6.5 SAUM Range update

[Lethal_Chica]

Nice looking groups and good record keeping. Glad you got to try out the 156EH. I was running them at 59.0 grains of RL 26 during my early break-in. As the barrel sped up and my velocities started to get north of 3000 fps with the same load, I started showing pressure signs and lost one primer pocket in my ADG brass. I never had a pressure problem at 2950+/- fps though. I like your ES/SD for the current 156 EH load as well. Have to admit that I have not tried the 156 EH at .015 off the lands yet so I may need to try a tighter load just to see if mine likes it too.

If you're not limiting yourself to hunting loads, I you might find the 153.5 hybrids also shoot well for your rifle.

For now I am going to stick with the hunting loads. I am going to try the 140 standard Accubonds. I should not get the LRABs to group well enough for me. But, I will def try some of those hybrids once I am done working up hunting loads. Do you see a big difference in group sizes from the hunting bergers to the hybrids? Best, Victoria

 

[Lethal_Chica]

Excellent...lethalchickie

Making some steady progress. I want to shoot that 300 yard again. Hopefully no mirage. And this time not to forget to dope the scope!!!

 

[Okanogan]

My 153.5 Hybrids give me perhaps 20-25% tighter groups so it wasn't dramatic but was noticeably better. The good news for me is that POI was only about 1/4 MOA different than the 156 EH and that I could buy the Hybrids in a 500 lot that was cheaper than I could buy the 156 EH. If I could get some evidence that the 153.5 Hybrids worked on game like the 215 Hybrids in my 300 WM, then I would run with them this fall in the 6.5 SAUM. Not much info on line beyond some negative feedback on the lighter 6.5 mm Hybrids on game. Both my GAP 300 WMs only run the 215s these days. Another plus for the Hybrids is that many have found them less sensitive to seating depth change than other bullets. That might be in part why the PRS guys seem to like Hybrids.
If I can't get confirmation of the performance on game, I will run the 156 EH for game as they shoot well enough in my GAP 6.5 SAUM even with the 2B contour. In my opinion, once you get 1/2 MOA anything else is gravy and likely to get washed out by other factors when confronting real world hunting situations. You look like you're doing well with the 156 EH so how far you want to chase 153.5 Hybrids might depend on your objectives and budget.

 

[DJ Fergus]

My 153.5 Hybrids give me perhaps 20-25% tighter groups so it wasn't dramatic but was noticeably better. The good news for me is that POI was only about 1/4 MOA different than the 156 EH and that I could buy the Hybrids in a 500 lot that was cheaper than I could buy the 156 EH. If I could get some evidence that the 153.5 Hybrids worked on game like the 215 Hybrids in my 300 WM, then I would run with them this fall in the 6.5 SAUM. Not much info on line beyond some negative feedback on the lighter 6.5 mm Hybrids on game. Both my GAP 300 WMs only run the 215s these days. Another plus for the Hybrids is that many have found them less sensitive to seating depth change than other bullets. That might be in part why the PRS guys seem to like Hybrids.
If I can't get confirmation of the performance on game, I will run the 156 EH for game as they shoot well enough in my GAP 6.5 SAUM even with the 2B contour. In my opinion, once you get 1/2 MOA anything else is gravy and likely to get washed out by other factors when confronting real world hunting situations. You look like you're doing well with the 156 EH so how far you want to chase 153.5 Hybrids might depend on your objectives and budget.

Keep us informed if you happen to try out the 153.5s on some critters.

 

[Lethal_Chica]

I ordered 300 of the 156gr EH's. I had a friend send me 10 to try. Once those 156s come in I am going to confirm their accuracy out to 600. Then maybe I will try the hybrids. I want to try the standard accubond as well.

 

[eshorebwhntr]

The mirage is horrible down here. Hard to avoid too unless you can shoot at daylight or dusk.

I don't expect the 153.5 to take off like the 215 for a hunting bullet. It has the meplat reducing process that almost closes the tip. Lapua, Nosler, and Sierra have done this in the past. I've personally tried the Sierra. I found that it didn't open consistently enough for me to consider it a better option than the Berger 180 Hybrid. To me the best hybrid option from Berger in the 6.5 is the 140 target hybrid.

 

[sedancowboy]

A couple points of clarification. Both 140 and 156 Bergers Elite Hunters are in fact Hybrids. The new bullets that Berger is marketing as target bullets, the 144 and 153.5 are also hybrids but with a closed tip which would prevent them from expanding on game so they are not designed for nor should be used for shooting game. The 30 caliber 215 hybrids are similar to the Elite Hunters.

 

[eshorebwhntr]

You are correct. I tried the 183 7mm Sierra when it first came out. To me the 180 Berger hybrid performed better.

And correct me if in wrong, but the 140 and 215 have a thicker "target" jacket and the 156 has the thinner "hunting" jacket. All 3 have the hybrid secant/tangent nose design.

The "elite hunter" nomenclature is because Bob Beck is involved and they are advertised as "heaviest on class".

But I'll stop derailing this thread and beating this dead horse again.

 

[sedancowboy]

Berger makes both a target 140 gr and a Elite Hunter 140 both Hybrids with the same profile.

 

[DJ Fergus]

Berger makes both a target 140 gr and a Elite Hunter 140 both Hybrids with the same profile.

The target is going to have a thicker jacket that the elite hunter

 

[DJ Fergus]

You are correct. I tried the 183 7mm Sierra when it first came out. To me the 180 Berger hybrid performed better.

And correct me if in wrong, but the 140 and 215 have a thicker "target" jacket and the 156 has the thinner "hunting" jacket. All 3 have the hybrid secant/tangent nose design.

The "elite hunter" nomenclature is because Bob Beck is involved and they are advertised as "heaviest on class".

But I'll stop derailing this thread and beating this dead horse again.

Your correct, Berger targets have thicker jackets. Originally, all Berger's had thinner jacket's.

 

[eshorebwhntr]

Berger makes both a target 140 gr and a Elite Hunter 140 both Hybrids with the same profile.

My experience with target hybrids is they act a little more like accubonds. They tend to hold together a little better and aren't so explosive. Same for the old school Sierra Match Kings without the meplat reducing technology.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Thanks for the follow up Victoria! Looks like you had a really good day.

-- Todd

 

[Lethal_Chica]

Thanks for the follow up Victoria! Looks like you had a really good day.

-- Todd

I certainly did. Ringing steel on the first shot at 600 was a great feeling.