Berger VLD "jump" and factory chambers

[Petrov]

I am thinking of working up some loads for 800 yard plus with 185 grain berger VLD's for my 308 winchester. I run a factory remington 700 barrel, I have been told that the chambers have been "lawyer fucked" and you can practically play baseball inside due to loose tolerances. Is it worth the effort with a factory barrel? Will I have to sling load these due to OAL?

Thanks guys.

 

[Goin'Hot]

On the Berger site, they tell you to find a load and then play with seating depth. Load some in the lands, 0.040", 0.080" and 0.120" (off the lands) and go shoot them. One of the lengths will shoot notably better than the others.

So if Berger is recommending to load as far as 0.120" off the lands, it would be worth a shot...

 

[ZiaHunter]

Brian Litz wrote an article about finding the sweet spot with VLD bullets when the freebore didn't permit seating close to the lands. I shoot Berger VLDs almost exclusively and have had excellent results even with rifles with a fair amount of freebore. Google VLD seating depth and the article should come up.

 

[chefcam864]

The 185 Juggernaut or OTM Tactical (they're the exact same bullet) have a higher BC than the 185 VLD, and they work at mag length. However, you may find some more accuracy with seating depth tuning. I've been working up loads with these in my SPS Varmint (1:12"), and they're shooting fantastic out to 300 at 2.820" COAL. I am about to start playing with seating depth to see if I can improve, but so far they're regularly shooting .5 moa and better(even at 100).

Hope that helps.

 

[robp5t]

I am shooting the 140 Vld's out of my 260. I have a tried various lengths, but found the best grouping I got was at .002 off the lands. My COAL is 2.996.

 

[jwp6114]

In general berger vld's like to be on or jammed into the lands... Yes with your factory "long as hell" throat you would not be able to use the mag. I single loaded an SPS 12'twist factory pipe forever, then met a competent reasonably priced smith...

For 175 I had my factory barrel set back and free bore shortened. Some would say this is a waste because a premium barrel is only $315. Well yup but add in gun smith work and finish work and your at $600...

After I had the throat shortened I was able to seat out on the lands at usable OAL's

I later "not much later" upgraded to a 10 twist hart barrel...

 

[danish1911]

I am running my 175 gr Hunting VLD's .008 off the lands which means a 3.036" COL for my 308. I was trying to run them at a reasonable length for mag feeding but I was just getting MOA with them. I loaded some out per Berger's recommendations and they became a little under 1/2 MOA.