Update: I did mix up the 4.2 gr 10 yard targets and used the same target for the picture (FYI, the other target was comparable).
Came back later than I anticipated - I forgot today was first Saturday of the month and got slammed everywhere I went.
The test rounds were loaded using mixed range brass (Winchester, Federal, Speer, etc.). They were separately resized/deprimed on a single stage press and hand primed using Winchester SP primers. All rounds were loaded with specified charges of W231/HP38 (powder in the hopper was from W231 container) dispensed from Pro Auto Disk - charges were verified to be within .1 gr with Ohaus 10-10 scale before each loading session. OAL used was 1.135".
OK, here's the range report (I placed the pictures of targets together at the bottom for easier comparison). All shots were fired off hand at 10 and 15 yards out of Glock 22 using Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel. Due to limited number of test rounds, I moved from 5 round shot group to 4 round shot groups as range test progressed.
Reference load - Winchester 115 gr FMJ RN
I wanted to test the lower start-mid charge comparison so these were loaded with lower charge of 4.5 gr of W231/HP38. I usually load these to 4.8 gr. Since I have been doing a lot of 45ACP/40S&W load testing lately, these felt very light in comparison. Spent cases still cleared my right shoulder.
10 Yards - 2" average, light recoil
15 Yards - 3" average, light recoil
Berry's - 124 gr RN
4.2 gr and 4.5 gr charges were loaded to cover the start-high range load data.
4.2 gr 10 Yards - 1.5" average, light recoil
4.2 gr 15 Yards - 3.0" average, light recoil
4.5 gr 10 Yards - 1.0" average, mild recoil
4.5 gr 15 Yards - 3.5" average, mild recoil
Berry's - 124 gr HBRN
To satisfy my curiosity of HBRN performance at lower charges, I did a small batch of 3.8 gr loads.
3.8 gr 10 Yards - 0.5" groups with a flyer, very light recoil and did not cycle the slide
4.2 gr 10 Yards - 1.5" average, light recoil
4.2 gr 15 Yards - 2.5" average, light recoil (yes, that's two shots together on top with 2 shots on bottom)
4.5 gr 10 Yards - 1.5" average, mild recoil
4.5 gr 15 Yards - 2.0" average, mild recoil (double shot on top left with 2 shots to the right)
Summary:
As anticipated, Berry's RN plated bullets shot comparable to the Winchester 115 gr FMJ reference loads.
Berry's HBRN plated bullets shot better than both Winchester FMJ and Berry's regular RN plated bullets producing 2.0"-2.5" shot groups at 15 yards. I have been a happy user of Berry's plated bullets and the new Hollow Based bullets add a more accurate option to Berry's product line.
Next, I am planning to do comparison tests using other powders and even thinking about doing comparison tests at the near max load data range of W231/HP38.