Berger loading

Cowtown guy · #1 08-22-2008, 07:37 AM

I have finally gotten my hands on some Berger 168 grain VLD's. I was planning on seating them fairly close to the lands since I have heard that is how alot of match bullets shoot well. Does anyone have any experience that would say otherwise? How have you been finding the performance with them?
Any tips would be great to hear.

bagwan · #2 08-22-2008, 08:07 AM

I just finished shooting some 130 gr .270 that I started at Nosler specs 52-55gr and found they shot a tad higher than Partitions but grouped very well at all gr weights . 54-55 gr gave me a grouping below 1 in. and in all 18 shots if at one target would have been about 1 1/4 in. I'm limited by an arthritic shoulder so I didn't shoot farther but thats coming. I'm .025- .030 off the lands. Out of a T3. Someone else could prob do better as I kind of struggle but a PAST and limbsaver and hunting coat help. I got the 270 bullets at Stettler and he had another box of 270 and some small stuff, but he said he,d be getting more. Price was identical to Scheels as I was there last week. 40 per box. Got some gen From Booby B for a simple measure of distance from lands and I'm in the lands about .008 vice what I have above. My thanks to him for the assistance.

Dick284 · #3 08-22-2008, 08:07 AM

Shoot em close and see how it works, shoot em a bit further in and see how that works, then decide which works best for you.
Same old thing, every rifle is different so one has to spend the time to find out what works best in your rifle.

Bobby B. · #4 08-22-2008, 08:12 AM

According to the Berger Bullet Pamphlet the mail out, the recommended initial two seating depth is .010" away from the lands or .010" into the lands.

I'm in the process of developing a 168 load for my 7RM. My first load was 68gr of RETUMBO, 4 different primers, neck sized in a FL sizer and bullets .010" off the lands. All 4 four shot groups measured just under or just over 1.5". Not acceptable.

My next load to be tested is 64gr of RL22, 4 different primers, neck sized cases in a NS sizer and bullets .010" into the lands. We'll see.

Bobby B.

fluxcore · #5 08-23-2008, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby B.

According to the Berger Bullet Pamphlet the mail out, the recommended initial two seating depth is .010" away from the lands or .010" into the lands.

I'm in the process of developing a 168 load for my 7RM. My first load was 68gr of RETUMBO, 4 different primers, neck sized in a FL sizer and bullets .010" off the lands. All 4 four shot groups measured just under or just over 1.5". Not acceptable.

My next load to be tested is 64gr of RL22, 4 different primers, neck sized cases in a NS sizer and bullets .010" into the lands. We'll see.

Bobby B.

the bullet pamphlet has to use some accountability and allow for all around accuracy. myself I measure my chamber and go for .005" off my lands, after that its all about bullet GR and powder (VARGET!!!!). I shoot sub MOA at 500yrds with my savage 12F/TR consistently and that didn't happen untill I got extreamly close to my lands. I also use Hornady A-max bullets but was able to get decient groups from a varity of different brands.

Cowtown guy · #6 08-24-2008, 02:39 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I am off to the range to see what will happen.

Bobby B. · #7 08-24-2008, 09:35 PM

Went to the range today. Load was 64gr RL22 and the VLD seated .010" into the lands. Groups shrank frome 1.5 to 1.0 on average with 64gr RL22 and WLRM going about .5".

Next step, reshoot the 64GR RL22 seated .010" into the lands plus reshoot 69gr RETUMBO seated .010" into the lands.

I must be getting soft, the 7RM really rocks me now. Not like when I was 25 and shot 100 rds every weekend on gophers.

Bobby B.

Cowtown guy · #8 08-25-2008, 07:39 AM

Well the group size wasn't outstanding. I managed to have a group go just under 1 inch. I did notice that the velocities I am getting are nowhere near what Berger says I should get. Their max load of IMR 4831 says 2897 fps and their max for IMR 4350 says 2920 fps. I managed to get 2690 for the IMR 4831 and 2780 for the IMR 4350.
I did not notice any signs of pressure so does this mean I can slowly and carefully increase the powder? Or should I just buy different powder and give that a go. I realize that my rifle won't get exactly the same readings but I thought this was a substantial difference.

bobinthesky · #9 08-25-2008, 07:43 AM

Just keep in mind that seating closer to the lands will increase pressure, so make sure you start out well below maximum powder charges and work you're way up carefully while watching for signs of pressure. And remember, the most accurate loads are seldom the fastest ones!

trda · #10 08-25-2008, 08:52 AM

I am shooting the 168gr VLD's out of my 7mm. I load 65.5 gr of H4831sc, seated .010" off the lands and using Rem. 9 1/2 mag primers. Will shoot 1/4" to 1/2" groups.