Berry's HB (hollow base) projectiles

[WoodrowShootist]

anyone loaded these yet? i was wondering if you load them the same or would you have to juice them up a bit to compensate for the extra room in the case. logically the case pressures should be a lot lower since there's more volume now..just wondering. i emailed berry's and i'm still waiting for a reply.

it's going to be a while until i chrono these but i just thought i'd ask you guys and see what comes up. thanks

[Bill Steele]

I have loaded them. The sales pitch is you have the bearing surface of a larger heavier bullet in a lighter package.

I found them to load very similar to their non-HB brothers in the same weight class. The first batch of 185gr HBRN I tried I really liked, very accurate out of my 1911's. The next batch had some inconsistencies and I have not tried them again. I just skip plated all together now.

Basically, just use the same load data that a similar weight regular (non-HB) bullet and you should be good to go. The longer bearing surface would present some differences if the bullets were not so soft, but being as soft as they are, I saw almost no differences in velocities.

[korny351]

Loading to the same AOL the case volume will remain the same. Volume under the hollow base is offset by more lead in the case (longer skirt/bearing surface). When comparing bullets of the same caliber and weight, load to the same spec. The longer skirt/bearing surface should give a higher degree of stability and accuracy by engaging a greater area of the rifling. At least in theory.

[CGT80]

I tried them in 9mm 124 grain and didn't like them. They were faster with the same amount of powder, and they had a bit more recoil than the same non-hb bullet. I had to reduce my load. I used them for competition, and wanted the lightest recoil and fastest cycling rate of the gun possible. I used win 231 powder. My pet load was 970 fps in a 4" XD with the non-hb 124. My favorite all time 40 s&w load is a berry's 135 non-hb over 5.3 of 231 in the same gun as above (gun is a 40 with a 9mm conversion barrel). I will still buy these for my limited amount of 40 shooting.

I now use Montana Gold 124 JHP over 4.2 grains of 231 and average 970 fps also. MG's are more consistent and also the same price as buying berry's bullets direct from berry's. I order a case of MG's at one time: 3750 bullets for $325 shipped.

I would use berry's again if the price was better, but why not use the best if the cost is the same? One of the guns I am feeding is also comped and the loads are above max listed loads(5.3 grains of 231 and a 124 bullet). Plated bullets should not be run that fast.