Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

[WyomingShooter]

Gentlemen: I have been shooting Hornady AMAX 6mm 105 grain bullets in my Krieger 1/8 twist barrel. With 41.5 grains of H4350, I am seeing 3108 FPS and nice groups. Per Litz, the 105 AMAX G7 BC = .252. Lately I have been considering moving to a 105 grain bullet with a higher G7 BC. The two Berger 105 grain 6mm bullets with the highest G7 BC are:

105 gr Match Grade VLD Hunting - G7 BC = .272

105 gr Match Hybrid Target - G7 BC = .278

Does anyone have experience with the 105 Bergers? The VLD hunting seems to offer a high G7 BC in a bullet that would be suitable for both match and hunting use. Is there any "trick" to loading the Bergers? Can I use the same seating depth, powder charge, etc. as with the 105 AMAX? Thanks very much. From the Big Empty, ELN.

 

[milo 2.0]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

First off, every chamber, rifle is different.
Vld bullets are more sensitive to seating depth. Most like to b jammed into the lands, say .003" to .020", most .003" to .010".

The hybrid seems to like to jump .003" to .020", and is more forgiving of depth.
If hunting I would use the hunting vld, but all around I think the hybrids are better, for me anyway.
I wouldn't use the amax seating depth, re find your lands, or the same charge, figure out what is going to work.

 

[Temp9]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

VLD's (secant ogive) are generally more picky about seating depth. It seems most people load them very near, touching, or jammed into the lands. Hybrids (tangent and secant ogive) are not very picky, so tend to be easier to tune. I seem to recall an interview where Brian Litz stated that the bullets all shot as well .060" off the rifling as they did .015" off the rifling.

FYI, Lewis Arms Co. has a group buy on bullets right now, including Bergers. Check them out in the Group Buy section.

 

[texasleftychef]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

Hybrids for me have been best.

 

[Heman]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

John Whidden rebarreled my 243 for me, and I was going to copy his load as he is still shooting the old 105gr Hunting VLD's for 1k matches. However I didn't want to soft seat so I went with the hyrbids. Jumped them 0.02" and in 15 shots had my load that works very well at 1k.

 

[WyomingShooter]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

Thank you gentlemen. I have 100 of the VLDs to experiment with as a possible hunting load. I intend to order 500 Hybrids for match use. I appreciate your help. ELN

 

[Heman]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

Since your using them as a hunting load you won't want to soft seat them (which if this were for target shooting is what I'd do) I'd try jumping them 0.03" Two years or so back people found out the VLD's shoot really good jumped but it needs to be a ways. Believe Eric Stecker came out and said they're tests conluded this also.

 

[sandwarrior]

Re: Berger 6mm 105 Grain Bullet Selection

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WyomingShooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Gentlemen: I have been shooting Hornady AMAX 6mm 105 grain bullets in my Krieger 1/8 twist barrel. With 41.5 grains of H4350, I am seeing 3108 FPS and nice groups. Per Litz, the 105 AMAX G7 BC = .252. Lately I have been considering moving to a 105 grain bullet with a higher G7 BC. The two Berger 105 grain 6mm bullets with the highest G7 BC are:

105 gr Match Grade VLD Hunting - G7 BC = .272

105 gr Match Hybrid Target - G7 BC = .278

Does anyone have experience with the 105 Bergers? The VLD hunting seems to offer a high G7 BC in a bullet that would be suitable for both match and hunting use. Is there any "trick" to loading the Bergers? Can I use the same seating depth, powder charge, etc. as with the 105 AMAX? Thanks very much. From the Big Empty, ELN.</div></div>

In my experience, the BC's are about right with Litz. The Bergers will shoot flatter. Both bullets have been very accurate for me. That from a 6mm Rem AI.