Are the Berry brand of bullets any good?

rwt101 · October 28, 2008, 05:03 PM

I am just starting to reload 9x18 Mak ammo. I saw the Berry brand at Graf's website and they are a lot less expensive. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about them.
Bob T

Loader9 · October 28, 2008, 08:05 PM

I load a lot of Berrys Bullets and they are a little better in finish than a Rainier. Accuracy and sizing seems to be better too. If you haven't slugged your barrel yet, most of these Maks take .360 diameter bullets and some .363. You might try a .357 bullet but I'd avoid the .355s unless you are sure it is a 9mm barrel.

rwt101 · October 28, 2008, 08:20 PM

I have a PA63 and a CZ82 both 9x18 makarov. Now a question. How do you slug a barrel? Do you try bullet in the barrel?
Bob T

**Unclenick** · October 28, 2008, 08:23 PM

To slug a barrel you need nearly pure lead. Hornady muzzle loader balls claim to be pure lead, and a .36 cal ball should slug the barrel very nicely. You'll need a micrometer to get an accurate measurement of it after you've tapped it into the muzzle with a brass rod and pushed it through your lightly oiled barrel. Then you'll have enough lead balls left over that you'll feel you have to buy a .36 caliber cap and ball revolver just to avoid the waste.

rwt101 · October 28, 2008, 08:29 PM

Ok I appreciate the advice. The speer bullets are 364 and I think the Berry is 365.
Bob T

irocknrol2 · October 29, 2008, 05:34 PM

I have used both Berry's and Ranier bullets. These are plated rather than jacketed. Both of them were good, the Berry's are a bit more expensive but I don't consider them to be any better than Ranier's.

CrustyFN · October 29, 2008, 05:58 PM

I have used a lot of Berry's bullets in 9X19 and was happy with them. The only reason I stopped using them was because I could buy jacketed cheaper.
Rusty

rwt101 · October 29, 2008, 06:51 PM

I saw the Berry 9X18 for about $10.00 a 100 and the speer for about $15-16.00 a 100. I am just starting to reload and I am trying to keep the cost down, but I don't want to run into a problem while I am just learning.
Bob T

jamaica · October 29, 2008, 07:26 PM

I have used Berry's bullets in 357, 44 Spl, and 45 auto. They all worked fine.
I would caution you to not crimp them too hard and break through the plating. I also just loaded up some Berry's lead bullets for 357 reduced loads. I haven't fired any yet. They looked great. These were $20 for 250 bullets.

rwt101 · October 29, 2008, 07:33 PM

I read that about not crimping them too much. I will start with FMJ Speer and then go from there. My reloading supplies will be here tomorrow. Then I can try and get the dies set up. I have the 3 die set.

Bob T

October 28, 2008, 05:03 PM	#1
rwt101 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 87	Are the Berry brand of bullets any good? I am just starting to reload 9x18 Mak ammo. I saw the Berry brand at Graf's website and they are a lot less expensive. Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about them. Bob T

October 28, 2008, 08:23 PM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	To slug a barrel you need nearly pure lead. Hornady muzzle loader balls claim to be pure lead, and a .36 cal ball should slug the barrel very nicely. You'll need a micrometer to get an accurate measurement of it after you've tapped it into the muzzle with a brass rod and pushed it through your lightly oiled barrel. Then you'll have enough lead balls left over that you'll feel you have to buy a .36 caliber cap and ball revolver just to avoid the waste. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

October 29, 2008, 05:58 PM	#7
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	I have used a lot of Berry's bullets in 9X19 and was happy with them. The only reason I stopped using them was because I could buy jacketed cheaper. Rusty __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

October 28, 2008, 08:05 PM	#2
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	I load a lot of Berrys Bullets and they are a little better in finish than a Rainier. Accuracy and sizing seems to be better too. If you haven't slugged your barrel yet, most of these Maks take .360 diameter bullets and some .363. You might try a .357 bullet but I'd avoid the .355s unless you are sure it is a 9mm barrel.

October 28, 2008, 08:20 PM	#3
rwt101 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 87	I have a PA63 and a CZ82 both 9x18 makarov. Now a question. How do you slug a barrel? Do you try bullet in the barrel? Bob T

October 28, 2008, 08:29 PM	#5
rwt101 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 87	Ok I appreciate the advice. The speer bullets are 364 and I think the Berry is 365. Bob T

October 29, 2008, 05:34 PM	#6
irocknrol2 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 32	I have used both Berry's and Ranier bullets. These are plated rather than jacketed. Both of them were good, the Berry's are a bit more expensive but I don't consider them to be any better than Ranier's.

October 29, 2008, 06:51 PM	#8
rwt101 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 87	I saw the Berry 9X18 for about $10.00 a 100 and the speer for about $15-16.00 a 100. I am just starting to reload and I am trying to keep the cost down, but I don't want to run into a problem while I am just learning. Bob T

October 29, 2008, 07:26 PM	#9
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	I have used Berry's bullets in 357, 44 Spl, and 45 auto. They all worked fine. I would caution you to not crimp them too hard and break through the plating. I also just loaded up some Berry's lead bullets for 357 reduced loads. I haven't fired any yet. They looked great. These were $20 for 250 bullets.

October 29, 2008, 07:33 PM	#10
rwt101 Member Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 87	I read that about not crimping them too much. I will start with FMJ Speer and then go from there. My reloading supplies will be here tomorrow. Then I can try and get the dies set up. I have the 3 die set. Bob T