I happen to be in St. George about a month ago and based on Ultimate Reloader recommending Berry's bullets I stopped and obtained me some 9mm thick plated flat nose bullets. I haven't tried them yet, but they were a great price. I thought you did an excellent job in front of a camera. You are a natural. Love the video and the content. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve done the same with the 125. A +P loading out of my 16 inch Rossi gives 1260 fps and 965 fps out of my 6 inch revolver with good accuracy in both. These loads require a heavy crimp to keep from pushing into the case in the lever gun. I used a 9mm taper crimp die. Kind of a pain, and I changed to a poly coated cast lead bullet. Very surprised at the chrono results in this video. I’m going to guess you need a heavier crimp. I have used several thousand Berry’s bullets in 9mm. They work great.
Nicely presented, Guy. I’ve been enjoying your presence there at UL. I use both plated and cast bullets for practice and plinking with 38 Special. I shoot both 125 and 158 grain plateds from X-treme at 820 fps. My fav cast bullets are the Hensley & Gibbs #51, a 150- gr bullet with my alloy, and the Lyman 358429. Both of those run in the same velocity range. 🤛🏻🔫🇺🇸
I've used Berry's bullets for longer than I can remember. They are a great cost-effective way to load. I vary between their bullets and my own hard-cast lead boolits for plinking and target shooting.
Interesting video as always. Here in the UK for .357 I use PPU plated 158gn bullets and a 158gn hard lead for my practice rounds using Lovex powder or Vhitavouri. I use the same process with a separate crimp die. I get similar velocities from a 20" Winchester.
I like berry’s bullets. I usually cast a Lee 358-125-rf and a Lee 358-158-rf for 38/357. My favorite with these bullets is the 125gr I’m 357 with CFE powder.
Dropping the 357 Magnum load to Hodgdons recommeneded H110 MINIMUM of 15.0gr should easily move velocity to less than Berrys recommended MAXIMUM of 1500 through the carbine. Probably will also drop your other numbers as well? Since these were to be practice loads to begin with it shouldn't seem to be too much of a penalty...? P.S. Their excellent 240gr bullet for 44 caliber also has a higher velocity rating, and I use Berrys 124gr .355" HBRN-TP & HBFP-TP for both 9mm and 357SIG for that same extra velocity capability as well.
I'll try those soon. I primarily load load my own pure lead cast and checked, 158gn SWC over a hot H110 charge. Soft pure lead is scary in ballistic gel. And my Lord the fireball that H110 load throws from a snubnose revolver. Kicks hard too ; ) And no, I don't mind a bit more cleaning of fouling.
Yes I use Barry’s but not for 357 I have a few thousand of the 55gr fmj. Not a bad little plinker for the AR I’m achieving sub MOA at 100 yards with em. As for the the 357 revolvers I do cast and powder coat my own.
You can actually load the 1,200 fps versions to 1,300 fps (or even a bit more) and there isn’t any issues. Done it for years. Also, weighing a bunch of bullets on my laboratory balance, they are very consistent, particularly for the price.
I use LOS FP 158gr copper plated bullets with 5,2gr Vihtavuori N340 .38 Special loads. It shoots excellent groups on paper with my 4" Ruger and Smith & Wesson
Another really good video. I shoot some mild loads with Berrys bullets in my Marlin 1894c. I will have to look into those thick plated 158's, usually I load the expensive ones for the full house loads. Nothing brings a 357 alive like some W296 and a rifle. I get 2200fps with 21.0 of 296 with a 125 JHP and 1750fps with 15.5 of 296 under a 158 JSP. Correction, I have 16.0 under my 158's. Most of my stuff is loaded with 18.0 for 125 JHP and 15.5 with the 158's. Note sure off the top of my head but I use Unique with the Berrys plated 125's......I wanna say 6.3 grains but I don't have my book in front of me.
I have been using plated bullets by Xtreme. I mostly practice with 105 grain lead in 38 and 140 grain lead TCFP in 357 from MO bullets. I bought a 627 a couple years ago and just fell in love. Now I'm looking to up the power and have started playing with plated a bit in 45 acp and 357.
I use a ton of berrys for pistol loads but they arent my favorite if i was going to load rifle loads for .357, most have a 1250 fps limit which is easily exceeded with a rifle
I've been using Berry's 158s for over 10 years for my .38 and .357 mag loads. Never had any issues. I was surprised to hear of the 1500 limit though! I chronograph 1400 to 1500 out of a GP100 - 6-inch with the recipe I use for .357 mag - thanks for the info!
I've used Berry's 158gr. HP & 125gr. FP w/ Bullseye @ sub 800fps in either 38 or 357 brass. You can plink all day long, out to 75 yards w/ great accuracy w/ a revolver or lever rifle.
I use Berry's 158 gr RN in my blackhawk I also have the 124gr HPFN too. I'm using Hodgdon Universal And I even made up some Pyrodex BP with the 158gr to test out. So I'm looking forward to the next range day
I do shoot the Berry's bullets, usually get them on sale and they are a great alternative in my J frames or Taurus 856 defender in the 125gr weight. Mostly I cast my own with a Lee 125 and 158gr RNFP and powder coat them. 700x gets the nod in 38 Special because of the short barrels and CFE Pistol (almost a universal powder) loads the 357's in my GP100 and 20" Rossi M92 lever gun. Of note is the fact that I have pushed my powder coated lead 357 125's to almost 1900fps in the Rossi to test the leading of the powder coated rounds and found none. Just a couple passes with a brush and a patch out with some Hoppe's and your all done.
I’ve used both the Berrys 158 (regular, non-TP) and 125 for 38spl plinking. I’ve used Bullseye, Win 231, and HP38 as propellant. The loads are nothing to write home about, but work great as cheap plinkers.
I think some Berry's Bullets would make for an excellent gift for the reloaders among us. My personal favorite load for .38 Special is a Lee 148gn Lead Wadcutter, cast with a BHN of around 13 or so, with 4.2gn of Win231 or HP-38. Just the right amount of recoil and a ton of fun in double action. Sure, the Wadcutter may be an antiquated design, but the generous crimp groove, easy to cast shape, and clean look of the finished product has made them a favorite of mine!
I have loaded quite a few thousand plated bullets. It has been Berry's & Ranier. 9, 40, 38/357 & 44. It has been a little more of the Ranier than Berry's but not by much. They work for plinking for sure. But we use to buy & shoot Hard Cast bullets out of 44 magnum revolvers by the thousands. Leading is annoying but we just worked at cleaning. Cast bullets in the 80s & 90s in big bulk buys was much cheaper than everything else. But when I started reloading seriously for 9mm & 40 in early 2000s these plated bullets got my attention and weren't much more expensive than hard cast. I am just a bit more comfortable with them in an autoloader. Berry's has a decent looking HP I loaded for 9mm. Not terribly reliable in expansion with my crude range tests. I would be curious if you have tested them in gel. Good vid. Thanks.
Nice. I use 158gr LSWC powder coated on top of 16.2gr H110. Gives me a average 1330fps out of a Python 6 inch with no fouling. Found it to be the cheapest, cleanest shooting.
Just got into re Loading on a single stage press I have a bunch of Berrys 125 flat tops for 38/357 loads; they don’t have crimp line , unlike the 158 grain shown in video. Do i still set crimp on die ? and crimp anyway, or will this damage both bullet & die?
I use your 240 gr .44 bullets on my model 69 (heavy special loads, and light magnums). I definitely have to give it a healthy crimp due to recoil. how do you know if you're crimping too hard? I'm pretty sure I've never shed a jacket, so i think I'm good?
Berry's warns that too much crimp can break through the plating, exposing the lead beneath. If that happens you should see excess leading in your barrel and probably inaccuracy on the target.
Why not reloading those on a progressive i e. Dillon 650 and get it all more consistent... ? Plus time saving - meaning more time for testing and fun... 🤔🤗😁 My own favorite: 158 HP HS Haendler & Naterman .358 with Magtech SP igniting 5.8 gn. Vithavuori N330. Shooting faboulously well - consistent and reliably precise 🎯👍🥰
Noob question. Is it easier on your gun to use heavier or lighter bullets? Reason I ask is I seen a S&W manual for a particular revolver (don’t remember the model) it said not to use “less than xxx gr bullets” I think it was an air weight
I'll have to look at Berry's for my handgun target needs. I've concentrated so much on long range the past couple years that I've let handgun training slip a lot. Recently I loaded up some 44 mag and 357 mag using VV N110. It's listed for 357, 44 and 350 legend. Figured maybe, just maybe, I might be able to cover three cartridges with one powder. We'll see how the ladder tests go.
I like the 125gr FP for small game in the 38SPL and the 158gr RN in 38 Short Colt for USPSA in my SW627. I've also shot some pretty good scores at the 200yd line in High Power matches with the 55gr FMJ.
I’ve started casting my own 158 gr. Bullets using a 6 cavity Lee mold. I mix that up with WST powder and the results are really good. The main investment when it comes to casting your own bullets is EXTRA TIME, something that we reloaders are very much aware of. I also powder coat the bullets which is another few hours of the day. However, when it’s all said and done, I’m shooting 38 spc for pennies.
I was looking at $400 for five pounds of powder, $13 for 100 primers the other day, at those prices the idea of saving money on reloading goes out the window, its now certifiably insane. Glad I was stocked up 10 years ago.
I really like the coated bullets either powder coat or High Tech. I do both coatings myself or buy then cast and coated already since they are getting a lot more selection.
Excelente o vídeo , esse conteúdo sobre recargas faz com que eu assista todo o vídeo , também recarrego meus tiros aqui no Brasil , fazendo assim consigo melhor desempenho !
Fico feliz que você tenha gostado do vídeo. Os componentes de recarga estão prontamente disponíveis no Brasil? Sorry, relying on the computer for translation.
@@guyminer2384 sim temos os componentes de recarga no Brasil , porém de fabricantes nacionais , estamos em falta de pólvora ,,, pode acontecer de um lojista importar componentes de recarga usados aí por vocês ! atualmente recarrego 38spl 357mag 9x19 , 12GA e 308win , Esse canal e um dos melhores do RU-vid certamente!
I’ve had those wide velocity spreads with H110, especially on the low to mid range velocities. It really prefers to be close to max which is too much for these bullets. In my testing I’ve found that VV N110 downloads a little more consistently and is what I use when loading with jacketed. When I load Berry’s Accurate No.9 performs the best/most consistent. Good luck!
@Guy Miner thanks Guy . I just got my first revolver evr, cant believe it took me so long to figure out how much fun they are lol. So i started reloading 357/38 so now im looking for every bullets and load data out there.thanks for all you guys do to put all the content out for us.
I use Barry's Bullets for target loads in everything -- 9mm, 45 ACP, 38 and 44 Special, .357 and 44 Mag and 45 Colt. I use jacketed bullets for hotter loads, but I run a thousand of Barry's Bullets for every 100 Hornady XTP I shoot.
Great presentation, Guy....good job! I've used Berry's in those calibers in the past with decent results. Still use a few of em today as well, but for my target loads these days, I mostly "roll my own". I cast and powder coat em.
B B 158 gn FMJ TC 6.8 BE for my 22 inch barrel single shot break action RIFLE with scope 3x9x40. From the bench, 100 yards consistant 2" , 3 shot groups. My hunting Round, 158gn HCLSWC Bullet on top of 13gn of L G This is a RIFLE loading, NOT for Revolver. Over the past 3 years I've taken 2 deer, 60 - 70 yards and one Feral Boar Hog at 30 yards. All one shot, all just flopped over, not one step taken. Versatility is what the 357 magnum has going for it. 110-125 gn JHP for Self Defence, the heavy bullets for hunting and putting food on the table. Having a Revolver and a Rifle that uses the same ammo is a really big plus. I handload for each Revolver and Rifle. Different pressures different loadings. Being able to use ALL the 38sp ammo is a Plus. Handloading for the 357 opens a whole new chapter for the 357. Just to be safe follow the Loading Manuel's. C U @ the range.
I was loading lead bullets, I will not longer. I want to change to the Berry's .38/.357 158gr FP-TP bullets. I've been using Alliant Bullseye (which I still have) with the lead bullets. I have no other use for that powder. Can I use the Bullseye powder with the same charge, using Berry's plated bullets?
I cast my own, NOE 360-152 SWC .357 or NOE 358-159 RN .38 special, excellent bullets can be pushed to magnum or plus P with absolutely no leading after couple hundred rounds. Size .358 for .38 .357 for magnum, with Lino type metal, out of a new 4.25” colt python, excellent accuracy, repeatable groups
Just recently bought a 2019 Colt KC Target model revolver. I've been using 124 grain Berry's FN, 356 diameter bullets and CFE pistol powder to develop .38+P loads. My Python gets the call, when I need to go .357 Heavy. Bought them for a Taurus G3x 9mm. It will not feed them reliably for some reason, but it wolfs down the same bullet in round nose, without so much as a hiccup...go figure. So far, so good. A firm taper setting on the case mouth when seating the bullet, provides ample neck tension to prevent the possibility of crimp jump. Keeps them in place until each chamber in the cylinder is fired. The accuracy isn't benchrest or competition worthy, however they will clang steel out to about forty/fifty yards or so; which is good enough for me. I'm also convinced that carried in my shoulder holster rig, they will drop or at least dissuade any potential predators of both the four and two legged variety.
I haven’t been loading .357/.38 long so my component selection is still influenced by scarcity. I ended up with 125 and 158 gr Berry’s FP standard thickness. Max charge of AA7 in .357 is supposed to put me right around the 1250 max fps. The .38+p max for AA5 and 125gr is supposed to put me around 1180 fps. Haven’t chronographed them but no signs of jacket separation.
Good point. I didn't get serious about testing accuracy with them, but they shot well when I was informally shooting steel. When I missed it was absolutely my fault.
I have the same issues in a SW 656,marlin 94, Colt OMM and, Rossi 92 with Berrys using cfe. I switched to hs6 which is similiar in burn rate. Smaller ES and SD. The only thing I have found that cfe works well in is 44 special under 200 g frontier. Once I finish that pound I won’t buy another unless I just have to scrounge for components.
I got the same bullet and I’m looking for a load to hand load I’m using H 110 with the Berry’s 158 gr I got to get my dies I’m going to use Dillon 550C with Redding progress press dies going to use Hornady load data. Nice video thanks for sharing
I cast my own 45 200 swc. .357 158swc and I've tried 9mm but I have a hard time getting them over 1000fps without leading they like to be around 800 and so I keep berry's around for that.
I just ordered a 357 revolver and I'm a reloader and also a bullet caster. I have used Berry's in another caliber and liked them. I haven't done any casting for about 5 years at least and I don't relish the idea of digging out my casting equipment. All I need is the mold. But I'm getting that itch. That's why I watch channels like yours
I've been using Berry's 158 grain flat point bullets for years in my 357 and 38 revolvers. Never a single problem after thousands of rounds reloaded. I reload 9mm, 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 40 S&W, 45 ACP, and 30-30 Winchester using Berry's. The 30-30 being a 1966 Winchester model 94 with light loads. They shoot perfect every time...
Regarding velocity testing of 38 spl compared to 9mm. I've tried a few different powders in both with only OK results in the 38 spl. Problem is extreme spread variations. So I tried pointing the revolver up to shake the powder back to the primer and slowly ease it back down for the shot. I got very respectable results. Then I did similar tests bringing the revolver up from the low ready position for every shot. Extreme spread also much better. I assume this variation is primarily due to large case volume and the bouncing around of the powder of the other loads in the cylinder with each shot. My 9mm loads are very consistent but the case is nearly full. Everything for both calibers is coming in pretty close to book values. So, is there a powder for 38 spl that can provide more consistent velocity??
Haven't yet. In fact I'm tossing the nickel plated cases. Too many of them cracked at the mouth. They were once-fired, but entirely too brittle for reloading. The brass cases last for many reloads, 10, 20 or more...
@@guyminer2384 I just bought the annealing made prefect machine, so ill try some annealing on the colt 45 , 44-40, 357 banes a davis..and a few more and see if the cases last longer
Great presentation. Guy is a fine addition to the group. I would try different powders and charges in the 357 to try for a bit more velicity, since the bullet is rated to 1500, and factoey 158's are usually rated at 1250. Great oractice ammo, and the 38 is oarticularly economical at around 1300 rounds per pound of powder. Just the thing for my 4"686, 6" M28, or my old 38-44. Not out of line in my K frame 38's either.
I cast my own lead alloy bullets for both practice and hunting. They’re more economical and good game killers as well. I get minimal lead fouling by using the correct alloy for velocity. Most of my shooting is outdoors, so I don’t worry about lead exposure.
Where do I find the load data for these guys? I bought the exact bullets you're talking about in this video and along with them I bought the 2023 Hodgdon manual (which has zero data about loading them for 357 mag). I was hoping to get some info on using 158 thick plated with h110 and got nothing for my money. I even ordered the famed Lee loading manual and got jack squat. Do they simply not recommend using them because of the less hardy "jacket" on the bullet? Too easy to make mistakes and blame them on the given information? Not saying anybody is doin me wrong here..just wanting to find some info so I know if I can load them within the safe min and max range. And yep...im a newcomer to this game so I would rather look like a dumbass for asking silly questions than look like one who has to give directions with his pinky finger.
Berry's have been my go-to ever since I started reloading. For plinking loads through my Marlin. Been using the LEE hand press for a while. Just stared with the LEE 4 hole classic turret press.
I’m using the same bullet haven’t loaded any yet plan I have Dillon 550 C and I’m using the Redding carbide dies but it came with a taper crimp die and not a roll crimp die so I ordered the lee factory roll crimp die and case gauge good video thanks for sharing
I use Berry bullets a lot....9 mm and 38 special...the 45 colt bullet really needs to be a tad larger in diameter...there is not enough neck tension to get a good reload.
