05-13-2024, 04:11 PM
Sorry I haven't been back to report. I was asked to come back to work for a couple months and things have gotten a little busy as a result. I tested the Berger 109s over LVR and was able to get to 2600 fps. Unfortunately the best accuracy was at the lower end of the ladder around 2520 fps, (same velocity range as the best results with Varget), and it was not as accurate as Varget in my rifle. I also set my 200 yard zero on the Vortex using that process as an informal comparison of the best Varget loads for the 105 Lapuas vs the 109 Bergers. Three 3 shot groups of each on separate targets side by side at 200. Interestingly I was able to print one 1/2" group with each load. The other two groups for the lapuas were 3/4" and 7/8". The other two groups with the Bergers were both 1-1/4". So at this point, without doing any bullet seating depth work ups, the Lapuas are in the lead. Although it was a very gusty day with a lot of mirage I decided to try one 5 shot group of each load at 440yards. The lapuas printed 4-1/2", basically round. The Bergers printed 3 in 2" with the other two close together but 5" higher? Go figure. I may have figured out my flyers. The bottom of the gas block was very close to the inside bottom of the Luth-AR widebody handguard so it seemed possible that they might touch if I was really bearing down on the rest. So I pulled the handguard and opened the center slot at the end so there is no way for that contact to occur. Since then, no obvious flyers except the two Bergers high at 440 yards. But there was so much mirage that day that could easily have been me.