Plated bullets

Brutus · August 11, 2013, 11:57 AM

I've been partial to Rainiers plated bullets for 9mm 10mm & .45 semi-auto reloads. Tried some Berry's once in 10mm but the lead core seemed a bit softer than Rainiers. Anyone else have a preference?

David Bachelder · August 11, 2013, 01:11 PM

I have only used Berry's so I'm not much good as far as a comparison goes. I have been more than satisfied with Berry's service and product.

chiefr · August 11, 2013, 01:53 PM

I have used both and performance wise, I can't tell the difference.

drklude · August 11, 2013, 02:33 PM

I've had good experience with Powerbond in .38. Prices went up a bit recently, but I have no complaints with the product.

bamaranger · August 11, 2013, 02:39 PM

The boy and I are running Berry 115's in 9mm at about 1100 fps with no issues in Glocks.

We are diligent about bore cleaning

Forrest68 · August 11, 2013, 02:51 PM

I've really like Rocky Mountain Reloading's plated bullets, I've used the 115 and 124 gr 9mm and the 180gr 40 s&w very consistent. Big plus side is they used to only take 2 weeks for delivery but supposedly have got it down well under that now.

lamarw · August 11, 2013, 03:39 PM

I have used Berry's without any problems. I have pretty much changed over to Precision Delta in 9mm and .45 ACP since they are about the same price in FMJ as Berry's plated. Precision Delta will also take backorders whereas Berry's currently will only take orders for what few bullet variation they have or caught up with and have on hand.

In the good ole days (last year) Berry's had a larger variation (size bullets) in availability than Precision Delta. If you are OK with 115 grain 9mm and 230 grain .45 ACP in FMJ, then Precision Delta is my choice between these two great bullet providers.

I received my last order placed in late March with Precision Delta for a thousand 9mm and a thousand .45 in last Friday's mail. I think they are currently projecting 6 month lead times.

Forrest68 · August 11, 2013, 04:03 PM

I had to cancel my order for precision delta, placed the order in april they were talken feb next year earliest. I did run there 115gr bullets in a test run of 100, but honestly the RMR tested better for me threw my Ruger SR9C, not that PD's were bad by any stretch. Great product but I can wait til feb maybe for my order or get from RMR in 2 weeks or less kinda no brainer. Just passen along my expience.

willr · August 11, 2013, 05:27 PM

I have used Xtreme for years, and also Berry's and Ranier's with good results from all. Often it is hard to tell the difference. The only problem is with availability.

willr

frankgh22 · August 11, 2013, 06:09 PM

I used a lot of rainier and not a few berry in 45 running through an old p97, over 7k worth and never had any issues with either

m&p45acp10+1 · August 11, 2013, 07:23 PM

I have used Berry's for 9mm Luger, and .41 Rem mag. I load, and shoot them the same as jacketed. I have never had any problems. I have not used Rainer's bullets. Not that I would not use them. If I found them cheap enough I would use them as well.

coalroller · August 11, 2013, 07:31 PM

I use powerbond for everything I reload. I've tried xtreme bullets and the ones I got where junk, the bases the copper was cracked and the led was exposed. The copper plating was extremely hard. I would highly recommend powerbond.

mmb713 · August 11, 2013, 08:20 PM

I use Xtreme for 9mm, 45 Auto, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt. They have given me good accuracy and I already have good loads worked up for them. I don't see any reason to change now.

coalroller · August 11, 2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmb713

I use Xtreme for 9mm, 45 Auto, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt. They have given me good accuracy and I already have good loads worked up for them. I don't see any reason to change now.

Xtreme and powerbond are almost identical, powerbond just has their plating down to a T.

LSU · August 12, 2013, 10:45 PM

Berry's in Glock .40's with no issues.

PowerPistol bottom level loads. Worked great.

Hammerhead · August 13, 2013, 01:25 AM

I started with Rainier 5 years ago, but have been using more Berry's this last year, strictly an ordering convenience issue.
I've never noticed any difference, both have very soft cores and similar plating. I never had much luck with plated bullets in a Glock 10mm. They (both brands) work great in a .40 conversion barrel with L&G rifling, but no so much in the 10mm polygonal bore.
I suspect the dead soft core and the thin plating allow the bullet ride over the polygonal rifling.

WESHOOT2 · August 13, 2013, 06:55 AM

When 'commercial', I used ONLY Rainiers as my 'plated' choice (I do not consider Speer Gold Dots as these other generic 'plated'

).
I used them in 9x19, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP.

I do not use any 'plated' bullets for my personal shooting, except the 151g .356" and .357" RN for my USPSA load in my 357 Redhawk.

BigJimP · August 14, 2013, 11:47 AM

I find the plating - and weight - on Rainiers to be very inconsistent / varying as much as 4 or 5 grains on a 230 grain bullet.../ and I would not use them in any higher pressure caliber like .40S&W, 10mm, .44 mag.... I've had too many of the Rainier bullets come apart - plating cracking and fragmenting ( I used to use them quite a bit ) ...

Berry's have a thicker plating...and are a lot more consistent on weight. Of the two companies, I'd load Berry's.
-------------
Frankly, I prefer a true jacketed bullet...so 99% of the time, I load Montana Gold bullets.....if I could not get them for some reason, I'd go to Berry's ...but on relatively low pressure and low velocity rounds, like .45 acp Rainiers are fine - although the weight variation aggravates me...

I've switched all of my reloads to Montana Gold over the last 10 yrs or so....good product / and frankly only a little more expensive than Berry's ...

Strafer Gott · August 14, 2013, 04:06 PM

I load 180 gr. Berry's in 10mm with good results. I wondered if they'd hold up to that much Bluedot, but they do.

Nick_C_S · August 16, 2013, 05:43 PM

Quote:

I load 180 gr. Berry's in 10mm with good results. I wondered if they'd hold up to that much Bluedot, but they do.

I just started using Berry's 180g JPF's for 10mm. I'm curious specifically how much "that much" BlueDot was.

Strafer Gott · August 16, 2013, 06:15 PM

It's the midrange load from the Speer 13 manual. I generally resist the temptation to give out loading data.

Nick_C_S · August 16, 2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

It's the midrange load from the Speer 13 manual. I generally resist the temptation to give out loading data.

Okay, so we won't mention 10.5g ;-) I'll give out load data info, if it's in a published manual. I don't think I load anything outside a published manual anyway, except for some super light wadcutter plinking kinda stuff.

Thanks for the info. It's helpful. I'm new to Berry's plated stuff; and my nearest sporting goods store is swimming in the things. They don't have anything else, but tons or Berry's - go figure. And I'm especially new to 10mm (I just bought two 10mm Glocks - 29SF, 20SF, within the last 6 weeks. But I have no prior experience with the 10 round).

I just shot off 20 test rounds of 5.2g AA2 at the range today. I wanted them light, but not quite that light lol.

Brutus · August 17, 2013, 12:29 PM

m&p45acp10
I noticed you mentioned using them in 41mag. Do use a taper crimp die?
I bought some for target 44's when I got them oop's no cannelure.
Don't have a taper crimp die for 44 so I haven't tried them.

Nick_C_S · August 17, 2013, 03:39 PM

Brutus: I suppose if I were in that position, I'd attempt a light roll crimp. But I would only try it with light loads until I saw how it behaved.

WESHOOT2 · August 18, 2013, 05:52 AM

I cannot recall cutting through the plating on a Rainier crimping.

August 11, 2013, 11:57 AM	#1
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Plated bullets I've been partial to Rainiers plated bullets for 9mm 10mm & .45 semi-auto reloads. Tried some Berry's once in 10mm but the lead core seemed a bit softer than Rainiers. Anyone else have a preference?

August 11, 2013, 01:11 PM	#2
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	I have only used Berry's so I'm not much good as far as a comparison goes. I have been more than satisfied with Berry's service and product. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

August 11, 2013, 02:39 PM	#5
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	Berry's The boy and I are running Berry 115's in 9mm at about 1100 fps with no issues in Glocks. We are diligent about bore cleaning

August 11, 2013, 06:09 PM	#10
frankgh22 Junior Member Join Date: April 13, 2013 Posts: 5	Re: Plated bullets I used a lot of rainier and not a few berry in 45 running through an old p97, over 7k worth and never had any issues with either

August 11, 2013, 07:23 PM	#11
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have used Berry's for 9mm Luger, and .41 Rem mag. I load, and shoot them the same as jacketed. I have never had any problems. I have not used Rainer's bullets. Not that I would not use them. If I found them cheap enough I would use them as well. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

August 11, 2013, 01:53 PM	#3
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I have used both and performance wise, I can't tell the difference.

August 11, 2013, 02:33 PM	#4
drklude Member Join Date: January 30, 2013 Posts: 40	I've had good experience with Powerbond in .38. Prices went up a bit recently, but I have no complaints with the product.

August 11, 2013, 02:51 PM	#6
Forrest68 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2013 Posts: 135	I've really like Rocky Mountain Reloading's plated bullets, I've used the 115 and 124 gr 9mm and the 180gr 40 s&w very consistent. Big plus side is they used to only take 2 weeks for delivery but supposedly have got it down well under that now.

August 11, 2013, 03:39 PM	#7
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I have used Berry's without any problems. I have pretty much changed over to Precision Delta in 9mm and .45 ACP since they are about the same price in FMJ as Berry's plated. Precision Delta will also take backorders whereas Berry's currently will only take orders for what few bullet variation they have or caught up with and have on hand. In the good ole days (last year) Berry's had a larger variation (size bullets) in availability than Precision Delta. If you are OK with 115 grain 9mm and 230 grain .45 ACP in FMJ, then Precision Delta is my choice between these two great bullet providers. I received my last order placed in late March with Precision Delta for a thousand 9mm and a thousand .45 in last Friday's mail. I think they are currently projecting 6 month lead times.

August 11, 2013, 04:03 PM	#8
Forrest68 Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2013 Posts: 135	I had to cancel my order for precision delta, placed the order in april they were talken feb next year earliest. I did run there 115gr bullets in a test run of 100, but honestly the RMR tested better for me threw my Ruger SR9C, not that PD's were bad by any stretch. Great product but I can wait til feb maybe for my order or get from RMR in 2 weeks or less kinda no brainer. Just passen along my expience.

August 11, 2013, 05:27 PM	#9
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 356	I have used Xtreme for years, and also Berry's and Ranier's with good results from all. Often it is hard to tell the difference. The only problem is with availability. willr

August 11, 2013, 07:31 PM	#12
coalroller Junior member Join Date: August 9, 2013 Posts: 25	Plated bullets I use powerbond for everything I reload. I've tried xtreme bullets and the ones I got where junk, the bases the copper was cracked and the led was exposed. The copper plating was extremely hard. I would highly recommend powerbond.

August 11, 2013, 08:20 PM	#13
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	I use Xtreme for 9mm, 45 Auto, 357 Magnum and 45 Colt. They have given me good accuracy and I already have good loads worked up for them. I don't see any reason to change now.

August 12, 2013, 10:45 PM	#15
LSU Member Join Date: May 12, 2013 Posts: 38	Berry's in Glock .40's with no issues. PowerPistol bottom level loads. Worked great.

August 13, 2013, 01:25 AM	#16
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I started with Rainier 5 years ago, but have been using more Berry's this last year, strictly an ordering convenience issue. I've never noticed any difference, both have very soft cores and similar plating. I never had much luck with plated bullets in a Glock 10mm. They (both brands) work great in a .40 conversion barrel with L&G rifling, but no so much in the 10mm polygonal bore. I suspect the dead soft core and the thin plating allow the bullet ride over the polygonal rifling.

August 13, 2013, 06:55 AM	#17
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	by the pallet When 'commercial', I used ONLY Rainiers as my 'plated' choice (I do not consider Speer Gold Dots as these other generic 'plated' ). I used them in 9x19, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. I do not use any 'plated' bullets for my personal shooting, except the 151g .356" and .357" RN for my USPSA load in my 357 Redhawk. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 14, 2013, 11:47 AM	#18
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I find the plating - and weight - on Rainiers to be very inconsistent / varying as much as 4 or 5 grains on a 230 grain bullet.../ and I would not use them in any higher pressure caliber like .40S&W, 10mm, .44 mag.... I've had too many of the Rainier bullets come apart - plating cracking and fragmenting ( I used to use them quite a bit ) ... Berry's have a thicker plating...and are a lot more consistent on weight. Of the two companies, I'd load Berry's. ------------- Frankly, I prefer a true jacketed bullet...so 99% of the time, I load Montana Gold bullets.....if I could not get them for some reason, I'd go to Berry's ...but on relatively low pressure and low velocity rounds, like .45 acp Rainiers are fine - although the weight variation aggravates me... I've switched all of my reloads to Montana Gold over the last 10 yrs or so....good product / and frankly only a little more expensive than Berry's ...

August 14, 2013, 04:06 PM	#19
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	I load 180 gr. Berry's in 10mm with good results. I wondered if they'd hold up to that much Bluedot, but they do.

August 16, 2013, 06:15 PM	#21
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	It's the midrange load from the Speer 13 manual. I generally resist the temptation to give out loading data.

August 17, 2013, 12:29 PM	#23
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	m&p45acp10 I noticed you mentioned using them in 41mag. Do use a taper crimp die? I bought some for target 44's when I got them oop's no cannelure. Don't have a taper crimp die for 44 so I haven't tried them.

August 17, 2013, 03:39 PM	#24
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	Brutus: I suppose if I were in that position, I'd attempt a light roll crimp. But I would only try it with light loads until I saw how it behaved. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association Last edited by Nick_C_S; August 17, 2013 at 04:36 PM.

August 18, 2013, 05:52 AM	#25
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I cannot recall cutting through the plating on a Rainier crimping. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"