Berry's Bullets and .357 Magnums

[pbgrasso81]

I ordered some 125 gr and 158 gr .357 flat point Berry's bullets from PV to reload some 38 Special and .357 Magnum plinking rounds. I'm getting ready to load and I double check my recipes and I check Berry's site as well. I find on Berry's site http://http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-...d_Bullets.aspx that they say not to use Magnum loads. This bummed me out big time. I was just wondering if any of you guys have ever used Berry's for Magnum loads and have ever had any issues with them. If I were to load them, I currently only have AA #5 and would load the 158 gr with about 8.0 gr of powder at least as a starting point, and would not exceed 8.5 gr or so. I would not use the 125 gr, those are for 38 Specials. Speaking of which, does anyone have a nice recipe for 38 Specials/125gr Berry's FP with AA#5? Thanks guys.

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

you can use plated bullets in magnum loads,
My suggestion is try some magnum loads and see what your groups are, if this is plinking, expect some wider groups than jacketed due to the copper plating shredding off at higher velocities.
If these are the hard cast, then, I wouldn't use them in 357 hot loads due to lead fouling issues.
38, you shouldn't have any issues.

[Excaliburr]

Berrys is a softer lead that is plated so do not exceed 1200 feet per second. Magnum loads need full metal jacket or if you are a caster as I am, a gas check. I always get a kick out of people thinking lead is bad for their gun and then they buy plated bullets. But it proves a point that putting lipstick on a pig, makes a pig sell better I guess. Buy hard cast bullets and you'll wonder why you spent extra $ on copper paint good looks in the first place. Use the 158's in the .38 special too. Why have the lower grain bullet? Perhaps only if you are loading one of those airweight s&w's for a female.

[scarville]

I don't now how they compare to Berrys but I've found the Xtreme plated 158gr FP 357 can be pushed as high 1500 fps without any problems. I don't normally push them that fast but I wanted to see how it performed from an 1894. Usually my 357 handloads for plated 158 gr is a more sedate 1100 fps to 1200 fps.

[pbgrasso81]

Thanks Excalibur. I do load for my girlfriend to shoot. She loves my new S&W model 66. However, the 158 gr 38 specials were perfect for her. I guess I just bought the 125 gr projectiles for variety. I'm still new to loading and just wanted the experience I guess.

[chknlyps2]

I have loaded Xtreme 158 grain plated bullets in .357 with great results. I start with mid range cast data for same bullet weight and work up. So far I have tried 2400, H110, Bullseye and Lilgun.... Lilgun being my favorite. (I had to start with a jacketed load for Lilgun)

Most cast loads are around 1,300 fps or slower for 160ish grain bullets so as long as you don't crank them all the way up you should like the results.

[pbgrasso81]

There's a gun show in my town this weekend. I'm going to try and get there early to score some Unique or 231.

[pbgrasso81]

Is there a big difference between using small pistol primers and small pistol magnum primers? What do you guys use?

[sniper5]

Pretty much what everyone else has said. Plated generally runs the risk of stripping the plating off if you push the bullets above about 1200 fps. That will open up your groups. As far as cast, it depends on the Brinell hardness. Down around 12, you'll want to stay around the lower loads. 18 and above, you can push pretty hard. In fact, if you check the information sections of most of the major cast bullet manufacturers sites, they will tell you that in the higher hardness ranges, excessive leading is more common from lower pressures due to an inadequate base expansion and seal. Short answer- do your homework and match your bullets to your loads and your loads to your bullets.

[chknlyps2]

Is there a big difference between using small pistol primers and small pistol magnum primers? What do you guys use?

When I started loading .357 some years ago all I had was the Lyman 47th book and they used magnum primers in all the loads so I did also. Since then I have learned that not all powders in a magnum round require a magnum primer. I still use magnum primers because that is what I worked up my loads with and I don't want to start over.

[scotchblade]

Is there a big difference between using small pistol primers and small pistol magnum primers? What do you guys use?

Out of the powders I have (2400, Unique, Clays, Trail Boss, H38, SR7625) I only use magnum primers with W296 (H110).

[the86d]

I have pushed Berry's 100gr past 1200fps in testing in my M9, about 1275 is what some of them were chrono-ing up to. Berry's had no issues, and a single impact from each round fired, in 9mm at least... I don't usually, but they tested fine.

[ireload]

Pbgrass you should be fine pushing those 125gr 357 mag past 1,200fps range. I've pushed them 1,300+ with no problem. It's how you crimp those bullets that can make or break them per say. I crimp to just a hair more than light crimp. I've trimmed the brass length to uniform and flare enough to accept the plated bullet.

Below is a good example of too much crimp. Any more then the brass itself would cut the plating.

[IMG][/IMG]

[pbgrasso81]

Thanks ireload, I think I am crimping a little too much, especially for a wheel gun. I don't think I want to use the lighter bullet for magnum rounds however. I don't want to even test the forcing cone on my model 66. Not that I even load anything remotely hot, I just don't want to use anything that is not recommended by s&w.

[ireload]

Thanks ireload, I think I am crimping a little too much, especially for a wheel gun. I don't think I want to use the lighter bullet for magnum rounds however. I don't want to even test the forcing cone on my model 66. Not that I even load anything remotely hot, I just don't want to use anything that is not recommended by s&w.

Your welcome.

I use to use 158gr for magnum loads but has switched many years ago to 125gr for faster follow up shots and speed without going into a full load magnum.

When you mentioned forcing cone, I take it your referring to throat erosion?