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May 24, 2013
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Recently I've been reloading Berry's plated bullets for my model D11 Dan. I imagine some will hesitate to use plated bullets due to the severe 1250 fps restriction in muzzle velocity. For others it's become a case of reloading with what can be found. The situation has been exacerbated since many indoor ranges now require at least partially jacketed bullets. So now I load using Berry's since I can usually get them at Cabelas.
bullet: Berry's 38 Caliber (.357) 125 grain FP
powder: Hodgdon HP-38 (substitute Winchester 231, same load)
charge: 5 grains
primer: Federal 200
brass: Starline, trimmed to 1.272
LOA: 1.57
My first try of 12 cartridges produced many keyholed rounds. My guess was it was the crimp on the bullet. While not actually cutting the plating it was leaving an indentation that was apparently enough to result in delamination. The second try with the crimp die set to leave barely a trace if any produced a very accurate round.
I'm really liking my Dan. It's probably the most accurate revolver I've ever had the pleasure of shooting.
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January 24, 2009
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If it helps, I've been using 5.5 gr of Unique in my loads, and they seem to work well.
I have used Berry's almost exclusively in my 38/357's & 44's for the past three years or so & really like them! On the smaller bullets, I set mine with a light crimp. I haven't had any bullet jump issues & all seem to fly just fine.
May 24, 2013
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That's good to know. Was that with the 125 grain FP? I'm always interested in what others have had success with as there's very little data out there on the plated bullets. I haven't seen any Unique at my local gun shop for an age but I do keep looking as I'd like to try some. Thanks!
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January 24, 2009
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Yes, that's using Berry's 125 grain FP & CCI 500 primers.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I just stumbled across this product:
http://www.frontierbullets.co.za/product/cmj-bullets/
in the local Cabels's. Looks to be similar to Berry's 1000 bullets for 99.95
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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Dans Club
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July 2, 2011
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Interesting link. I'm suspicious, however, that you were swayed by the "Spartan Bullets" product listing! 
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
May 24, 2013
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These haven't showed up at my Cabela's store yet but I'll keep an eye out for them. They do look interesting.
I did find some Montana Gold 125gr JHP in .357 at Russell Reloading. These have a cannelure ring. There's no published load data but I do have the Hornady XTP in both 125 and 140 grain so I took measurements on all of them. Specifically I was looking at case volume when the bullet was seated to the cannelure ring. The 125 grain Montana Gold seats much deeper than the Hornady 125 grain counterpart. In fact it was much closer to the 140 grain Hornady. I bumped the load up 2/10s of a grain from the 6.5 of Hodgdon HP-38 listed for the starting load for the 140. Tried it in my D11 Dan today at the range and was quite satisfied with the result. My guess is the 6.7 grains of HP-38 might be considered a mid-level load.
Every time I shoot that D11 I'm amazed at the accuracy. Even with astigmatism so bad I can only see blurred sights and a blurred target the Dan finds the area around the bullseye an astounding percentage of the time. One advantage the revolver has over the automatic is I don't get worn out chasing the brass all over so I can reload it again.
I just got some of the Berry's FP .452, 185gr for my Taurus PT145. They were very difficult to load as it's hard to get the bullet to be seated straight. I think it's as much the dies as anything. The Dillon Precision seating die has an insert for either a wadcutter style or a round nose style. Only the round nose works to any degree and it's sometimes necessary to seat the bullet then turn the cartridge 180 degrees and cycle the handle again to get the bullet seated down to the proper depth.
I see there's a pork chop model 14 .357 magnum on Proxibid going September 28th. I've got other action going and won't be bidding on it. It looks to be in reasonable shape but could still use some TLC.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I have some Montana Gold bullets that I have not yet worked with, I got them from a friend as part of a bulk purchase he made. I think Montana Gold is actually jacketed. Berry's and Frontier are "clad" bullets, which is more of a plating that is applied, I think.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
May 24, 2013
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Right you are. These Montana Gold bullets are jacketed so no keeping under the 1250fps speed limit of the plated Berry's or Rainier variety (though I'm probably just barely challenging that velocity with my load.) I've been running their 115gr FMJ RN through my 9mm with excellent results. I understand they've developed a plated CMJ line but I haven't seen any on the shelves yet. Looking at them on their website they appear to be different than the usual plated bullets as there's a distinct seam at the base of the bullet. This gives me pause to wonder if they'll have the same velocity restriction as the others.
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