berger bullet review?

[futureranger]

l am looking for another bullet to reload for my 308, and the berger 30 cal 168 Grain Match Hunting VLD looks pretty good to me. anyone have any experience with it? i am currently using SGK 180gr and they work but i would like something a little more accurate, the gamekings shoot under .5" on occasion but that doesn't happen very often the savage usually groups around 1-1.5" even off a lead sled. also i hunt out to 500 yards so i need a bullet that will carry energy... thats why i have been using the 180 gr.... thanks for the help

 

[taliv]

i'm confused. if you're not doing your part very often, how will changing bullets help?

when you shoot paper, are the bullets making clean circular holes?

 

[futureranger]

i apologize i worded that bad, sometimes the rifle shoots well, regardless if i do my part or not

 

[futureranger]

and yes the bullets make clean holes

 

[browningguy]

My experience with the VLD bullets is they are very picky about how far they are seated into the lands. In my .243 I can't seat them long enough to reach the lands and still fit in the mag. I also think the 180gr. is pushing the weight envelope for a .308, and I shoot mine quite a bit.

Personally I would try the 155 Lapua Scenar, it has a BC of .508 and the weight seems just right for the .308. The Sierra 155 Palma (BC .504 above 2700 fps) is also a very good bullet for long range paper punching.

 

[gearheadpyro]

What is the twist rate in your gun? It could be that your twist is not fast enough for a 180 grain bullet. A 180 grain will likely need at least a 1:11 twist, and would probably do better in a 1:10 twist.

Have you done a good load development for the bullets you are using? If not I would start there. If so then I might try a little tiny bit lighter bullet and do a good load development for it.

Everything I have heard about Berger's has been just as browningguy said, very picky on seating depths but accurate once you find a good depth.

I would recommend switching over to a 165-175 grain ballistic tip for the longer range hunting. I have heard good things about SST's up to 400 yards, and many of my friends like the nosler ballistic tips as well.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Bergers are good bullets...but for long range hunting with a 308 the 168 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip cannot be beat in my opinion and experience...the 165's work OK too but the 168 is better.

They are very tolerant of "jump" to the lands, extremely accurate, and never fail to expand.

I have pulled the plug on a few deer at 800 yards with them....they worked very nicely.

 

[Maverick223]

Berger is good but it is hard to beat Sierras. You may want to take a look at the moderate weight Hornady A-Max projectiles (168-178gr.) as well; they sail pretty decent with a high BC and by all accounts expand well (though I have not tried hunting with them myself).

 

[Uncle Mike]

A-Max....accurate and make nasty holes in meat substance!

 

[Horsemany]

Berger's are outstanding for accuracy. I shoot them in my 6PPC and 22-250 used in 300yd benchrest competition. I can hardly tell the difference between Bergers and custom made bullets. IMO they're a step up from Matchkings or Amaxs. Almost custom quality bullets.

 

[David Sours]

I have no experience with the 30 cal only the 243 VLD. I sent an e-mail to Berger about load development and powder recommendations. In a very short time I received an e-mail with recomended loads for my gun as well as their instructions on how to find the best COAL for your gun. So I would recommend you shoot a Wayne (I believe) @ Berger an e-mail. His instructions for me to find the sweet COAL spot is below.


Then Load 5 bullets at the below COAL measurments

Group #1 on the lands

Group #2 backed off .040

Group #3 backed off .080

Group #4 backed off .120

I ended up with two obviously better groups which were a very close tie Group#1 and Group #4.

I chose Group #4 to work as my hunting load because they would fit in my magazine (just barley). Now that our season is over I am going to fine tune Group #1 and use this COAL for targets and varmints.

I have been very pleased with the Berger bullets and they seem to have very good customer service.

Good Luck,
David

 

[Grumulkin]

1. I've shot bullet weights up to 220 grains in a 308 Win. with good success but my best loads have been with 165 and 168 gr. bullets.

2. I have a couple of guns I shoot Berger VLDs in where, because of length restraints imposed by the magazine, the bullets don't reach the lands. The bullets still give excellent accuracy.

3. I've used Berger VLDs to take 4 pronghorn antelope and 3 whitetail deer and they worked well for me.

4. I haven't found the Berger VLDs to be the most accurate bullet in all guns so if you're not happy with the accuracy, by all means try something else. Specifically, in a 308 Win. I tried them in, they didn't do as well as Sierra MatchKings. Since they're fairly long for their weight, barrel twist is important. In a 308 Win. I would want a twist of 1:10 or faster.

 

[futureranger]

thanks for all the advice, also with the 180 grain SGK's i did do extensive load development this summer in Virginia humidity and i got good accuracy at first, under .5" with 43.8 grains of varget, but now that im shooting in the winter the groups opened up to about an inch. do you think the temperature and humidity could change accuracy that much?

 

[Maverick223]

do you think the temperature and humidity could change accuracy that much?

Yes, but I would bet on it being a powder problem (instability in different humidity and temperature conditions), not the projectile. I would try changing the weight then the powder type if that fails.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Other than 'extreme' temperature change, changes in atmospheric conditions(humidity, temperature, elevation) has more effect on projectile performance than powder burn.

 

[Maverick223]

Other than 'extreme' temperature change, changes in atmospheric conditions(humidity, temperature, elevation) has more effect on projectile performance than powder burn.

I wouldn't have thunk that, at least not as far as accuracy, but the POI definitely will change (WRT environmental conditions).