Need Testers for New Berger 6mm 87 gr VLD Hunting

[Loner]

I don't think you could have hurt it in that few of rounds. My parker in 22-250
started getting inconsistent like that when it burned out. It shot it's best and worst
groups during that period. Then the muzzle went and the groups just got worse every
trip.

 

[Iron Worker]

Okay, back from the range. Preliminary tests are done. May I first start off by saying that it was a tough morning to shoot. The storms finally cleared here in S. Utah late yesterday. Resulting in intense fog this morning. The temps were cold and humidity was high. So groups are not anywhere near as tight as I would have hoped. However, I believe this to be more based upon shooter performance rather than bullet performance. Yep thats right. I was freezing my keester off! Here are the loads I shot, chronograph and the observed results.

All loads were fired with H4350 Powder and CCI 200 Primers with Winchester brass. Test rifle is a Parker Hale 1200 Super, 24" factory original Barrel, 6mm Remington. COAL is 2.903"


Load # 1, 43grains

3067 fps
3062 fps
3049 fps
3080 fps

Average Velocity 3064
ES 31 fps
This load grouped .959"

Load # 2, 44grains

3144 fps
3115 fps
3111 fps
3140 fps

Average Velocity 3127
ES 33 fps
This load grouped .888"

Load # 3, 45grains

3186 fps
3188 fps
3183 fps
3206 fps

Average Velocity 3190
ES 23 fps
This load grouped .741"

Load # 4, 45.5grains

3239 fps
3235 fps
3217 fps
3230 fps

Average Velocity 3230
ES 22 fps
This load grouped 1.399" This Group opened way up. I believe this was due to the cold
and not the particular load. At this point I was very uncomfortable shooting and it shows.
It's unfortunate too because this load was the most consistent as far as velocities and ES.

Load # 5, 46grains

3272 fps
3249 fps
3261 fps
3267 fps

Average Velocity 3262
ES 23 fps
This load grouped .484"

It appears that the 46 grains will be Max load for this rifle. It is one grain over that furnished by quick load. I will most likely use it for the rest of my development and testing.

From here I will also be trying some CCI BR2 primers and some different seating depths to see if I can shrink the group down from .484". I may also consider trying some IMR 4831.

Once I have developed the best group that I can, I will do the terminal performance tests that I mentioned earlier.

Last group was just under 1/2" that's dang good for a Mauser action used rifle. I'd be dang proud of that performance ,easily make head shots on coyotes at 300 yds.

 

[Firecat]

That's kinda what I thought. Of coarse that being based on the word of the guy who sold it to me. Who really knows how many it really has down the tube. The guy before me had bedded it and done some trigger work on it. I would be sad if its shot out. This has been one of my favorotes. The stock is all original and 95%. Purdy. Killed my biggest muley with it. What did you do with yours when your bbl was shot out?

 

[Loner]

Set it back, took off an inch at the muzzle and had the receiver and lugs trued and heat treated it and the bolt during the process. They are Spanish Mausers and are know for
their softness. The barrels are phenomenal, possibly the best production barrels on any
gun ever made. Rarely do you see one that won't shoot under 1/2".

 

[Loner]

I went back out with another 20 rounds on the 27th. Kind of an off day for me. There
were several people at the range which I am not used to at all. Couldn't freely run out
to the chrono and the targets . I also had extreme velocity spreads so I must have
mixed up case weights or annealed batches. When the velocities were tight the 87's
literally punched one ragged hole at 300 yards. The gun has never shot better. After
50 rounds they display no signs of instability from a 1:10. I'll be going back out as
soon as the weather allows. It may be a bit tough driving out to the 300 yard line. Lot's
of snow is falling.

 

[mcseal2]

I had plans to do some longer range shooting this afternoon, but the wind was 15-20mph so I decided it wasn't the time. My 100yd range is protected really well but my longer range is shooting from one hill into the next couple slopes so you get the full effect of the wind there.

I went calling instead in a low spot out of the wind and got a coyote with the 87gr bullets. I walked up on a flock of turkeys heading into my stand and had to wait for them to clear out before walking on in. The turkeys headed out and spooked a coyote from the tall grass. He stopped on a hillside at 225yds and by then I was kneeling with my sticks and nailed him. I didn't want to risk calling him closer since he was in short grass and stopped. I got 37 coyotes in 2010, and this was #1 for 2011.

The Berger performed consistently with the last coyote I shot with them, and those I've shot with the 95gr VLD. It entered behind the front shoulder and exited right in front of the opposite hip. The exit wound was 1" in diameter according to the ruler on my Leatherman. The coyote stayed on his feet for about 20 seconds after the shot, spinning and biting at his side. He made it about 35yds before going down. It did the job, but I'd have liked to see him drop at the shot, especially where the bullet angled through the chest and had more room to expand.

These bullets might work well for a dedicated pelt hunter, causing minimal damage on a coyote and zipping through a fox or bobcat. I haven't had the opportunity to take either of those yet with them. Much of my coyote hunting is done in areas divided up with property lines and near 6-8ft tall grass, so recovery of a coyote that runs off can be tricky. In open country this would not be much of a problem.

As I've stated before I think the VLD bullets do great for the big game they are designed for. They aren't my favorite coyote bullet, at least from my 20" barrel. Coyotes just don't seem to have enough body mass to absorb the delayed expansion of the bergers, they don't do enough damage on the way through. With Bergers, coyotes shot within 175yds seem to drop quickly with my rifle, and those shot farther almost always travel after the shot. Guess I should use the Berger hunting bullets for game and the varmint bullets for varmints and quit complaining.

 

[Iron Worker]

V-Maxs on Coyotes are awesome .

 

[mcseal2]

V-Maxs on Coyotes are awesome .

I used the 75gr V-max for several years on coyotes with great results, but after I shot a bobcat with one I decided I needed to switch for calling. The exit wound was the size of a dinner plate. I still haven't found anything bigger than a 17 or 22 mag that does great on cats, and they don't offer the range I want for coyotes. I am trying to find a load for 60gr Partitions from my 223 for places where I may get coyotes or cats and will use the 243 for places where I expect only coyotes.

 

[Iron Worker]

I used the 75gr V-max for several years on coyotes with great results, but after I shot a bobcat with one I decided I needed to switch for calling. The exit wound was the size of a dinner plate. I still haven't found anything bigger than a 17 or 22 mag that does great on cats, and they don't offer the range I want for coyotes. I am trying to find a load for 60gr Partitions from my 223 for places where I may get coyotes or cats and will use the 243 for places where I expect only coyotes.

Looks like you might of answered your own question. You say the 87gr Berger doesn't open up on a coyote right ? Maybe the little damage it does is good enough for a quick kill on a Bob cat ?

 

[mcseal2]

Looks like you might of answered your own question. You say the 87gr Berger doesn't open up on a coyote right ? Maybe the little damage it does is good enough for a quick kill on a Bob cat ?

I thought of that also, I hope to get the opportunity to find out in the near future. It may work fine for fox or bobcat.

 

[Iron Worker]

I'm on the look out for a few volunteer coyotes for my bullet test my self....... LOL

 

[flyin lizard]

I have a 10 twist Howa 1500 .243. Mostly WW brass , but also a few FC. AS for powder I have IMR 4320, 4350, H-380, Varget, R-19 , AA 2520.
I have range distance available out to 600 yds.

I would be very happy to test some bullets for you..
email sent

 

[johnnyk]

I did some initial testing on 11/20/10 but haven't been able to continue due to various reasons. Mostly deer season, holidays and honey doo's.

For that day; 12:00pm, 73deg partly cloudy, winds ESE 3-5mph, 48% humidity, BP 30.32.
Rifle: Winchester Model 70HVB, .243Win.
Powder: RL17, Primer: CCI BR2, OAL: 2.2435", Remington cases, fired 3X and annealed, neck sized.

41.5gn 3185/3234 (3210fps) ES: 49.37, SD: 34.65 (two shot fouling group)
41.5gn 3249/3216/3238 (3234fps) ES: 32.81, SD: 16.79 .5625"
42.0gn 3284/3278/3268 (3276fps) ES: 15.96, SD: 8.06 .3625"
42.5gn 3304/3262/3309 (3292fps) ES: 46.39, SD: 25.80 .5745"

same day, 2:40pm, after barrel cleaning.

42.5gn 1 fouling shot.
42.5gn 3300/3276/3267 (3281fps) ES: 32.95, SD: 17.05 .3685"
43.0gn 3310/3330/3317 (3319fps) ES: 19.12, SD: 10.14 .4420"
43.5gn 3370/3372/3369 (3371fps) ES: 3.76, SD: 1.41 .8905"

Shooting/testing was done at 100yd range and as you can see from the listed results, 42.0 and 42.5gn seem to provide the best accuracy. This was my first time trying RL17 also.
Future plans are to try other powders that have produced better accuracy with this range bullet weight in this rifle, stretch the range to 500yds and take a critter of some sort.
JohnnyK.

 

[buckturd]

Just a FYI, I just got done doing some load work on a 6mm-WSM and ran the 87 vld's up to 3800-3900 fps. They all made it too the target at 150 yds.
This was out of a Pac-Nor 4 groove 8.6 twist groups ranged from .5 on up too 2". Also the 105's all survived at up too 3650, these where the hunting version.