Is this a safe load with Berry's bullets for a 45 acp???

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To answer your question about the 700x load you will be fine as long as it is reloaded correctly and fired in a gun in good condition. Notice how I answered THE QUESTION and did not give you a lecture.
 
Berry's bullets.....how to load them.....try checking Berry's web site. They really do have simple instructions....and as far as I know, these instructions work for the new and experienced loader.

Berry's Mfg states:

FAQ: How do I load Berry's Preferred Plated Bullets?

Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.
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It clearly states Berry's uses jacketed data. And this is confusing?

I've followed this advice for both my 9mm and 45ACP loads without problems.
 
I have pushed the berrys to 1350 fps (45 acp) without any problems...kind of suprised me. I think not having a jacket is better with higher velocites in some instances. With my casull i am always tearing off the jackets of pistol bullets. If there is not a jacket you cannot tear it off.
 
If you don't push plated bullets fast enough to "skid" down the tube, they will be OK. Just like pushing a soft lead alloy too fast, it will lead when it loses grip of the rifling and starts "skidding" down the bore, breaking the seal. With a plated bullet it seems that it can start tearing the plating loose as well and ruining accuracy. They are not stabilized anymore (not spinning as they should) and damaged, so accuracy will be bad, and they may even start tumbling.

I have pushed Ranier 115 Gr 9MM bullets to as much as1426 FPS (Avg 1404) from a 16" tube with no tumbling, plating damage, and good accuracy. Around 1350 to 1375 being the average I was getting from a Kel-Tec and an AR, both 16" tubes.
 
i think i made 2 mistakes 1 was i thought plated bullets were the same as full metal jackets since they look and feel the same, and 2 was i trusted the speer manual and not the other 2 that have the same data.
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“A man with one watch always knows what time it is, a man with two is never sure.”

Reloading books have a tendency to become “watered down” over time. I’m not sure if this is from Lawyers or reformulation of the product sold under the same name. For example “new” 231 shoots a lot cleaner than “old” 231 those that have been reloading for 20 years or so can back me up on this (other powders too). So, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and have a bookcase full of reloading manuals, pick the conservative ones to start with, start low and work up. The only exception to this is when developing subsonic rifle loads but that’s a completely different subject.

I am a dealer for Berry’s bullets and, as above, they say not to exceed mid-range jacketed loads. Also, for 45 acp is not a concern, but for other calibers it is recommended to stay below 1200fps. That being said one can do a lot of things that would be considered out side of “manufactures recommendations” everyday, in all aspects of life.

I used to load .357 up to .41 mag energy levels now that I’m older I load 44 mag to 41 levels.
 
I use a charge of 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr bullet for the .45 Auto. (both jacketed and lead) That load shoots very will in my 5" 1911. It's my favorite and "go-to" load for the .45 Auto. I'm sure that load will also work well with Berry's plated bullets too.
 
I have shot 5.5 Grs W231 with a multitude of 225 to 250 Gr bullets, including lead, plated, and jacketed. I would just put in the #9 bushing, pour in the W231, and load em up. That is why 5.5 was recommended to the OP. It just works.

Then we got off on the tangent/discussion about loading plated bullets. :)
 
thanks for all the great info!!!
i wen t to the range os saturday and the 5.8 231 loaded rounds were all over the place and the 5.2 231 loaded rounds were much more on target and and so was the 4.9 700x so i think for now i have found a couple of loads that i am happy with
thanks
 
OK...another new guy, and I'm glad I read this post

I bought a box of Berry's plated 230 gr as well. I was told by a guy at Cabela's that they were great bullets for the price. I loaded 30 of them at 6gr of Unique. I figured it was right in the middle of what Speer 14 said. Am I going to hurt myself or my gun.
 
For the 40 S&W I load a 180 lead bullet with 4.7 grs. of W231 and it is nice and mild. With a 165 gr. lead or plated bullet I would start with about 4.9 grs. Should be nice and mild for the wife.
 
Your loads are fine as far as the amount of powder. I use more 700x than that and have zero problems.
 
Like Walkalong and Reloader Fred said,

5.7 grains is all you'll need. That charge and that bullet (Berry's 230 Grain RN plated) is my USPSA Major Load for my 5" 1911.
 
i have found the perfect load for the 45 acp is 5.2 w231

according to hornaday 7th edition you are out of max range

i would not shoot them off or be very careful you will be traveling at 850 ft per sec

just think of the wear and tear on you gun

i have loaded and shot over 5000 round using 5.2 gr w231 and my 1911 is still shooting fine no wear on bore and cycles like a swiss clock
 
I have loaded and shot many more than that of 225 to 250 gr plated and lead bullets with 5.5 Grs of W-231 with no ill effects. 5.5 Grs is not over max for W-231 with lead or plated bullets, no matter what the Hornady #7 manual says. It won't get to 850 FPS in most guns either.

By the way, the OP has already shot the 5.8 Gr loads. My bet is he tries 5.5 next. :)
 
My "go to" load for .45 acp bullets in the 200 to 230 grain range is 5.5 grains of Winchester 231. It's accurate, works with several different bullet weights and functions in all my pistols. I've found no need to go heavier or lighter with this powder.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I too had a question concerning the use of Berry's Plated Bullets, in .45 ACP RN. SO I called them. They referred me to Bud Watson, their in house loading guru, because they don't keep a technical specialist on hand/ payroll. Here is the info Mr. Watson gave to me, concerning the use of Berry's Plated Bullets, 230 RN ( what he referred to as TMJ).

When using plated bullets, the main goal is to keep the velocity under 1200 FPS. He also stated, that if I am unable to find a recipe for Berry's Plated 230 gr. RN TMJ specifically, then to use the recipe for Speer Gold Dot bullets, from the Speer reloading manual, as in his opinion, they were nearly identical bullets.

He recommended several powders, namely Bullseye and 700X, I chose 700X because it's readily available to me currently.

Either powder listed in my manual (LYman's 49th ed.) doesn't come close to exceeding the 1200 FPS, and the 700X is listed as the accuracy load recommended by Lymans. It also requires about a half a grain less, which in turn equates to some form of economy to me.

I'm loading simply for function, and plinking - not IPSC or IDPA. I hope the info was useful - have fun and safe reloading.
 
After all is said and done I'm still going to load 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr bullet for the .45 auto. Like said above by many, it just works...
 
I'm not trying to start any arguments, but here is the loads I have chronographed using the original posters components. The gun is a RIA Tactical 1911, government length barrel.

Bullet Powder Primer Charge(gr) Case OAL Case Headstamp Average of 10 shots
Berry 230 RN W231 CCI 4.6 1.225 Winchester 674
Berry 230 RN W231 CCI 4.6 1.220 Winchester 697
Berry 230 RN W231 CCI 4.9 1.260 Winchester 700
Berry 230 RN W231 CCI 5.3 1.260 Winchester 747
Berry 230 RN W231 CCI 5.7 1.260 Wichester 793

Highest velocity OUT OF MY GUN was under 800, well below the max recommended by Berry's
 
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Why shoot plated when you can get true FMJ for the same price? I shoot 5.1gr of 231 for my plinking loads. Very accurate, very cheap.
 
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