Undersized Berry's Bullets

scsov509 · July 15, 2010, 06:19 PM

Anyone else having problems with this as of late? I've been a long-time Berry's user since my indoor range requires jacketed rounds, and have never had any problems in four different pistol calibers. But recently I've had some setback problems in autoloaders that I traced partially to inconsistent sizing of these bullets, as in 45 bullets in the same box that are measuring .449-.452. I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this or if I'm just the unfortunate recipient of a few bad batches.

zxcvbob · July 15, 2010, 06:42 PM

I had that problem with their .230 grain round-nosed bullets about 4 or 5 years ago, and I haven't bought them since. So it's not a new problem. (it might just be an occasional batch problem, though)

scsov509 · July 15, 2010, 06:49 PM

Quote:

I had that problem with their .230 grain round-nosed bullets about 4 or 5 years ago

Interesting, these are actually the 200 SWC and the 200 FP as well. Weird thing is that I've used them for years without problems in 40, 38/357, 45, and 44. In these two boxes that I measured though, less than 50% were .452 and many were .450 0r .449. I mean I could deal with .451, but when you start getting smaller it's hard getting the bullet to stay put when it "gently" encounters the feedramp of my 1911...

zxcvbob · July 15, 2010, 08:11 PM

I used mine in .45 Colts by "neck sizing" the cases with the base of a .30-06 sizing die to provide enough next tension, then roll-crimping them lightly. They shot just fine when I did that. (they looked like .44-40 cartridges, but a little fatter)

scsov509 · July 15, 2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

I used mine in .45 Colts...

So now I have a reason to buy a .45 LC?

engineermike · July 15, 2010, 09:27 PM

Geeeez, I just bought a 1000 9mm, 1000 S&W 40, and a 1000 38 special Berry's bullets. I guess I better go and put the calipers to them.

scsov509 · July 15, 2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Geeeez, I just bought a 1000 9mm, 1000 S&W 40, and a 1000 38 special Berry's bullets. I guess I better go and put the calipers to them.

Well I hope these few boxes are just an anomaly because I've always had such good luck with Berry's in the past.

zxcvbob · July 15, 2010, 11:38 PM

The .38 Special bullets and .30 Carbine bullets I've bought have always been perfect. Only that one box of .45's was too small but usable with some effort, and a box of 9mm's wouldn't feed very well in my gun but that was the gun's fault mostly.

Their 125 grain .38 Specials are the most accurate bullet I've found in my model 15 (I use 4.0 grains of Red Dot)

cheezhed · July 15, 2010, 11:56 PM

when you check them use a micrometer not a caliper for the best measurement.

engineermike · July 16, 2010, 06:35 AM

I'm gonna have go buy one of those. Just when I thought there was nothing else to buy.

I guess that will lead me to my next thread.

Mike

Berry's MfG · July 16, 2010, 01:01 PM

Please use a set of micrometers on the base of the bullet and not a set of dial calipers. Over the past 3 years we have been double-striking all but the 148gr HBWC in a carbide die as a final size before packaging. The bullets are very uniform when they come out of the die. I'm not saying that we have never had a bad bullet coming out of production, but with the current QC process using gages and optical comparators we rarely get one into a box. Please contact me if you still believe your bullets are out of spec and send a couple to me so we can run them through QC.

scsov509 · July 16, 2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Over the past 3 years we have been double-striking all but the 148gr HBWC in a carbide die as a final size before packaging. The bullets are very uniform when they come out of the die. I'm not saying that we have never had a bad bullet coming out of production, but with the current QC process using gages and optical comparators we rarely get one into a box.

Nice...

RWNielsen · July 16, 2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Please contact me if you still believe your bullets are out of spec and send a couple to me so we can run them through QC.

We have friends in high places

cheezhed · July 18, 2010, 04:40 AM

I have used a lot of berrys bullets and have never had a problem with them of any nature.

WVfishguy · July 18, 2010, 08:14 PM

The wife shot 100 rounds of 125 grain plated Berry bullets today, out of a S&W Model 19-3. No problems.

BUT - I've reloaded hundreds of .38 cal. (.357) Berry bullets, 125 and 158 grains, and I have had to use a crimp die if I wanted the cases to eject easily from a revolver (and the wife and I have around 24 revolvers, and we shoot Berry bullets in all of them.).

I now use a roll or taper crimp for all handgun loads. I believe it's necessary to use the crimping die for Berry bullets because there's no cannelure (sp.).
I use a Lee press.

zxcvbob · July 18, 2010, 08:57 PM

The seating die that came with your Lee die set will crimp them just fine even without a cannelure. Adjust it so the end of the case just starts to turn in and bite into the copper a little. If you pull one of the bullets, you'll see a mark on the bullet. Don't cut all the way thru the copper or mash the heck out of the bullet.

I also tried using a taper crimp die from a 9mm set to crimp .38 Specials, and the cartridges looked prettier but were not as accurate.

COSteve · July 19, 2010, 12:07 PM

I've used Rainiers, Berry's, and X-Treme for years with good results. I just last week got a small order (5K) of Berry's 158grn HP for my 357mag levergun from TJ Coneveras and I've got to say that those HPs are really consistent, well made bullets.

Even though they don't recommend it, I shoot them all day at 1,822fps from my leverguns with no issues at all and they are very accurate in my guns, even out to 300yds.

Best of all, I don't have to spend time cleaning the lead out of my barrel.

July 15, 2010, 06:19 PM	#1
scsov509 Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 819	Undersized Berry's Bullets Anyone else having problems with this as of late? I've been a long-time Berry's user since my indoor range requires jacketed rounds, and have never had any problems in four different pistol calibers. But recently I've had some setback problems in autoloaders that I traced partially to inconsistent sizing of these bullets, as in 45 bullets in the same box that are measuring .449-.452. I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this or if I'm just the unfortunate recipient of a few bad batches.

July 15, 2010, 06:42 PM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I had that problem with their .230 grain round-nosed bullets about 4 or 5 years ago, and I haven't bought them since. So it's not a new problem. (it might just be an occasional batch problem, though) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 15, 2010, 08:11 PM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I used mine in .45 Colts by "neck sizing" the cases with the base of a .30-06 sizing die to provide enough next tension, then roll-crimping them lightly. They shot just fine when I did that. (they looked like .44-40 cartridges, but a little fatter) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 15, 2010, 11:38 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	The .38 Special bullets and .30 Carbine bullets I've bought have always been perfect. Only that one box of .45's was too small but usable with some effort, and a box of 9mm's wouldn't feed very well in my gun but that was the gun's fault mostly. Their 125 grain .38 Specials are the most accurate bullet I've found in my model 15 (I use 4.0 grains of Red Dot) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 16, 2010, 01:01 PM	#11
Berry's MfG Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2010 Location: St. George, UT Posts: 122	Berry's Bullets Please use a set of micrometers on the base of the bullet and not a set of dial calipers. Over the past 3 years we have been double-striking all but the 148gr HBWC in a carbide die as a final size before packaging. The bullets are very uniform when they come out of the die. I'm not saying that we have never had a bad bullet coming out of production, but with the current QC process using gages and optical comparators we rarely get one into a box. Please contact me if you still believe your bullets are out of spec and send a couple to me so we can run them through QC. __________________ Jay R. Phillips Berry's MFG www.berrysmfg.com/products.aspx?n=57958

July 15, 2010, 09:27 PM	#6
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	Geeeez, I just bought a 1000 9mm, 1000 S&W 40, and a 1000 38 special Berry's bullets. I guess I better go and put the calipers to them.

July 15, 2010, 11:56 PM	#9
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	when you check them use a micrometer not a caliper for the best measurement.

July 16, 2010, 06:35 AM	#10
engineermike Junior member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Oklahaoma City Posts: 538	I'm gonna have go buy one of those. Just when I thought there was nothing else to buy. I guess that will lead me to my next thread. Mike

July 18, 2010, 04:40 AM	#14
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	I have used a lot of berrys bullets and have never had a problem with them of any nature.

July 18, 2010, 08:14 PM	#15
WVfishguy Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2007 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 662	The wife shot 100 rounds of 125 grain plated Berry bullets today, out of a S&W Model 19-3. No problems. BUT - I've reloaded hundreds of .38 cal. (.357) Berry bullets, 125 and 158 grains, and I have had to use a crimp die if I wanted the cases to eject easily from a revolver (and the wife and I have around 24 revolvers, and we shoot Berry bullets in all of them.). I now use a roll or taper crimp for all handgun loads. I believe it's necessary to use the crimping die for Berry bullets because there's no cannelure (sp.). I use a Lee press. __________________ WWSD (What Would Skeeter Do?)

July 18, 2010, 08:57 PM	#16
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	The seating die that came with your Lee die set will crimp them just fine even without a cannelure. Adjust it so the end of the case just starts to turn in and bite into the copper a little. If you pull one of the bullets, you'll see a mark on the bullet. Don't cut all the way thru the copper or mash the heck out of the bullet. I also tried using a taper crimp die from a 9mm set to crimp .38 Specials, and the cartridges looked prettier but were not as accurate. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 19, 2010, 12:07 PM	#17
COSteve Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2009 Posts: 1,344	I've used Rainiers, Berry's, and X-Treme for years with good results. I just last week got a small order (5K) of Berry's 158grn HP for my 357mag levergun from TJ Coneveras and I've got to say that those HPs are really consistent, well made bullets. Even though they don't recommend it, I shoot them all day at 1,822fps from my leverguns with no issues at all and they are very accurate in my guns, even out to 300yds. Best of all, I don't have to spend time cleaning the lead out of my barrel.