185 gr Berry's Hollow Base plated bullets

[Guy Miner]

Ran the 185 gr Berry's Hollow Base bullets through my 5" .45 ACP Kimber, and a 4.25" Ruger 1911 as well.

1. They look just like 230 gr FMJ "hardball" ammo when loaded, but the bullets have a pronounced hollow base and are actually plated, rather than jacketed.
2. Loaded them all over 5.0 gr Bullseye and a standard CCI large pistol primer

5" velocity averaged 920 fps

4.25" velocity averaged 896 fps

Accuracy was good! Don't have any paper targets to show, we just shot them at hanging steel gongs, rapid fire. Went through 50 rounds FAST. Very few misses, only when we tried to shoot faster than we could, accurately. The 185's kick perceptibly less than the 230 gr ammo as well.

Paper targets, one of these days...

Regards, Guy

 

[DrMike]

I will need to look for some Berry's Bullets here in Canada. I know I've seen them in the past, but don't recall seeing them recently.

 

[gerry]

Looks like they are some good affordable bullets Guy.

I will need to look for some Berry's Bullets here in Canada. I know I've seen them in the past, but don't recall seeing them recently.

It appears you can get them here, if I remember correctly you have a 45 ACP. Not sure if a semi wadcutter will work for your application.

http://www.x-reload.com/45-caliber-451-454/

Those Campro bullets look interesting as well.

 

[Guy Miner]

Love the 185 gr Nosler JHP bullets for my .45 ACP, but was looking for a more affordable alternative. Looks like I may have found it. I'll have to do more shooting on paper targets to tell, but I think these things are good to go.

On the other hand I just bought a mess of Nosler loaded ammo, 185 gr JHP .45 ACP Noslers... From Shooters Pro Shop at a GREAT DEAL. I'll pick them up in Bend next week.

Regards, Guy

 

[RogueRiver]

I just picked up some of those 185 grn Berry's, I'll be trying them with some ramshot trueblue powder. I'm interested to see how they do.

 

[Darkhorse]

I've shot them in 9mm with no complaints.
I shoot both the berry's and rainier 180 grain HP over 5.7 grains of Unique in my .40 S&W.
More pleasant to shoot and cheaper than jacketed bullets to.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

Ran the 185 gr Berry's Hollow Base bullets through my 5" .45 ACP Kimber, and a 4.25" Ruger 1911 as well.

1. They look just like 230 gr FMJ "hardball" ammo when loaded, but the bullets have a pronounced hollow base and are actually plated, rather than jacketed.
2. Loaded them all over 5.0 gr Bullseye and a standard CCI large pistol primer

5" velocity averaged 920 fps

4.25" velocity averaged 896 fps

Accuracy was good! Don't have any paper targets to show, we just shot them at hanging steel gongs, rapid fire. Went through 50 rounds FAST. Very few misses, only when we tried to shoot faster than we could, accurately. The 185's kick perceptibly less than the 230 gr ammo as well.

Paper targets, one of these days...

Regards, Guy

Guy is your Ruger 1911 Commander the Light Weight or Standard Weight ? I was looking at one just don’t know much about Ruger 1911. Would you buy again ? Thoughts and Impressions ? Thanks and have a nice New Years TC Marine

 

[Guy Miner]

Guy is your Ruger 1911 Commander the Light Weight or Standard Weight ? I was looking at one just don’t know much about Ruger 1911. Would you buy again ? Thoughts and Impressions ? Thanks and have a nice New Years TC Marine

The Ruger belonged to a shooting buddy. That thing shot great. Reliable and accurate. As I recall it was the all steel version, but... it was a few years back.

I like the way the Commander sits in the hand, but prefer the all-steel 5" 1911 for shooting. Also have a 3.5" Colt Officer's Model that I'm rather fond of.

Guy

 

[1100 Remington Man]

The Ruger belonged to a shooting buddy. That thing shot great. Reliable and accurate. As I recall it was the all steel version, but... it was a few years back.

I like the way the Commander sits in the hand, but prefer the all-steel 5" 1911 for shooting. Also have a 3.5" Colt Officer's Model that I'm rather fond of.

Guy

Thanks I have the Government Colt just been looking at Commander Size in .45acp. What are your Thoughts on 9mm from what you have witnessed ? as I have a Glock 19 I carry but I have to be honest when a 9mm case can sit inside a .45acp it’s not to inspiring. Thanks

 

[Guy Miner]

Thanks I have the Government Colt just been looking at Commander Size in .45acp. What are your Thoughts on 9mm from what you have witnessed ? as I have a Glock 19 I carry but I have to be honest when a 9mm case can sit inside a .45acp it’s not to inspiring. Thanks

Just saw this! The 9mm from a 1911 is just sweet to shoot. Minimal recoil. Very easy to keep the sights on target.

Re effectiveness - I'm like you - I like seeing those great big .45 cal holes in the target. Real world shootings in recent years with up-to-date bullets are showing the 9mm to be roughly as effective on bad guys as is the good ol' 45 ACP. I don't like that, but that's what I'm reading anymore. The 9mm seems to have improved considerably over the past 10+ years or so.

Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

BTW, have been busy loading up more of those 45 cal 185 grain hollow-base plated Berry's bullets. Ten years since the start of this thread. I guess I like those doggone lightweight 45 bullets!

 

[Hunter26]

I like those Berry bullets as well. Shot quite a few in 9mm, 40 & 45 along with the Rainier plated bullets. Just don't push them too fast. My Springfield 1911 liked the 200gr SWC Berry's version over Titegroup.

 

[jimbires]

I used to do a lot of indoor bullseye pistol shoots through the winter months . a bunch of guys switched to the copper plated bullets trying to keep the lead dust tamped down a little . these clubs all have some type of ventilation systems , the air still gets fairly smokey . one season 2 of my shooting buddies had to doctor over high lead content .

 

[Guy Miner]

Yup, lead exposure is a real thing.

I just loaded another 100 of the 45 ACP with Berry's bullets this morning.

Guy

 

[diverdown]

Yup, lead exposure is a real thing.

I just loaded another 100 of the 45 ACP with Berry's bullets this morning.

Guy

I use the Berry's 124 Grain for my 9MM's. Been through more than a few of them. I do all my shooting outside at this point. When I was a range officer on the PD the Town had built us a new indoor range and tried to save some money by putting in a recirculating air system and of course myself and the Lieutenant who was working with me got to test it out. We religiously kept the filters clean, Cleaned the floor with a Hepa Vacumn cleaner and did what ever else it took to keep the place clean. After three months we had our blood test and were told to leave the range immediately. Our levels were both the same at 81 Parts per million. Two more numbers and we would have been guests at our hospital. The side effects I won't get into but they were interesting to say the least. After roughly a year we were back down to safe levels. The town immediately switched over to a forced draft system that moved all the air to the outside rear of the building. If you shoot inside take the time to get tested. You'll thank yourself.