Just got these today, will be testing them this week. It will be interesting out of a 20" 308 definitely not a mag friendly bullet, short action anyway. Going to use RL17 and Varget couldnt get my hands on N550 locally.
Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
- Thread starter nfresquez
- Start date
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
cool, I did test the 155 and 168 hybrid a while back, they like to go fast and jump a little. Just got a box of their new 6mm 105 hybrid.
good luck, let us know what you find out.
cool, I did test the 155 and 168 hybrid a while back, they like to go fast and jump a little. Just got a box of their new 6mm 105 hybrid.
good luck, let us know what you find out.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
These will be fun just have to figure what I am going to use as a starting load.
I cant wait for the 6.5 hybrid to come out so I can test those.....
These will be fun just have to figure what I am going to use as a starting load.
I cant wait for the 6.5 hybrid to come out so I can test those.....
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Loaded up and ready to go test, loaded the Bergers to just touch the lands instead of mag lenght like the SMK's. Testing RL-17 from 44gr-47gr in .3gr steps
Loaded up and ready to go test, loaded the Bergers to just touch the lands instead of mag lenght like the SMK's. Testing RL-17 from 44gr-47gr in .3gr steps
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Cant wait to try these in my. 300wm. Will shoot great with a 1-10 twist in the .300WM.
Cant wait to try these in my. 300wm. Will shoot great with a 1-10 twist in the .300WM.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Where can I find some info on the 155 ans 168? I would like to biy some and read up on them.
Thanks.
Where can I find some info on the 155 ans 168? I would like to biy some and read up on them.
Thanks.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Shot some of the 215gr hybrids yesterday here are the results.
Rifle is a stock barreled action 20" 1-10 twist 308 Winchester in a ACIS stock wearing a Premier Reticles 5-25 scope.
Chronograph is a Oehler 35P
Conditions were 90 Degrees/Humidity 17%/Dew point 34 Degrees/Pressure 30.08/ Altitude 4200 feet
Load: Lapua brass/RL-17/CCI 200/44-46.1gr/COAL 3.127
FPS AVG SD ES
44gr: 2387 5 10
44.3: 2418 6 12
44.6: 2420 4 6
44.9: 2447 11 22
45.2: 2465 4 9
45.5: 2477 9 19
45.8: 2497 11 21
46.1 2515 7 15
These were only 3 shot groups for pressure testing
44,44.3,44.6: High Vertical 1-2"
44.9: Vertical starts to narrow 3/4"
45.2: Vertical is now 1/2 MOA almost stacked like a stop light
45.5: Vertical is now 1/5 MOA, Heavy recoil
45.8: Tight groups starting to open just over 1/2 MOA, Heavy recoil
46.1: Group opens to 1 MOA Heavy recoil, slight ejector marks
I stopped at 46.1 because of the ejector marks and the groups opening up. I will do the same test with the 230's and then do a Ladder test at 600yds with both with a smaller and narrower range of powder charges to fine tune.
I was surprised to get 2500fps out of a 20 inch barrel, but with RL-17 and such a long COAL I guess it is not out of line. Loading to mag length in a short action was giving up to much case capacity for my liking so I loaded them to the lands.
Will post more after the next range visit.
Shot some of the 215gr hybrids yesterday here are the results.
Rifle is a stock barreled action 20" 1-10 twist 308 Winchester in a ACIS stock wearing a Premier Reticles 5-25 scope.
Chronograph is a Oehler 35P
Conditions were 90 Degrees/Humidity 17%/Dew point 34 Degrees/Pressure 30.08/ Altitude 4200 feet
Load: Lapua brass/RL-17/CCI 200/44-46.1gr/COAL 3.127
FPS AVG SD ES
44gr: 2387 5 10
44.3: 2418 6 12
44.6: 2420 4 6
44.9: 2447 11 22
45.2: 2465 4 9
45.5: 2477 9 19
45.8: 2497 11 21
46.1 2515 7 15
These were only 3 shot groups for pressure testing
44,44.3,44.6: High Vertical 1-2"
44.9: Vertical starts to narrow 3/4"
45.2: Vertical is now 1/2 MOA almost stacked like a stop light
45.5: Vertical is now 1/5 MOA, Heavy recoil
45.8: Tight groups starting to open just over 1/2 MOA, Heavy recoil
46.1: Group opens to 1 MOA Heavy recoil, slight ejector marks
I stopped at 46.1 because of the ejector marks and the groups opening up. I will do the same test with the 230's and then do a Ladder test at 600yds with both with a smaller and narrower range of powder charges to fine tune.
I was surprised to get 2500fps out of a 20 inch barrel, but with RL-17 and such a long COAL I guess it is not out of line. Loading to mag length in a short action was giving up to much case capacity for my liking so I loaded them to the lands.
Will post more after the next range visit.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
I dont know but its a long and heavy bullet. Berger recommended at least a 1-10"
I dont know but its a long and heavy bullet. Berger recommended at least a 1-10"
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
I was curious if Berger is going to market these as a hunting bullet or just a target bullet. I know their bullets go hand in hand with one another but the short advertisement I read on them seemed to be leaning towards just target shooting. Anyone know anything?
I was curious if Berger is going to market these as a hunting bullet or just a target bullet. I know their bullets go hand in hand with one another but the short advertisement I read on them seemed to be leaning towards just target shooting. Anyone know anything?
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
looks good Nick. I just need some time off work so we can get together and finish testing those babies. See how they run out of my 24 incher. posibly the ultra mag ???? Now that sounds fun.
looks good Nick. I just need some time off work so we can get together and finish testing those babies. See how they run out of my 24 incher. posibly the ultra mag ???? Now that sounds fun.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Results from 230gr pressure test as well as 600yd ladder test for both 215gr and 230gr Hybrids....
Gun details remain the same with the 230grs, powder range is, 42-44.7grs of RL-17 in .3gr steps.
Conditions remain close as before but temps have dropped approx 10 degrees with winds anywhere from 2-14mph.
FPS SD ES
42gr 2237 8 16
42.3gr 2249 10 20
42.6gr 2269 13 24
42.9gr 2298 1 3
43.2gr 2325 16 32
43.5gr 2339 11 23
43.8gr 2350 1 2
44.1gr 2366 2 5
44.4gr 2369 11 22
44.7gr 2391 14 26
Again these were 3 shot groups for pressure
42gr-43.2 High Vert shrinking to low vert (1/2 moa)
43.5 Almost no vert all three almost touching
43.8-44.4gr almost the same (1/2 MOA) only a 19fps difference
44.7gr Groups opening up with slight ejector marks.
44.4gr and 44.7gr were starting to show some very light ejector marks, so I stopped there. I believe the the extra lenght of the 230gr bullets reduces the case capacity enough that I cant see a reason to choose the 230gr over the 215gr in this gun. I would have liked a little more velocity than 2390fps but without pushing the lands further out I cant see it.
Results from 230gr pressure test as well as 600yd ladder test for both 215gr and 230gr Hybrids....
Gun details remain the same with the 230grs, powder range is, 42-44.7grs of RL-17 in .3gr steps.
Conditions remain close as before but temps have dropped approx 10 degrees with winds anywhere from 2-14mph.
FPS SD ES
42gr 2237 8 16
42.3gr 2249 10 20
42.6gr 2269 13 24
42.9gr 2298 1 3
43.2gr 2325 16 32
43.5gr 2339 11 23
43.8gr 2350 1 2
44.1gr 2366 2 5
44.4gr 2369 11 22
44.7gr 2391 14 26
Again these were 3 shot groups for pressure
42gr-43.2 High Vert shrinking to low vert (1/2 moa)
43.5 Almost no vert all three almost touching
43.8-44.4gr almost the same (1/2 MOA) only a 19fps difference
44.7gr Groups opening up with slight ejector marks.
44.4gr and 44.7gr were starting to show some very light ejector marks, so I stopped there. I believe the the extra lenght of the 230gr bullets reduces the case capacity enough that I cant see a reason to choose the 230gr over the 215gr in this gun. I would have liked a little more velocity than 2390fps but without pushing the lands further out I cant see it.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Ladder tests: 215gr and 230gr five shot groups
215gr test range was 45gr-45.6gr of RL-17 in .2 steps
230gr test range was 43.3gr-44.3gr of RL-17 in .2 steps
215gr: FPS SD ES
45gr 2411 11 27
45.2gr 2436 12 30
45.4gr 2454 9 24
45.6gr 2459 6 14
Groups:
45gr about 6" groups
45.2 bad groups 8" uuhhh starting to get worried...
45.4 Yes! 2.3" of vertical now we are talking
45.6 More of the same 4 of 5 shots in to 1.389" of vertical at the same level awesome. I would have to say there is a node there and I think the chronograph numbers help, low SD and ES with an average velocity within 3fps!
230gr FPS SD ES
43.3 2306 5 13
43.5 2293 12 30
43.7 2311 9 23
43.9 2322 8 19
44.1 2346 10 27
44.3 2355 14 31
Groups:
43.3 Lot of vert around 6"
43.5 2.137" Vert for 4 of5 shots 5 opening to 5"
43.7 2.974" Vert for 4 out of 5
43.9 3.456" Vert total same level as 43.7gr
44.1 3.657" Vert postion 1/2" higher than 43.7-43.9
44.3 3.432" Vert good group but avg 2.7" higher than 43.7-43.9 leaving node.
Overall thoughts on these bullets was excellent easy to load for, only used one powder and one seating depth and was able to get excellent groups to 600yds. I may have to try some more futher out with charges in the nodes. I measured about half of the bullets for weight and ogive to base consistency and gave up they were to consitent.
One note on the RL-17, I was able to get very good results with this powder but do have some concerns. It was nice because it didnt seem spikey but the velocity differences between the pressure testing and ladder testing worried me.
Charges for the pressure testing were loaded at the range and then shot right off, where ladder tests were loaded at the shop that was the only difference. All were thrown with a chargemaster and then either loaded in plastic containers to load at the range (see pic above) or thrown and loaded on the bench.
That is all for now, any questions?
Ladder tests: 215gr and 230gr five shot groups
215gr test range was 45gr-45.6gr of RL-17 in .2 steps
230gr test range was 43.3gr-44.3gr of RL-17 in .2 steps
215gr: FPS SD ES
45gr 2411 11 27
45.2gr 2436 12 30
45.4gr 2454 9 24
45.6gr 2459 6 14
Groups:
45gr about 6" groups
45.2 bad groups 8" uuhhh starting to get worried...
45.4 Yes! 2.3" of vertical now we are talking
45.6 More of the same 4 of 5 shots in to 1.389" of vertical at the same level awesome. I would have to say there is a node there and I think the chronograph numbers help, low SD and ES with an average velocity within 3fps!
230gr FPS SD ES
43.3 2306 5 13
43.5 2293 12 30
43.7 2311 9 23
43.9 2322 8 19
44.1 2346 10 27
44.3 2355 14 31
Groups:
43.3 Lot of vert around 6"
43.5 2.137" Vert for 4 of5 shots 5 opening to 5"
43.7 2.974" Vert for 4 out of 5
43.9 3.456" Vert total same level as 43.7gr
44.1 3.657" Vert postion 1/2" higher than 43.7-43.9
44.3 3.432" Vert good group but avg 2.7" higher than 43.7-43.9 leaving node.
Overall thoughts on these bullets was excellent easy to load for, only used one powder and one seating depth and was able to get excellent groups to 600yds. I may have to try some more futher out with charges in the nodes. I measured about half of the bullets for weight and ogive to base consistency and gave up they were to consitent.
One note on the RL-17, I was able to get very good results with this powder but do have some concerns. It was nice because it didnt seem spikey but the velocity differences between the pressure testing and ladder testing worried me.
Charges for the pressure testing were loaded at the range and then shot right off, where ladder tests were loaded at the shop that was the only difference. All were thrown with a chargemaster and then either loaded in plastic containers to load at the range (see pic above) or thrown and loaded on the bench.
That is all for now, any questions?
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
Very interesting! Just a thought but you might try Winchester brass instead of Lapua. The Winchester has more case capacity. It seems to be the brass of choice for the 208gr Amax in a .308 because of that.
Look forward to hearing more on this.
.308
Very interesting! Just a thought but you might try Winchester brass instead of Lapua. The Winchester has more case capacity. It seems to be the brass of choice for the 208gr Amax in a .308 because of that.
Look forward to hearing more on this.
.308
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
I did enjoy reading on your testing. Also i can't wait till I'm back home and do some of my personal testing on the 230's.
I did enjoy reading on your testing. Also i can't wait till I'm back home and do some of my personal testing on the 230's.
Re: Testing new 215gr and 230gr Berger Hybrids
That's good stuff. Must have a freakin ton of free bore!! You ought to try power pro 2000 mr. Would be awesome results I would think. I picked up 90 to 100 fps with the big boys out of mine. Pushing the 175 smk at 2770 with a 22" bartlein 1:11.25 Gap Crusader.
That's good stuff. Must have a freakin ton of free bore!! You ought to try power pro 2000 mr. Would be awesome results I would think. I picked up 90 to 100 fps with the big boys out of mine. Pushing the 175 smk at 2770 with a 22" bartlein 1:11.25 Gap Crusader.
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