Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

[Rmitch223]

Ive done all my load workup with the 105 Hornady amax. I'm wanting to give the 105gn Berger VLD a try and see how it performs comparably.

Will I have to work my load back up to avoid pressure?

With the 105 amax I'm using 40gn of IMR-4350, Lapua cases, Federal 210M primer and seated at 2.800" OAL.

Could I use the same OAL and charge weight with the 105gn Berger VLD?

If they have the same sectional density which they do and I good to go with my current load?

I'm a new handloader and the only thing Ive ever loaded is the 105gn amax for my 243, so I was curious to see if my current load will be okay with both bullets?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[nso123]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

My experience with the VLDs is that they don't do so well with a jump, and need to be seated to the lands. Pressure goes up when you seat to the lands, so you would need to reduce your load. Personally, any time that I change bullets, I start from scratch and work the load up.

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

The 105 VLD shoots well against the lands and well as jumped in my 243 (factory remington barreled action)and I use the same load for both (also a-max/berger)The bearing surface on the berger is shorter so you should have a little less pressure and/or a slightly higher velocity. Because of this you may find it shoots a little better with +/- a tenth or two from your current load but in my rifle it didn't make a difference.

 

[Rmitch223]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

Niles I believe we have the same rifle so I may just back it down a grain and give them a shot at the same seating depth and watch for pressure. Which bullet have you found to be most accurate?

Your shooting a Rem. 700 SPS Varmint right?

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

Yes, same rifle. I will go and measure my COAL for you, be right back

 

[Rmitch223]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

Okay I appreciate it.

I understand that you are using H1000 and magnum primers.
Was this recommended by Dan Newberry?

I sent him a email the other day and told him I have been using 40 grains of IMR-4350 with the 105amax and federal 210M primers.

He said he would go in more depth if I paid the 45.00 consulting fee but he did recommend 48.1 grains of Retumbo.. I just ran out of IMR-4350 so I figured I would try a different powder this time around but I'm not sure whether to try Retumbo or H1000. Have you tried his Retumbo load?

I would like to get away from IMR-4350 to avoid any temp sensitivity issues and have a accurate load I can shoot year round and not worry about pressure.

 

[Rmitch223]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

Another thing Niles since you and I have the same gun you might be able to help me on this thread if you don't mind.

https://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthr...704#Post3794704

 

[Niles Coyote]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

2.795 is my COAL on the bergers and to the lands is 2.890, I am using H1000 so the powder difference my change that a little for you... I am not sure but it gives you an idea. I don’t have any a-max loaded but I think I was seating them around .020 off the lands. Those notes are buried some where... I wanted a load I could use on deer should I need to and feeding from the factory mag was required at the time.

As far as accuracy between these two the berger shoots better. I have also tried 107 smk and hornady 105 bthp (non a-max). The smk shot ok but in fairness I didn’t play with it as much and I have a stockpile of the 105 bthp hornady's I got for a steal BUT my gun hates them. I believe it is a stability issue as one day they are great (equal to the A-max results) and the next day they are terrible so I decided to stop shooting them until I rebarrel this rifle with a faster twist in a year or two.

I will check out your thread.

 

[Tim Neitzke]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

I shoot 105As and 105VLD with the same load, no issuses and both shoot well.

 

[JGorski]

Re: Going from 105 amax to 105 berger VLD?

In my 6mmREM I use the same load with 105HPBTs and Hybrids.