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August 7, 2011, 07:25 PM | #1 | |
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Berry's Plated Bullets 38 Special
I'm still an inexperienced reloader, and I think I figured out the answer to my question, but I want to confirm it with you experts before I blow myself up...
I was overjoyed today to find a place locally where I can buy inexpensive bullets in bulk. Yay! Since I occasionally go to an indoor range, I thought I would pick up the Berry's plated bullets (in 125-grain weight, since I want softer recoil for my wife)... much to my chagrin, that is, since I can't find loading data for a 125-grain lead bullet to start with. Sadness ensued... Not to be completely daunted, however, I went to the Berry's web site, where they explain how to load their bullets. They say: Quote:
Given the quote from Berry's above, this appears to suggest that I load my plated bullets with ~4.5 grains of Bullseye to start. Am I seeing this right? All over the Internet, I see people saying they use from 3.0 (sometimes less!) to >5 grains of Bullseye, but from some of the things these anonymous Internet people say, I'm nervous to trust them. Last edited by jephthai; August 10, 2011 at 10:07 PM. |
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August 7, 2011, 07:50 PM | #2 |
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When you don't have data for that exact weight, start with the data for the next higher listed weight, and work from there. Berry's makes an excellent bullet, and I wouldn't heistate to start at the bottom of the jacketed data to see where it goes. Good stuff.
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August 7, 2011, 09:25 PM | #3 |
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Love Berrys! Ditto what armoredman said...
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August 7, 2011, 09:48 PM | #4 |
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125 gr Berry's
I have loaded a bunch of those bullets using 4.6 gr of Bullseye powder. However, my wife and sister really like those bullets with 5.5 gr of HP-38. They can shoot those things for hours.
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August 7, 2011, 10:10 PM | #5 |
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Thanks for the confirmation! I've successfully conditioned myself to stick to the manuals, so this unnerved me enough to check with the communitym. Thanks!
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August 7, 2011, 10:22 PM | #6 |
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I have a box of the same bullits, anyone have a favorite WW 231 load? Thanks.
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August 8, 2011, 12:20 PM | #7 |
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Thanks for the great input!
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August 8, 2011, 01:09 PM | #8 |
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Different Components=Different Pressure
•125 gr Speer GDHP
•Bullseye •CCI 500 Alliants load data shows a 38 special +P load @ 4.8gr maximum using Bullseye. |
August 8, 2011, 01:24 PM | #9 |
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I've loaded and shot right at 25,000 Berry's bullets over the past 18 months. In a variety of calibers, but mostly 9mm and .45ACP. I have nothing but praise for them. Good bullets at a good price that shoot where I aim them. Can't ask for much more than that. Just start slow, work your way up carefully and remember that these are not true FMJs. If you ever want to go with hot +P loads use a different bullet.
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August 8, 2011, 09:54 PM | #10 |
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Love Berry bullets. For the 38 special, I use 4.3 gr of ww231 with good results. Be sure to work up your load.
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August 8, 2011, 10:42 PM | #11 |
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Well, I decided to go ahead with 4.4 grains of Bullseye. I went with the Speer recommendation on COAL -- 1.435". I also learned some things:
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August 9, 2011, 03:37 PM | #12 |
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Nice looking ammo, makes me want to take the K-38 out of the safe. The biggest factor in loading our bullets is the crimp, over crimp and you will see accuracy fall away.
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August 9, 2011, 10:15 PM | #13 |
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The ammo in the picture looks good and 4.4 grns sounds reasonable. I've shot a lot of Berry's bullets and like them. Berry's says to keep the velocity below 1200fps in any load and you are good. I shoot the same configuration bullet in my 1911's and they like it. I use the round nose in 9mm for feeding purposes, just to be sure.
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August 9, 2011, 10:16 PM | #14 |
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Good looking ammo indeed. Hard to go wrong with Berry's bullets. You've done your research and homework, time for a little rangework. Have fun!
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August 9, 2011, 11:28 PM | #15 |
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Just FYI, I checked my Speer book and it says a minimum load of 4.5 gr Bullseye and DNR (do not reduce). Based on that, if the 4.4's shoot - fine but I think I would bump the load to 4.5 gr. in the next batch just to be safe. The velocity at that charge is well within reason.
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August 10, 2011, 10:10 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
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August 12, 2011, 04:29 PM | #17 |
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I've had really excellent results shooting Berry bullets in almost every handgun I own. For shooting a light load at paper targets at 50 feet or less I really like the hollow base wadcutter in the .38 special or .357 mag.
I may be odd in that I prefer to have a bit more recoil than most persons, but the 148 gr Berry in the .38 special feels almost like a rimfire to me -- I have to shoot a few to get used to the mild recoil. I have had no problem stabilizing these bullets with what I consider to be very light powder charges, using mainly N-340 or HS-6. The hollow base expands to create a very nice seal, much like the old Minie' ball, so less powder is needed to speed the bullet on its way and of course the wad cutter shape makes for east target result reading. Going off at a tangent I'll mention that Lapua has also gone back to this hollow base design for some match rifle bullets.....
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August 13, 2011, 11:50 AM | #18 |
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Berry's makes an excellent product and I too use them in both .38 spl and 9mm. I use loading data for jacketed bullets when loading plated bullets. I'm glad to see that you're very safety conscious.
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August 13, 2011, 01:06 PM | #19 |
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The Berry's 125Gr are wonderful in 38's
I worked up to 5.3 Unique and all my wheel guns love em. great product,
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August 15, 2011, 08:33 AM | #20 |
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We appreciate all the positive feedback from you guys, believe me it gets up to the owners (because I pull up the forums in our management meetings).
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August 15, 2011, 02:36 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
I know your bullet offerings are based on supply and demand and production costs vs. selling price, but if you could consider making a .312 100 grain flat point plated bullet for the .32 H&R Mag and .327 Fed Mag shooters out there that would be appreciated. |
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August 15, 2011, 03:17 PM | #22 |
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I will pass it on, if I currently had a FP die in a .312 it would be a matter of running longer cores.
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August 15, 2011, 10:46 PM | #23 |
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Berry's makes some good bullets
Yah, I like Berry's for shooting .38 Spcl in my .357 Mag.
I used CCI 500 primers and Unique powder...started at 4.5 grains and increased to 5.0, 5.3, 5.5, 6.0 (don't ask why the 5.3; its a long story ). I used Winchester brass, Berry's 125gr. FP, 1.45" OAL, shot from my S&W 686. anyway, I chronographed them, and wound up with the average FPS: 4.5 grains: 758 5.0 grains: 833 5.3 grains: 901 5.5 grains: 941 6.0 grains: 1,032 I really liked how the 4.5 and 5.0 felt...nice and smooth--of course, the gun is a heavy beast. Good luck with your loads and have fun! U.L. Disclaimer: Above info is for informational purposes only...use only pro load data...cuz I don't want to be sued! |
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