Berger Recommendations

[r.tenorio671]

FWIW, I contacted Berger seeking load recommendations for 3 specific Berger bullets for use in a gasser platform.  The response contained more powder recommendations than I anticipated but as noted by the tech, it was generated in Quickload and it was noted the info was "conservative".  Take note of the COAL info in the response, I would highly recommend you check/measure your rifles chamber to see if the numbers are compatible with YOUR SPECIFIC BARREL.

The bullets I sought info on are as follows:

Berger 105 VLD TGT, Part# 24429
Berger 95 VLD Hunting, Part# 24527
Berger 95 Classic Hunting, Part# 24570


Attached PDF file is the response.....I edited out personal info only and changed the font to italicized/color to note the QL and that data for the 95 VLD and 95 Classic Hunter  is the same.

YMMV

[Thelaststraw]

Interesting that it list N140 at 100% case fill with only 27.2 gr. I run 28.7 and after making some gas block adjustments it doesn't beat up my brass at all. It also just barely reaches the shoulder in resized Starline Grendel brass. In fact I wouldn't call it 100% fill until well into the 29gr area.....way more than I imagine can be run in a gasser.

A lot of good info there and in my experience, yes, those are pretty conservative numbers. Good information though and thank you for sharing!

[StoneHendge]

Interesting. RE 15.5 seems to get the best velocity for medium burning stick powders with 105s. 60 fps more than Varget. I've been taking a wait and see with it after the marketing fanfare, but I might give it a whirl if I see it pop up again.  I imagine the velocities are impacted by the VLD's length and case intrusion. Did they give you anything for the VV powders with 105s?

[Thelaststraw]

I thought it was strange too that there was no info for 105s. I would think N150 or maybe N540 would be good. I've been watching for the N150 since I suspected already what their QL predictions say of it. I pretty confident I can get enough in a case with better fill and probably be in the 2900s which will help a bit more in wind out past 6-800 yds.

[r.tenorio671]

...personally, I was hoping to see some actual test results Berger might have conducted, not QL predictions. I'm still grateful of their response, they could have just blown me off and the data provided is another source I can use when I do my workups.

[grayfox]

Definitely be careful about seating out to 2.260 or even max ~2.290+/-.
My seating tests for the uintah 22, a monster 20 and a faxon 20 show much lower than that.
I don't have any 105 vld's but the 95's seat to ~2.200 to touch the lands.
Now the 88 berger FB varmint will seat out to 2.333 (lands) and the Sierra 95 SMK, 2.318 (lands). The 105 hdy which is probably stubbier than the vld, 2.275 (lands).
So do some diligence on coal's.

[Thelaststraw]

The VLDs can go pretty long in both 95 and 105. I load just about full mag length in ASC magazines and it was an 0.020 and 0.030 jump in both my 20" Monster and my 24" CLE barrel. I have not done extensive seating depth testing since both shoot plenty tight enough for my uses. They seem to be pretty happy in that area for me at least with H4895, I4895, LVR and now N140.

[r.tenorio671]

As I'm waiting on my order of HDY 108 ELD-M factory ammo to arrive, I'm gathering bullets piece-meal as they become available.  I prefer to "proof" a new build/barrel with factory ammo to get baseline data for my load development efforts.  I'd like to keep it in the 90-105 grain bullet range, but as I learned in the last "shortage", multiple contingency loads with multiple components is the only way to keep a rifle/pistol from becoming nothing more than a "bludgeon" 

FWIW,  measurments of the following bullets in my Ballistic Advantage 18" barrel, one of the early edition ones offered by Brownells.  Using a Hornady OAL gauge I obtained the following average measurements of the COAL and CBTO numbers (NOTE:  YOUR barrel WILL BE DIFFERENT) :

Hornady 108 ELD-M : 2.308 / 1.747
Hornady 90 ELD-X : 2.173 / 1.707
Hornady 87 VMAX : 2.173 / 1.707
Nosler 105 RDF : 2.308 / 1.696
Nosler 70 FB Vgdon :  2.224 / 1.706
Berger 105 VLD Tgt : 2.324 / 1.736
Berger 95 Classic Hunter : 2.197 / 1.730
Berger 95 VLD Hunter : 2.328 / 1.736

As evidenced by the numbers, only the +100gn bullets and the Bgr 95 VLD Hunter) exceed the typical 2.260 mag limitation at their longest possible COAL (in MY barrel).  I like to begin jumps at least .010 off the touch point for safety and variance. For those that exceed the 2.260 limit, -0.10 from 2.260.  Any that fall below that 2.260 limit to begin with, I load as is, but only IF the base of the bullet does not rise above the neck-shoulder junction (FB's).  If the bullet is a boat-tail, the transition point from BT to bearing surface should not rise above the neck-shoulder junction. Just my process that suits my needs, not necessarily the optimal for anyone seeking max precision, max speed or max whatever....  I load only for my AR rifles.