I only have experience with Berry's bullets, but have used them in .380, 9mm, .38Spl, 40S&W, and .45 ACP. I've had a few issues with 40S&W where the bell was not quite enough, and I scraped copper off the round. The result, no matter what I did, was a round that wouldn't chamber. I try to work my cases as little as possible, so my expander is set to the minimum necessary to insert a majority of bullets.
As to crimp, a light crimp may or may not leave a mark in the bullet. A medium crimp will definitely leave a ring...I've had to disassemble a fair number of the 40 S&W, and they had a clear ring...but the copper coat is not broken. I've used the pulled bullets without incident and with no noticeable change in accuracy.

I haven't had as many issues with the .356" or .452" projectiles. I've loaded and shot at least 6,000 9mm...from 100gr to 147gr without issue, and another 1500 or so .452 in 185gr and 230gr.

I have some forum friends that only use their own lead cast bullets, or Berry's copper coated, and swear by them.

 

I've used a lot of Berry's in 9mm and 45, all at lower velocities, and never had an issue. Love the hollow base 45s.
I would expect the same from Xtreme, just never used them. I've had a couple of other 9mm plated bullets - brands escape me now, but no issues there either.
I shoot more coated in 9mm right now, just cost a little less and shoot as well for me.

 

I've loaded and shot both Berry's and Xtreme's. Both work just fine, but I have experienced more consistency box-to-box with the Xtreme's. YMMV.

 

I've loaded lots of both and had no issues.

 

I’ve got undersized 9mm FMJ from Extreme about 3 years back. Never again. Several other folks on one of the sites I troll had similar problems. Their plated bullets on the other hand are great. Personally I like them better than Berry’s.

 

The plating technology has come a very long way in the last 5 years. Take any negative comments about plated bullets with a grain of salt. Most of them will be from people that have not used them for ten years and remember the crappy ones. Still, one thing remains true. A jacketed bullet will give better overall performance than a plated, at least for now. If you buy right, you can get jacketed for nearly the same price, but you need to order 2K or more.
I will still jump on a deal that XTreme tosses out from time to time, that is far cheaper than jacketed if you just need 500 or so.

 

Plated bullets....

Still, one thing remains true. A jacketed bullet will give better overall performance than a plated, at least for now. If you buy right, you can get jacketed for nearly the same price, but you need to order 2K or more.

I tend to agree that a jacketed bullet gives better overall performance, and I have found that JHP bullet profiles seem to produce the best accuracy. I like and use Precision Delta JHP bullets, and they give a price break when ordering 2K bullets, plus they have free shipping. There is usually not much difference in the retail price when ordering plated vs. jacketed bullets, so I always purchase JHP bullets.....and use them for target loads and stout self defense loads. However, for self defense loads, I prefer Speer Gold Dot bullets.....

 

I will only load plated in 45ACP, and only if I run across a deal on the bullets. For me, everything other cartridge I load just moves too fast for plated, including 9mm.
I switched to jacketed bullets from Zero Bullets and HiTek coated hardcast from SNS Casting.
www.rozedist.com

 

Plated bullets are fine unless you're a competitive Bullseye shooter. Berry's and Xtreme are both quality plated bullets. I probably shoot 3X as many Xtreme as Berry's just because Xtreme seems to have better & more frequent sales. Choosing between the two is strictly based on price for me.

(But, I'd still prefer a coated lead bullet over plated any day.)

 

I save shipping from ID as opposed to UT and Xtreme often has bullets in stock while Berrys does not.

 

I’ve shot both and have had better accuracy with X-Treme, their plating is also thicker. Right now good luck finding what you want in either brand. I keep checking X-Treme but both 9mm and .45 that I want have been out of stock.

 

I've used Berry,s, Extreme as well as other plated bullets in 9MM. I can't tell the difference other than some are shinier than others. I did get one box of Berry's that must have been when they were adjusting their machinery to produce hollow points. The noses of the bullets were in various stages of the process. I was surprised they shipped them like that. I used them for blasting ammo at close range.

 

I recently did side by side tests with Barry's and Extreme 9mm, 124 grain plated round nose bullets. All loaded on the same day (D-550) using the same components except bullets.

Shot from a 16" barrel PCC at 100 yards the POA/POI was almost identical. All "A Zone" hits, standing unsupported and a Romeo 5 R/D!

Smiles,

 

Bullets and out of stock issues.....

I just looked at Extreme 9mm RN plated bullets, since their JHP profiles and others were all out of stock. The price was $44/500 or $88/1000, and does not include shipping/handling......

I purchase 124 and 115 gr. JHP bullets, (not plated), for less money since the provider has free shipping for orders of 2K or more.....

Why would anyone want to use plated bullets...??? When I practice, I often use moly coated truncated cone 125 gr. bullets....and they shoot good! However, I find the 124 gr. JHP bullets are a bit more accurate, and since the core is swaged rather than cast, it is most likely more consistent also!

 

Well, part of the deal is timing right now. Those 9mm are usually much cheaper and they often times have free shipping specials. I don’t buy their stuff at regular price ever. The sales are pretty good and there is nothing wrong with them for target fodder. You won’t see a sale for awhile I’m afraid.

 

Cheap 9mm ammo in short supply......

Since I shoot about 15K rounds of pistol ammo per year, I can still load 9mm cheaper than purchasing at a retail store or on-line.

I belong to a private gun range, and pick up mostly once fired 9mm brass for free......and the brass case is the most expensive part of reloading if you have to purchase new or once fired cases.....if you save your fired brass, you can reload it numerous times.....

My current cost of reloading 9mm using my free cases, is roughly $6.50 for a box of 50 rounds. The attached sheet shows my breakdown for the cost of various calibers, based on my last year purchase of reloading components.... I always purchase reloading components in bulk, which usually offers the best value.....

 

AND.....you get to make what you want when you want it.
You don’t have to settle for what is available.
It’s more accurate.
Optimized for your gun.
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Some people still say it’s not worth it! :biglaugh:

 

How did this thread morph from Berrys vs Xtreme to the costs of reloading? Come on guys, stick to the topic.

 

I only use xtreme but did get some berry's in 45 RNFP 200gr to try and I think that those were sized .451 if memory serves right. I found no difference in performance and the price if any was neglible but I still prefer xtreme. xtreme hasn't done me wrong in any way and I keep ordering.
I did like a 500 box of Berry's 200 somethings for 300 blackout subsonic though, I wanted to buy more vs coated lead but they seem to be OOS everywhere I looked.

 

I only use xtreme but did get some berry's in 45 RNFP 200gr to try and I think that those were sized .355 vs.356, if memory serves right. I found no difference in performance and the price if any was neglible but I still prefer xtreme. xtreme hasn't done me wrong in any way and I keep ordering.
I did like a 500 box of Berry's 200 somethings for 300 blackout subsonic though, I wanted to buy more vs coated lead but they seem to be OOS everywhere I looked.

45acp plated bullets are normally sized at 0.451". The .355/.356 you referenced are for 9mm (or possibly slightly undersized .38 Special).

 

I have used bullets from both sources, with good results in general at about 1000 fps.
9, 40 & 45 have been taper crimped with no issues of breaking the coating.
If you crimp too hard of course it will break, work into it gradually and you will be fine.
I have noticed that the copper coating on the Xtreme seems to be a bit thicker.

 

This was a topic that came up quite awhile ago. One of our forum members wasn’t necessarily comparing the difference between Berry’s and Xtreme, but was messing with a roll crimp to see how the plating reacted. I was curious too, and can say through experience, that a modest roll crimp on 357 did not break the plating! I thought the accuracy had to be crap, but it was actually very good.
Just my experience because I thought for sure I would snap through the plating. Nope, an inertia puller proved that wrong with Berry’s, XTreme and Ranier.

 

yep I typoed that I have 9mm on my brain lately.

 

How did the topic morph....?

How did this thread morph from Berrys vs Xtreme to the costs of reloading? Come on guys, stick to the topic.

It is because there is currently an ammo shortage......since this is "the reloading Forum" and I know from my experience that plated bullets are not as accurate as jacketed bullets, I think it is worth discussing and explaining why I shoot my own reloads.....

Just about all topics on this Forum get side tracked, which I don't mind if it is useful information.....

 

I think they went out, if I’m not mistaken.
I grabbed 2K of the 158 gr hollow points on sale right when Cabelas was changing to Bass Pro. I haven’t really looked for them again, but that’s a good question.

 

Berry's plated vs. Extreme plated bullets

How did this thread morph from Berrys vs Xtreme to the costs of reloading? Come on guys, stick to the topic.

One of the most popular bullets is the 9mm. I just checked both of the above websites for 9mm plated bullets from Berry's and Extreme bullets......AND ALL OF THEIR PLATED 9MM BULLETS WERE OUT OF STOCK!

That is why I brought up the costs of bullets and reloading...... It is a moot point to discuss two different bullet makers if they don't have the product!

And who knows when bullets will become available again from these mfg's???

 

One of the most popular bullets is the 9mm. I just checked both of the above websites for 9mm plated bullets from Berry's and Extreme bullets......AND ALL OF THEIR PLATED 9MM BULLETS WERE OUT OF STOCK!

That is why I brought up the costs of bullets and reloading...... It is a moot point to discuss two different bullet makers if they don't have the product!

And who knows when bullets will become available again from these mfg's???

you're still off topic...but the bold all caps just drives it home.