I am trying to decide if I want to load up the 168gr berger or the 180gr berger and I have run the ballistics on them and there is hardly any difference out to 1000yards. I have been using the berger ballistic program. What do you guys think, can you guys try it in your programs and see what you get? Its a 26" barrel and I figured around max for both weights. Elevation will be around 5000'. My guess was around 3050 for the 168's and 2950 for the 180. Thanks
I have done the same and got the same results, 168 slightly better on drop, 180 slightly better on windage.
I've gone with the 168. Only shoot deer in NZ, no need for the extra recoil with the 180 gr.
I've run it on Exbal and Ballistic and there is hardly any difference, I didn't look at KE though. I bought the 180's because they are better on windage. Adding a couple of clicks for elevation is easy. Figuring the wind correctly or a gust is the tough part, so I'll take all the help I can get there. I don't know about the difference in recoil. Seems to me that you take away some bullet weight but add in more powder and you're right back where you started. I actually thought that my 300 WM w/165 grn. bullets kicked worse than it did w/180 grn. bullets.
I pondered the same thing with my 7mag. I started with the 168's, and they shot so good I just stuck with them. The 180's take a little faster twist and your barrel may not stabilize them. FWIW 3050fps. with a 26" is obtainable. Try H1000 and 215m's.
I've shot both out of my 7STW, and I decided to go with the 180s simpy because to get the 168s to group well I had to seat them on the lands which turned my bolt action into a single shot. The 180s I could seat to magizne length and they grouped better than the 168s.
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