Berry's versus X-Treme for those who have used both

[Huskerguy]

Been shooting Berry's for a while and have had good accuracy from them in my 9's and 40's. Have some for my 38/357 but have not loaded them. Picked up some 124 grain X-tremes and have not loaded them yet.

Have read good and bad about the X-tremes. Can anyone compare? Thanks

I have shot both the HBRN extra plating and the FPDS in the Berry's 124's.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I have shot Berry's and Xtreme in 9mm and .380. Both have been excellent. I personally prefer the Berry's as they are more consistent - I find more dinged, mis shaped and variance in the Xtreme bullets but it is not epidemic. The Berry's seem to be just a hair more precision to me. But I still shoot and order the Xtreme bullets for .380 all the time.

VooDoo

 

[TfflHndn]

I have used both, and prefer the Xtremes. Berry's vary more on length when seating, for some reason. (Hornady single-stage press.) I get more consistent COAL with Xtreme.

 

[iShoot17]

I have shot both and prefer the Xtremes. They have been very consistent in all of the hand gun calibers I load for. I believe currently I have 7 different weights/calibers/types for my handguns. The price and accuracy that I have found are hard to beat.. Even running through a Limited Gun.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've used both also. The Xtreme bullets have a better finish on them, other than that I have never been able to tell much difference. I quit shooting Berry's when I couldn't get them anymore so I started using Xtreme and have been happy with them ever since. I think the plating is better on the Xtremes but I can't say I ever had trouble with the plating on the Berry's.

The Xtreme bullets seem to be always available when I needed them. I can't say I've noticed any accuracy differences. They are both very accurate.

I could never see any advantages to the hollow base bullets. I tried them. Just caused me to have to figure out another OAL.

 

[sauer1911]

I also have used Berry's, x-treme, and now Precision Delta. Lately it seems to be what ever is available.

I shoot IDPA, in 9mm and .45acp. AND it seems with any fmj that I choose, they are better at getting down range than I can shoot yet, so I dont really see a difference other than availability.

keep practicing,

be safe.

 

[LiveLife]

I have shot Berry's, HSM, PowerBond, Rainier, Speer TMJ and X-Treme plated bullets over the years.

Between Berry's and X-Treme plated bullets with solid bases, I have found performance to be comparable or not enough to matter for 380/9/40/45 loads I have shot.

Exception is Berry's hollow base bullets that may expand better to seal the high pressure gas and better engage the rifling with longer bearing surface as I have gotten better accuracy over the solid base plated bullets. Having shot Montana Gold and Winchester FMJ/JHP bullets as they have shot more accurate than plated bullets with solid bases, Berry's HB bullets can shoot comparable or better than jacketed bullets. YMMV

I did comparison test of solid vs hollow base plated bullets in this thread - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7217193#post7217193

Berry's - 124 gr RN
4.2 gr 15 Yards - 3.0" average, light recoil
4.5 gr 15 Yards - 3.5" average, mild recoil

Berry's - 124 gr HBRN
4.2 gr 15 Yards - 2.5" average, light recoil
4.5 gr 15 Yards - 2.0" average, mild recoil

 

[FROGO207]

I use Berries, X-Treme, and Rainier in 9MM and 45 ACP a lot. I find no measurable differences in them when applying them to targets. The biggest thing for me is the cost. I always shop around for the best deal and availability. FWIW the X-Treme do seem to have a slightly thicker plating when I look at recovered bullets. YMMV

 

[Walkalong]

I use some of both. We all end up with our favorites, and sometimes we just buy what can can get cheaper.

When I can get the Berrys 124 Gr HBRN cheaper than say the Zero 124 Gr JHP, I will, because they shoot well at top .38 Super velocities.

I love the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC, but don't care for either of the Berrys 158 Gr offerings.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have not shot them off a rest, either is fine for IDPA, so I buy whichever is on sale.

 

[NWcityguy2]

I have used both in 9mm and have no preference between them.

 

[Potatohead]

I disagree that the finish is better on the Xtremes tightgroupTiger.Not trying to pick a fight.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I haven't bought Berry's bullet for almost two years. I have had both here at one time and I could see difference in the finish of bullets. I shot Berry's for years and will shoot them again if I can get them. Did the finish make any difference in the way either one shot as far as accuracy or anything else? Not at all.

I'll shoot Berry's again when I can get them. You are allowed to disagree, it doesn't mean anything to me except you disagree with me. That's cool.

No problems here.

 

[NWcityguy2]

Did the finish make any difference in the way either one shot as far as accuracy or anything else? Not at all.

Bingo

 

[LiveLife]

I've used both also. The Xtreme bullets have a better finish on them

I disagree that the finish is better on the Xtremes

You be the judge as below is a comparison picture of 165 gr 40S&W RNFP bullets from both companies.

 

[LeonCarr]

IME Xtremes shoot better than Berrys.

For a little bit more money you can purchase Zeros, Montana Gold, or Hornady HAP, which in my experience as twice as accurate as the plated ones.

Plated bullets are great for low cost practice, but for "money shoots", matches, or to see what your semiauto handgun is really capable of, a true jacketed bullet, especially a JHP, will shoot better.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Ex]

IME Xtremes shoot better than Berrys.

For a little bit more money you can purchase Zeros, Montana Gold, or Hornady HAP, which in my experience as twice as accurate as the plated ones.

Plated bullets are great for low cost practice, but for "money shoots", matches, or to see what your semiauto handgun is really capable of, a true jacketed bullet, especially a JHP, will shoot better.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

100% agree! True jackets as opposed to plating are tougher and have much higher charge/velocity potential.

 

[Jim Watson]

And uniformity. As Leon says, the JHP is more accurate in most cases. There are a lot of target shooters using JHPs instead of meticulously cast SWCs. The most accurate FMJ I ever shot was the Nosler 115 gr 9mm. Discontinued, of course.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

You be the judge as below is a comparison picture of 165 gr 40S&W RNFP bullets from both companies.

Yea, in your picture I can't tell any difference at all in the finish but I haven't seen any for two years.

I think we're debating a meaningless subject.

I'll try to find the few that I have and will post a picture of them. (If I can find them).

 

[Potatohead]

I haven't bought Berry's bullet for almost two years. I have had both here at one time and I could see difference in the finish of bullets. I shot Berry's for years and will shoot them again if I can get them. Did the finish make any difference in the way either one shot as far as accuracy or anything else? Not at all.

I'll shoot Berry's again when I can get them. You are allowed to disagree, it doesn't mean anything to me except you disagree with me. That's cool.

No problems here.

Great.

I do agree the Xtreme seem to have more "real bullet " look though. And yes, who really cares. (Didnt mean to start a debate

 

[ATLDave]

I've shot and loaded a decent amount of them both in .38, 9mm, and 10mm. They're both fine. Either there's no performance difference or I'm not good enough to make it evident. In short, they're substitutable goods, and one could very rationally buy whichever was cheaper.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I have purchased a couple rounds of 9mm and .380 from both Xtreme and Berry's and I find the finish to be slightly variable from each. Sometimes I'd say the Xtreme are a teeny bit better - sometimes the Berry's are a teeny bit better. My preference for the Berry's mostly stems from the fact that the Berry's have been less "beat up" in shipping and so arrived with less dings and blemishes.

This was due to better packaging I think. I wish Berry's made a truncated cone or flat nose .380/.356 bullet in the 100 gr. weight but they do not offer such last I looked. If they offered them I'd probably buy all my bullets from them.

VooDoo

 

[1KPerDay]

I have used both in 9mm and have no preference between them.

Same here... I use the 124s interchangeably and buy whatever's available/cheaper. I don't even have to adjust my seating/crimping die.

Berry's and Xtreme 230 plated RN in .45 have produced similar results... though I did have some FTF issues with a batch of Xtremes seated to 1.26". I wonder if there's a difference in the Ogive that my 1911s didn't like. Glock 41 ate them without issue.
I need to play with OAL a bit in the .45 I guess.