New Bullet: Berry's 124gr Hollow Base RN for 9mm

[rfwobbly]

The latest product addition from Berry Manufacturing arrived today. Berry has chosen to expand their already extensive 9mm lineup with a cored Round Nose weighing in at 124gr. This new bullet should appeal directly to the growing number of CZ, Dan Wesson, Beretta and Springfield XD and XDm series shooters who reload. The graceful Berry ogive should allow these beauties to be loaded in any “tight-chambered” pistol all the way out to the SAAMI max of 1.169”, thereby offering these owners more flexibility in OAL selection.



To make the bullet Berry started with what seems to be their 135gr RN mold, and cored the base using the tooling from their 124gr HBFP. The idea was to offer a longer bearing area for stability, but stay within the 124gr weight range that modern 9's and competition shooters prefer. Offering the design in RN should also help reloaders overcome any feeding issues experienced with conical nose FP bullets.


Band of Brothers

Pictured above (L to R) are the comparative heights of the Berry 124gr RN (0.581”), 124gr HBRN and 147gr RN (0.673”)

Sample measurements were taken on 15 random bullets with the following results:
• Weight varied from 124.3gr to 124.7gr (which is better than their standard 124gr RN)
• Diameter varied from 0.3557” to 0.3560” (on par with other Berry bullets)
• Length varied from 0.612” to 0.614”
• The core starts at approx 0.15 and tapers to 0.10 over approx 0.17 depth
• Minimum OAL seems to be approx 1.100” due to the generous ogive

The bullet's core is simply to elongate the bearing surface since the small diameter is not going to allow any obturation of the base for sealing purposes. The core can hold approx 0.3gr of Win231 or N320.

More information when I get back from the range.



Base-end coring is identical to the Berry 124gr HBFP


A "chamber push-test" conducted on a CZ SP-01 showed the bullet's ogive to be no where near fouling the rifling

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks for the info and pictures

 

[Walkalong]

Excellent photos and write up. rf. I like the concept of the bullet. I have a picky 9 that may just like them.

 

[rfwobbly]

I have a picky 9 that may just like them.

Exactly. I use a CZ SP-01 in competition that likes cartridges in the 1.150 to 1.120" OAL range, so the common conical nose FP just can't be loaded long enough. I also have a Kimber that dislikes FP bullets altogether. I'm hopeful this bullet will offer some very real advantages. We'll see.

Sorry, as of today, there is no availability info on this bullet.

All the best!

 

[Berry's MFG]

I will try and get the pricing and part numbers in for the new bullet today, will keep everyone posted.

 

[spoogie]

Man, another reason it was good timing to buy a 9mm.

Thanks for the info.

-S

 

[capreppy]

Sub'd. Looking forward to some info on this. One of my buddies recommended Berry's for 9mm when I actually get my 9mm

 

[griff383]

Yes, very interested in these. I love the 100gr RNHB 380 bullets they offer. I guess Im going to have to wait to order 9mm bullets until these come out.

 

[glockky]

I am glad to see this product on the market. I have used there 185gr hollow base 45 bullets and was really suprised by the accuracy

 

[cardinalfan]

They also have the hollow based round nose in 180gr for the 45ACP. I worked up some of these and they are fine.

 

[Walkalong]

185 Gr for .45 actually. They shoot well.

 

[newbuckeye]

Question from a newby reloader.....

You mentioned CZ, Dan Wesson, Beretta and Springfield XD and XDm series guns, what makes them different from say Glock or Sig when reloading?

 

[rfwobbly]

You mentioned CZ, Dan Wesson, Beretta and Springfield XD and XDm series guns, what makes them different from say Glock or Sig when reloading?

Eastern European pistols seem to favor a shorter "freebore". That is, the rifling starts closer to the breech. Most factory ammo takes this into account. But when reloading, some OALs listed for some bullets just won't work in these guns and a shorter OAL must be researched. The Hornady XTP is one of these bullets. The sharp shoulder of the conical nose forces a reduced OAL.

 

[rfwobbly]

I had a chance to shoot over 50 of these bullets today in a semi-controlled setting from a stable bench position. I also shot the standard Berry 124gr RN as a "control". The new Berry HBRN seemed to have an 18% smaller group than the standard Berry 124gr RN.

The results are very unofficial, but at least in my CZ, the gun preferred an OAL of 1.140" (something their conical FP bullets won't allow; see #13 above) and the use of a snappy powder such as N320.



I think Berry has a winner on their hands !

 

[918v]

Why don't you try some Hornady 124's with n320. You will get groups half that size.

 

[LiveLife]

rfwobbly, thanks for the work up and the pictures.

I think the HB bullets are a good idea for various lighter weight bullets (115 gr for 9mm, 135 gr for 40S&W and 185 gr for 45ACP) as it extends the bearing surface of the bullet base to better stabilize the bullet in flight.

Look forward to testing some myself.

Why don't you try some Hornady 124's with n320. You will get groups half that size.

He did say "unofficial"

 

[griff383]

Any word on when these will be available?

 

[newbuckeye]

Great info! One more question.....

Whats the "chamber push test" you refer to in your 1st post?

 

[1SOW]

Whats the "chamber push test" you refer to in your 1st post?

With a fired case (NOT resized), seat a bullet by hand slightly into the case. With the bbl removed gently push the test rd into the chamber until it seats on the case mouth.
Carefully remove the test cartridge and measure the oal.

The oal you measure will be the oal that just makes contact with the rifling. Do thids test two or three times to insure consistency.

If you load it about .015 "shorter" than the max, it will allow for press variation and always clear the lands. This is especially useful for testing hollow points, flat nose and conical bullets to see what 'your' gun's chamber will accept with 'that' bullet.

In rfwobbly's test above, it contacted the lands out past 1.2", so you could load that bullet in that gun to SAAMI max length of 1.169 if your mags will feed it.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[Berry's MFG]

Available now in limited quantity until the next production run. You will have to call the order in since they are not on the web.
#15143 9mm 124gr HBRN-TP 250ct $26.83 shipping included. This is an unadvertised special so you can get enough to try out.

 

[spoogie]

Outstanding.

-S

 

[john16443]

Ordered some up this morning, going to try the hollow bottom 9mm and 45 ACP.

John

 

[gregj]

Has anyone tried these in a CZ 75SA Target? I'm playing around with different loads and was wondering how these were working.

 

[rfwobbly]

Marketing Dept Alert

Ordered some up this morning, going to try the hollow bottom 9mm and 45 ACP.

OK, Jay. There's your advertising campaign right there.....

"Why be full of it? Be a hollow bottom guy."


No extra charge.

 

[Berry's MFG]

I can see this going downhill fast!