Thoughts on the 85.5gr Berger hybrids?
- Thread starter jzerfoss
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I really like mine in a .223 Rem.
I shoot PRSish, but all the F-T/R guys I know that shot .308 have largely switched over to these for 600.
They sort really well, I haven’t noticed any discrepancies with base to ogive, and base to tip was within 2 thou. They’ve all weighed within .02 gr (which is all my scale goes to (FX-200i))
I get about 2850 or 2900 with 8208 out of my 26” bbl.
At 300 I was shooting about 1.2” groups,With about .5” vertical. Which has been about how this rifle/me tend to shoot. They’re really
Jump tolerant, but I found that in the 26-32 thou range worked well (me, my dad, and two other shooters we know are in that range)
Before I moved to these I was shooting 80 Sierras. Which I still really like, but the 85.5 BC is hard to beat.
I shoot PRSish, but all the F-T/R guys I know that shot .308 have largely switched over to these for 600.
They sort really well, I haven’t noticed any discrepancies with base to ogive, and base to tip was within 2 thou. They’ve all weighed within .02 gr (which is all my scale goes to (FX-200i))
I get about 2850 or 2900 with 8208 out of my 26” bbl.
At 300 I was shooting about 1.2” groups,With about .5” vertical. Which has been about how this rifle/me tend to shoot. They’re really
Jump tolerant, but I found that in the 26-32 thou range worked well (me, my dad, and two other shooters we know are in that range)
Before I moved to these I was shooting 80 Sierras. Which I still really like, but the 85.5 BC is hard to beat.
I’ll add I sorted through about 100 tips to get those numbers. I think I weighed 40 or so with no variation before I stopped weighing them. Then I measured the o-give and tips. I think my shortest OAL was 1.57 and my longest 1.561. And I had VERY few of those flyers (I think I threw out 5 of the 100) most were about 1.558 and I just checked my notes again and my base to ogive was within 1 thou. So I really like them. I
I worked up a load at 100 for them. Tried both varget and h4895. Varget was best. They are jump tolerant as noted above. My barrel was a Criterion 1:8 Wylde. But when i took them to 200 they just skatered. I have a 1:7 223 Match chamber on order. Due end of Jan so maybe by march I’ll have a new load and go again.
As noted my measurements show they are ultra consistent. As an aside i found the 6mm 109 really do shoot well also.
David
As noted my measurements show they are ultra consistent. As an aside i found the 6mm 109 really do shoot well also.
David
What charge weight and coal are you at to get 2850? I'm using xbr, lapua brass and 450's but can't get that speed without pressure
Ehh, I do have free bore that’s been thought up by John Whidden to allow the use of 80s, but also not being too long for factory 77s. But I don’t think it’s that long. My bullets still fit in MDT 223 mags.
I’ve been using Jagmann brass, BR4s, and 24.6 gr of 8208.
When I shot 80sierras I generally got about 2950 using 25.4 gr Varget, or 3000 using 4895.
I am absolutely at the uppermost safe limit without pressure. Anything more and I get signs.
I’ve found that with both the 80 sierras and the 85.5 Berger’s I get my best groups and SDs at the upper limit.
When I was testing 8208 and 80s I was able to shoot a .5” 600yd group with an SD of 8, pushing 3150. But I had pierced primers. With a little water added I blew every single primer. Sadly when I dropped it down to a safer level the 8208 groups didn’t do as well as the 4895 loads.
Rather than start another thread, I have a question regarding running these vs the 90 gr VLDs in a .223 bolt gun. I have been using 77 SMKs as well as 77 grain factory ammunition, but I have not been happy with the results.
I have 200 of the 85.5s coming but after doing some further research, it seems the 90 grain VLD out of a bolt gun is still the better option. Thoughts from anyone that has used both?
90 Grain
www.midwayusa.com
85.5 Grain
www.midwayusa.com
I have 200 of the 85.5s coming but after doing some further research, it seems the 90 grain VLD out of a bolt gun is still the better option. Thoughts from anyone that has used both?
90 Grain
Berger Target Bullets 22 Cal (224 Diameter) 90 Grain VLD Hollow Point
Berger's Target bullets are the perfect bullet for the reloader looking for great performing, consistent, accurate long range bullets. The VLD...
www.midwayusa.com
85.5 Grain
Berger Hybrid Target Bullets 22 Cal (224 Diameter) 85.5 Grain Hollow
The Berger Long Range Hybrid Target Bullet features an improved center of gravity and ballistic coefficient. Utilizing advanced and proprietary...
www.midwayusa.com
I have read on other threads the 90’s need 1:6.5 twist for stability while the 85.5’s are spposed to be ok with 7.5 twist and best at 7
David
David
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Well, the 90s could work in a 223. It sounds like you have a long throat so that helps. A 7 twist wont fully stabilize the 90 VLD per Berger’s website. Now that doesn’t mean they won’t shoot well below that, it’s just not ideal.
Also, it’s a VLD. So you need to keep the jump very short. Usually no greater than 10 thou to maximize accuracy, and you need to keep loading them longer and longer to account for erosion.
The reason Berger designed the 85.5 was to maximize the potential of the .223 rem cartridge without having to worry about the finickiness of the VLD, and ensure stability in 7 twist rifles (most common for .223) with velocities realistic to the cartridge
Also, it’s a VLD. So you need to keep the jump very short. Usually no greater than 10 thou to maximize accuracy, and you need to keep loading them longer and longer to account for erosion.
The reason Berger designed the 85.5 was to maximize the potential of the .223 rem cartridge without having to worry about the finickiness of the VLD, and ensure stability in 7 twist rifles (most common for .223) with velocities realistic to the cartridge
I took them out to 1040 and came up short. I adjusted the BC to .507 G1 and got hits. Looks like I’m going to need a custom curve for the 1-8”. I would like to hear others experiences
I'm going to shoot a PRS style match later this month and shot some groups at 100/300, with various load charges, with several different bullets. I've got data for the Sierra/Hornady/Berger 80's, from about 20 years ago (last time I shot this rig), but not the 85.5's. Ballistic data, at the vel's I'm shooting the 80's at, show its a push to about 750, then the 85.5 take over (as expected). A buddy's got a chrono but I'm not sure when I'll get to range with him.
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