Re: Berger Ammunition
That is simply a set of 3 x 20-shot practice targets I did in preparation for an upcoming midrange competition in Omaha, NE, which were all shot on the same day under fairly similar wind conditions using the AB 175s. At those matches, there are shooters from a variety of different classes, so the F-class shoot 3 x 20 shots like everyone else, even though that is not the typical F-class program (3 or 4 x 15 shots). So I practice what I'm going to shoot in the competition.
The 3-9s on Target 1 would have probably counted as 10s in a competition, but I try to err on the conservative side when I score my practice targets. Basically, if the hole is not 1/2 or more inside the 6" ring, I score it as the lower value. Also, those are 6" and 3" circles that I scratched onto the target for estimating my score, not 1.0 and 0.5 MOA. I have never actually measured the outside of the 10- and X-rings on an NRA midrange target, but they are supposed to be 1.0 and 0.5 MOA, respectively (6.28" and 3.14", respectively). If a shot touches or goes into the ring at all, it is counted as the higher score. My practice scores usually run in the 585-590/600 range, which might occasionally be enough to place in the top 5 in my local competitions. With the exception of the 3rd target where I really couldn't see most of my impacts with all the yellow areas exposed by the shrapnel, that is pretty typical of my shooting performance both in practice and competition. However, the last comp I shot in (which those particular targets were shot in preparation for), I had my ass handed to me (LOL). I shot a 585/600-12X, which was not my best performance, but good enough for 4th place. The winner shot a 596-39X, which is a much better score than I've ever shot.
In any event, I simply do these practice rounds as a tune-up for midrange comps. I record the wind changes (if any) and my shot placement as I shoot. Then, I make these little figures using Photoshop and Illustrator so that I can print and tape them in my data book, and use them to evaluate my performance. The one shown just happened to be on my desktop when I responded to the OP's question about the AB 175 ammo.
When Bryan Litz first posted the thread regarding this ammunition, I bought a couple hundred rounds and did side-by-side tests with FGMM 175s, using the Crusader for one test and my DTA Covert for the other. Using 3 x 5-shot groups at 600 yd as a measure, the average group size of the AB 175s was right at 30% smaller than the FGMM 175s for both rifles. The tests with the two different rifles were carried out on different days, but I tested both types of ammunition under the same conditions on the same day with each individual rifle.
Couple other things I should point out. First, my groups with the AB 175s at 100 yd were not statistically different than FGMM 175s or FGMM 168s. But as Bryan pointed out in his original post, it's at 500-600 yd and farther where the Berger 175 gr Tactical bullet really starts to shine. I'm certain the performance of this ammunition was already proven repeatedly during development, I simply carried out those tests to see how it would do in my rifles and my hands. Second, I because I do this little exercise of photographing my practice targets and making figures for my data book, I have a very solid idea of what my average practice scores are under a variety of wind conditions. So I can also state with reasonable confidence that I typically average 5-10 points better on a 3 x 20-shot practice round using the AB 175s than I do with FGMM 168s, although I have not tested those side-by-side with the AB 175s like I did with the FGMM 175s.
Sorry for the ramble. The bottom line is that because I simply don't have the time to reload right now, I'm always on the lookout for the best ammo I can purchase commercially for use in competitions. I'm aware that I might be able to come up with something tuned even better to my specific rifle(s) if I reloaded, it's just not an option for me at this point. As commercial ammunition goes, the AB 175s aren't cheap, so I don't shoot them every time I go to the range, mostly they are reserved for competitions. But for me, I am really sold on this ammo and I'm firmly convinced it is the best commercially-available ammunition I have found. YMMV, but if you give it a try, I'd really like to hear how it performed for someone else.
