Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

[Bennybone]

Morning all,

I saw on Bergers homepage a video that is titled 30 caliber 168gr hybrid hunter bullets.

In a nutshell the hybrid design is a blend of the secant and tangent ogive designs and it is meant to be "less sensitive" to seating depth than the VLD bullets which those of us who are shooting semi auto guns with magazine length restrictions are in need of.

I thought I'd share the info Berger shared with me regarding the video and names of the bullets.

The part number in the video is wrong as is the name on the bullet box.

On their website any bullet under the hunting category that says Classic Hunter or Elite Hunter is going to be the hybrid bullet design.

30 cal shooters you are in luck and if you have been shooting these projectiles tell us what you think, are the bullets less sensitive to seating depth and are they as lethal as VLDs on game ?

6.5mm shooters, no joy for us right now - send Berger an email and ask for them, nicely

BB

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bennybone</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
6.5mm shooters, no joy for us right now - send Berger an email and ask for them, nicely

BB </div></div>

Will do, tag for info on the 168's. I have some on the way from MidwayUSA to try this year on deer from my POF. Should be in by Wednesday and I'll have them out to the range over the weekend.

I emailed Litz a while ago about 6.5 hybrids, and he said he had submitted the designs, they were in the pipeline eventually.

 

[Bennybone]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Cisneros as Berger says the 6.5mm are on hold until Berger clears the backlog on their other bullets.

Shall we start an internet petition from 6.5'ers for the hybrids ???

BB

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Can you link to the video? I can't find it on their site.

 

[Bennybone]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Looks like they took it off their homepage after my contact with them, here is the video they had from youtube : Berger Hybrid Hunting Bullets

Now remember the packaging and p/n are both incorrect in this linked video.

For those of you interested in these projectiles for other calibers, here is the listing of currently available hybrid bullets from Berger's email:

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #FF0000">Classic Hunter bullets </span></span>–The Classic Hunter bullets are designed for hunters who shoot factory rifles and/or feed their ammo through a magazine. The Hybrid noses are short enough to comply with SAAMI spec ammo configurations.

Now Available:

- 6mm 95 gr Classic Hunter p/n 24570

- 270 cal 130gr Classic Hunter p/n 27570

- 7mm 168gr Classic Hunter p/n 28570

- 30 cal 168gr Classic Hunter p/n 30570

- 30 cal 185gr Classic Hunter p/n 30571

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Just because knowledge is power, here's a pic comparing the new Berger 30 caliber 168 grain Classic Hunter to a 168 Amax.

They're very similar, but the Amax is 1.277" OAL (last night's measurements, not the two pictured), and the Berger measures 1.256" OAL. When loaded to the same length the Berger's ogive is 0.015" closer to the lands. All measurements were taken with a Hornady comparator. This Berger is 0.096" closer to the lands than the 155.5 Fullbore at the same length in my rifle, I would imagine it will be a GREAT option for us semi-auto mag fed guys. Especially those of us with long throated NATO chambers. I'm planning on using this as my all around target and hunting bullet.

Bearing surface is shorter on the Berger, 0.484" vs 0.517" for the Amax. I've got some loaded with Varget and some with IMR 8208 XBR, and will report back when I make it to the range.

 

[Engine 22]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

In my 280AI, the hybrid hunters shoot slightly better than the VLDs. I font have my data with me, but I recall the hybrid running slightly faster as well. I haven't had the opportunity to run them at long range yet, but hopefully soon.

Edited to add 7mm 168gr

 

[Bennybone]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Drool......

 

[brianfarriel]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Ladder tested 7mm 168's yesterday... They look promising...

 

[RyeDaddy]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

I did OCW tests with Varget and IMR 8208 in my 16.5" POF P-308 yesterday. Short story: the 30 cal 168 grain Classic Hunter rocks, and in my rifle made smaller average groups with IMR 8208 XBR..

Varget did well and showed lower ES/SD numbers but the high node of 45.9 grains is too hot for my rifle, it's just too rough on the rifle and brass. I've always had to use the low node with Varget which with this bullet came in at 44.1 grains, same as I had found with the 168 AMAX. The accuracy here (0.4" at 100y)was not as good as IMR's high node and only gave me 2450 FPS measured with an Oehler 35P.

IMR 8208 showed 20 FPS more extreme spread, but better groups all the way around through the round robin test. As had been the case with Varget the best accuracy was found at the same spot I had found it to be with the 168 AMAX, 42.4 grains. 3 shot group at that charge weight measured 0.259" with my calipers. I'm gonna try somewhere between 42.7 and 43.0 load and see if I can get the ES/SD numbers down. I have not messed with the seating depth yet. Particulars of the IMR round robin:

3x Winchester brass, annealed before this firing
CCI BR-2 primers
42.4 grains IMR 8208XBR was the tiny group
2.206" ogive length (2.813" COAL) This is 0.140" jump in my NATO chamber.
2527 FPS avg vel
21.7 SD
50 ES

Here's the 100 yard test target with IMR 8208

 

[yourcfi]

Re: Inquiry to Berger for their Hybrid Hunting bullets

Tag for info.

I ordered up some 7mm 168 classic hunters and some 308 175 tactical hybrid but have yet to shoot either. I will update when I get a chance to go and shoot.