Range Report Berger and PRIME

[Nik H]

I have been shooting the Berger 130 OTMs factory ammo for a while now and am really amazed.

Today I shot it against some of the old version PRIME/Norma offering and both shot about the same. Super accurate is an understatement. I shot several 4 and 5 shot groups with each that were less than 0.5 MOA at 200 yards.

My question is has anyone shot the 130 grain Berger factory loading against the new PRIME formulation? Would love to hear what people think. Would also like any opinions on the old PRIME versus the new PRIME

 

[Polizei45]

I have to agree with you on the Berger 130 OTMs. I used the Berger at the Long Gun Training class this summer and they were extremely accurate out 700 yards. I am undecided if I will use the 130 Berger or try their 140 out 1300 yards next year. I can't tell you about the the newer Prime, but these Berger 130s shoot better out of my AI AT then the older Prime did. I still have 2 cases of the older Prime 6.5 left.

 

[Hardpan]

Following this thread as I get just about the same results with the same brands. I haven’t tried new prime either but heard it may be a little faster and have more consistent SD’s. I can get federal with 130 Berger’s easier than Prime thanks to California’s corrupt law makers.

 

[seansmd]

Following this thread as I get just about the same results with the same brands. I haven’t tried new prime either but heard it may be a little faster and have more consistent SD’s. I can get federal with 130 Berger’s easier than Prime thanks to California’s corrupt law makers.

You can have them both shipped, do you have good prices at a brick&morter in CA I am not aware of?

 

[Hardpan]

You can have them both shipped, do you have good prices at a brick&morter in CA I am not aware of?

Ya I do get shipped in ammo but the federals I’m getting for a really cheap price even though prime has a discount going on at the moment. Their $30 shipping fee is a turn-off for me.

 

[Brettmparker1]

I was a little late to the game for prime but my 6.5 rpr seems to love the prime 1/2 inch or better at 100 and groups about 3/4 at 500. sds are running mid 20s and velocity is around 2830 out of a 24 inch berrel I couldn’t get the Berger’s to group, all were over an inch

 

[blbennett1288]

I have been shooting the Berger 130 OTMs factory ammo for a while now and am really amazed.

Today I shot it against some of the old version PRIME/Norma offering and both shot about the same. Super accurate is an understatement. I shot several 4 and 5 shot groups with each that were less than 0.5 MOA at 200 yards.

My question is has anyone shot the 130 grain Berger factory loading against the new PRIME formulation? Would love to hear what people think. Would also like any opinions on the old PRIME versus the new PRIME

I am partial to the 140gr Berger's

Ill order up some 130gr Prime and try them out and report back.

 

[TEUFEL820]

The new Berger ammo 140 hybrid shoot lights out. The are loaded on Lapua brass. What's not to like!

 

[Nik H]

I am partial to the 140gr Berger's

Ill order up some 130gr Prime and try them out and report back.

I don't think you will be disappointed with the 130s

 

[blbennett1288]

I don't think you will be disappointed with the 130s

I was pretty disappointed in the Old Prime 130's in the PVA and AI.

The Berger 140's I am getting 2890fps out of a 24" barrel. I dont think i'd gain that much speed from the 130's, maybe 2915-2930fps.

 

[TEUFEL820]

I only got 2760 out the 140 Berger Hybrid on a 24" barrel. (Advertised 2850) Very accurate though.

 

[Darkside-Six]

I’ve only shot the 140 Hybrids. I picked up a couple hundred in the spring because I needed the brass and I also shoot the 140’s in my hand loads. I have to say, these were by far the best factory ammo I’ve ever shot. Very low SD numbers and shot lights out. Used them in 2 matches and they were awesome.

 

[Hardpan]

I was a little late to the game for prime but my 6.5 rpr seems to love the prime 1/2 inch or better at 100 and groups about 3/4 at 500. sds are running mid 20s and velocity is around 2830 out of a 24 inch berrel I couldn’t get the Berger’s to group, all were over an inch

This truly does show all barrels are different. My RPR gets better groups with the federal Berger’s over the prime, which isn’t a whole bunch worse. My best group at 1000 with my RPR was 7.5 inches with federal Berger’s. Prime was 10.5 inches at 1000 although Prime only needs 8.3 mils where the federal Berger’s need 8.5. Shot off an atlas bipod with a tab gear rear bag

 

[Hardpan]

You can have them both shipped, do you have good prices at a brick&morter in CA I am not aware of?

If I reloaded also then I would buy prime over federal just for the brass. The federal doesn’t last as long as the old Norma or new Peterson brass my friends tell me. I would buy the new Berger ammo if they loaded 130’s instead of 140’s... if they do I can’t find them.

 

[4dds]

So far out of all the factory ammo I’ve tried mine likes the Berger 130 the best. 140eldm a close second. Just got 2 boxes of prime in this week and I’m going to test them against Berger 130 Hornady 140&147 eldm and probably a few handloads. As good as this factory stuff shoots it’s hard to set at the reloading bench much.

 

[Hardpan]

So far out of all the factory ammo I’ve tried mine likes the Berger 130 the best. 140eldm a close second. Just got 2 boxes of prime in this week and I’m going to test them against Berger 130 Hornady 140&147 eldm and probably a few handloads. As good as this factory stuff shoots it’s hard to set at the reloading bench much.

Any update between the prime and federal Berger’s 130’s?

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Just got a Proof Carbon barrel from my AXMC looking for what factory 6.5CM I wanted to try.. Any more reports on this with new prime with the 130SMK I see they are back ordered on there websight and Prime is about $8 cheaper a box

 

[Nik H]

The Federal GMM with 130 Berger bullets does not shoot as well in my AI AT as Berger's own loading or the PRIME 130s.

Edit: These results are consistent when using either a PROOF 24" carbon barrel or my Krieger M24 contour, 26" barrel

 

[Brettmparker1]

Just got a Proof Carbon barrel from my AXMC looking for what factory 6.5CM I wanted to try.. Any more reports on this with new prime with the 130SMK I see they are back ordered on there websight and Prime is about $8 cheaper a box

If you plan on loading your own you can’t go wrong with prime. I bought a bunch just to get the Peterson brass out of it. But it’s hard to load when I can get this stuff out to 1000 on a 12 inch plate and stack them in their. It shoots well out of my rpr and a friend of mine shoots it out of a howa and a Ruger American and all of the rifles have been grouping 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch and acceptable sd numbers. I would suspect with the proof barrel you will get sub 1/2 minute

 

[blbennett1288]

Just got a Proof Carbon barrel from my AXMC looking for what factory 6.5CM I wanted to try.. Any more reports on this with new prime with the 130SMK I see they are back ordered on there websight and Prime is about $8 cheaper a box

Berger factory Ammo. I prefer the 140grs, but I am sure the 130grs will do just as well

The 140grs were traveling at 2880fps out of a 24” barrel. SD high single digit/low double digit

 

[jmornoinf]

Berger 140gr Hybrid factory load is awesome! This is hands down the best factory 6.5 Creedmoor ammo available. I have shot pretty much all available 6.5 offerings and I have not seen the accuracy or velocity of these bullets. My reloads barely beat this factory ammo. Not sure why I reload??

I am getting 2828 out of a 26" Bartlein barrel/Impact Precision

Average group size is .5" or less.

Pros
- 2828 FPS - Hornady 140gr ELD does 2750
- .5" or less groups
- Lapua brass - sm primer
-1.40 per round. I pay about 1.20 just for Lapua brass + .45 for projectiles

Cons
-None

I can't wait to try the 130gr when they come available. Is there any one in here that could sell me a box to test?

 

[stello1001]

Damn!!!

Everyone seems to have great results with factory Berger but it shot like shit for me. Really wish it performed well for me...

 

[blbennett1288]

Damn!!!

Everyone seems to have great results with factory Berger but it shot like shit for me. Really wish it performed well for me...

You are literally the only person I have heard of that has had bad results with Berger

 

[stello1001]

You are literally the only person I have heard of that has had bad results with Berger

Lol, I don't doubt it...

There are my results!

I think it's because the bullets might be somewhat jump sensitive in my chamber/barrel. I'm sure if I did a custom load with hybrids, I could do some fine tuning and get them to shoot though.

 

[Nik H]

You are literally the only person I have heard of that has had bad results with Berger

Agree

Sorry to hear that. It is my go to when I do anything needing consistent ammo

 

[Luvman]

I haven’t tried the old prime or Berger.

I’ve tried the new prime and 130 FGMM Berger. The FGMM is SRP FC brass.

FGMM was 2850 and 12SD
Prime was 2775 and 15SD

Hornady 140 ELDM was 2775 and around 19SD.

Accuracy was acceptable (sub MOA) with all of them with me driving.

I’m itching to find some Berger to try.

 

[Blaster7Romeo]

Hum maybe the FGMM is the way to go.. I figured the prime would have been hotter with a better SD

 

[Hardpan]

I have a proof carbon Pre-Fit on my RPR. 1:8 24 inches long. I know it’s not an AI barrel but should be similar

This was a 10 shot group with prime. Sd’s were 13ish. I pulled 2 bad shots.

 

[Hardpan]

Here is a 5 shot group from federal 130 Berger’s. This barrel is new and has roughly 200 rounds on it now. Flyer on the left was from sight in. Sd’s were around 23-11 if I remember correctly. 2890 avg FPS