Cheap Start to Reloading?

paulsharvey · Mar 8, 2018

rhunt said:
I have reloaded and shop thousands of Berry's and other manufacturers plated bullets and recovered many of these bullets that I shot. In 380, 357 and 45 cal and have not seen any that lost their plating along the rifling. Your picture to me indicates either too tight a fit or too hot a load. Bob

They are rated up to 1200 FPS right? I don't have a chronograph, but I cannt imagine I was that high. That round was loaded 5.2 grains of CFE Pistol, 1.125 OAL, with what I thought was mild crimp. The 5.6 and 5.9 I loaded, I did not crimp. Not really a fan of the crimp with seating die, doesn't seem super consistant

Soundguy · Mar 8, 2018

paulsharvey said:
Anyone experienced with Berrys Plated bullets. Specifically, 115 gr 9mm? I shot some with 5.2, 5.6, and 5.9 gr of CFE Pistol, from a Hi Point 995 Carbine. View attachment 543023 Shot into 3 gallon jugs at 15 yards, went into ground after 2nd jug. Does this seem normal? The copper jacket is gone from where the rifling engaged the projectile.

Too hot imho. 5.4 is the limit for lead on CFE, and thin plated bullets I run as cast lead.

Try a starting lead load and work up.

Peeling the plating isn't good. What happens when that plating stays in the bore one day, and the next fix down the tube hits it... That earns you a ringed barrel.

Soundguy · Mar 8, 2018

Got a pic of those berry's? Did you MIC them?

k0ua · Mar 8, 2018

Soundguy said:
Too hot imho. 5.4 is the limit for lead on CFE, and thin plated bullets I run as cast lead.

Try a starting lead load and work up.

Peeling the plating isn't good. What happens when that plating stays in the bore one day, and the next fix down the tube hits it... That earns you a ringed barrel.

Yeah, I wasn't too happy with that plating stripping off either.. don't like the looks of that.

paulsharvey · Mar 9, 2018

Soundguy said:
Got a pic of those berry's? Did you MIC them?

I will this evening if I remember. They are suppose to be .356.

paulsharvey · Mar 12, 2018

Soundguy said:
Got a pic of those berry's? Did you MIC them?

Here's the pictures. Projectiles measured out .355 diameter, and between 114.7 and 115.1 grains.

A guy from work brought be a 30 lbs bucket of mixed 9mm range brass this morning.

Soundguy · Mar 12, 2018

355 is ok, I was making sure they didn't send you 38/357.

Try loading them as if they were cast lead, see what you get.

paulsharvey · Mar 18, 2018

Just finished loading up another 100 rnds of 115 gr Berrys with 5.2 gr CFE Pistol, 1.10" OAL, more flare on case mouth, and only enough crimp to set the flare back to straight.

Also, I picture of my set up, just for laughs. Right now, press is attached to a 2x6 and 3/4" plywood, c-clamped to a TV try table.

I'm thinking the jacket/plated issue comes from not enough flare, letting the case mouth gouge the plating, combined with a bit too much crimp. We will see

k0ua · Mar 18, 2018

paulsharvey said:
Just finished loading up another 100 rnds of 115 gr Berrys with 5.2 gr CFE Pistol, 1.10" OAL, more flare on case mouth, and only enough crimp to set the flare back to straight.

Also, I picture of my set up, just for laughs. Right now, press is attached to a 2x6 and 3/4" plywood, c-clamped to a TV try table.

I'm thinking the jacket/plated issue comes from not enough flare, letting the case mouth gouge the plating, combined with a bit too much crimp. We will see

View attachment 544524 View attachment 544525

Watch for setback of the bullets into the case after hitting the feed ramp. Measure OAL, then feed it, and then take it out and measure again. Much setback in a 9mm can result is some pretty high pressure levels as the 9mm is a very small case to begin with. Dillon taper crimp dies are the best. Just saying you can have too much crimp, and you can have too little also. good luck...

Gunny · Mar 19, 2018

These come in real handy. I bought a few LE Wilson gauges back when I started reloading (when I was in the business and could get them wholesale), but I still use them even today to spot check about every 10th round.

Amazon.com : Lyman Reloading 9mm Luger Pistol Max Cartridge Gauge : Gunsmithing Tools And Accessories : Sports & Outdoors

And I would have to think a table with a bit more sturdiness would add a lot more joy to the reloading process, but I understand you're starting out. I've been doing it for years and I still keep changing things around