and they're more accurate. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

July 10, 2005, 07:17 PM	#6
DeltaWhiskey Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2005 Posts: 226	I tried that load out today and was pleased with the results. Grouped up nice and tight with no hiccups. However, I had four or five that I had seated deeper than the the 1.125 that I usually use and noticed a marked increase in recoil and reposrt, which I'm taking is signs of increased pressure. I won't doing that anymore! __________________ "I'm DeltaWhiskey on the other forums, too."

July 10, 2005, 07:26 PM	#7
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	Yep, sharp report, deeper seating and higher pressure. Sort of go hand in hand. I never had luck with plateds. I even invented a term for when you aim at a 10 and get a 6. I call it being "berry-ied" as in a derogitory term for a cheap bullet that makes your groups look bad. There is nothing and I mean nothing more embarassing then banging away with some expensive custom 1911's or in my case Sig 210's and putting up crappy groups when the guy next to you is using some cheap generic plastic gun and doing better. I can normally cut my groups in half just by switching from plateds to jacketeds. As the saying goes don't get berry-ied, but your mileage may vary. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

July 11, 2005, 02:14 AM	#8
MrApathy Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2004 Posts: 529	hodgdon 2004 load magazine list 5.1gr starting for Sierra JHP 165gr. max is 5.6gr max doing some 1050fps min doing some 950. try and keep the OAL steady. recall hearing universal has tendency to spike. nice yet cheap booklets to have "The Complete Reloading Manual" although hardly complete it has nice data in it from other books. I have found it usefull for loading up Rainier 180gr Plated bullets with Power Pistol. http://www.loadbooks.com/ cheaper at Scheels Sports, midwayusa.com both have them for $6.99 or less dont have it at my side at moment as its 2 stories below me at work bench. from what I have seen not all books at 165gr loads some have 170gr or 175gr which are fairly close.

July 13, 2005, 07:30 PM	#9
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	Wow ... I'm amazed to hear so many people reporting problems with Berry's bullets. I use them in almost every non-magnum load (they don't survive 1350+ velocities) that I shoot. I get ragged 2.5" - 3" groups at 20yds with my Springfield 1911, and slightly larger groups from my USP40c (but it doesn't have a 1911 type trigger, so I don't blame the bullets). I can't recall ever getting a flyer that I didn't pull ... but I haven't ordered any new inventory in a year or so. As for seating depth ... small, full, straightwalled cases like 40, 9x19, 9x18, 32acp etc, are all REALLY sensitive to seating depth. The percent change in load density varies dramatically with small differences in seating depth. Nearly all the load manuals specify OAL of the loaded cartridge, but I always note the actual seating depth in my log ... this way I can switch from FMJ to JHP in the same weight (maintaining seating depth, but usually NOT OAL) and not be surprised by dangerous pressures. Stay safe, Saands

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