Berger 115 VLDs Meplats

Buffalobob · #1 07-17-2007, 07:01 AM

I was finishing loading up the last of my antelope bullets for this Fall and had to go and open a new box of Berger 6mm 115 gr VLDs. These bullets were in the new orange box so I was admiring the box and the way the orange reflected light caused the bullets to look different. So I took one out and looked at the bullet and it still looked different. The more I looked, the more things looked strange. I had no unloaded old bullets left but I could compare the meplats by eyeball.

First thing is the lot number of the old bullets was 0361500 and the lot number of the new bullets was 0000585.

Every old bullet had an open meplat that was actually an opening. Every new bullet had the meplat totally closed and there was a bur on each and every meplat. Even more peculiarly, each nose had tool marks on it like some one had taken a pair of pliers and squeezed the meplat closed. Without taking a lot of time I could not determine if some of the meplats were truly out of alignment from the squeezing but it certainly is starting to worry me.

I have searched the main benchrest forums and can find no information on this particular bullet that would indicate Berger made a change. Does anyone know what is going on with the Berger mepalts and this particular bullet.

Fiftydriver · #2 07-17-2007, 09:38 AM

Richard Graves has been having a hell of a time with the new Berger Jackets, the reason, they are inconsistant in hardness and often to hard I believe.

The results is that you get pressure folds in the ogive which is what your seeing in the Berger bullets made off the same jackets. In all honesty, this will probably not effect accuracy much but cosmetically it does not look nice.

As far as the meplats, if your using them on game, I would recommend getting a meplate uniformer and opening them up, espeically for pronghorns or they will be damn near through the critter before they start to open up much.

Kirby Allen(50)

BountyHunter · #3 07-17-2007, 01:47 PM

1. the orange box signifies a berger "hunting" bullet versus match (yellow box) bullet. Berger is now saying that the match bullets can be used for hunting.

2. Go to BRcentral and PM Eric Stecker, who is an engineer and defacto spokesperson for Berger on BRcentral.

BH

eddybo · #4 07-23-2007, 11:45 AM

BB,
Have you had any problems with blow ups with the new lot?

I had an older lot that shot great as long as I kept the velocity reasonable. With the new lots that I have I get a boomerang shaped hole one out of ten shots even keeping velocity below 2950.

hogslayer · #5 07-23-2007, 06:03 PM

Buffalo Bob what speed or you getting with the 115,s in your 240, and what or the specs on your barrel.

Buffalobob · #6 07-23-2007, 06:47 PM

I have a 30 inch Spencer barrel with an 8 twist 6 groove. It has a minimum SAAMI chamber and is throated for the 105-107 VLD but likes the Berger 115 jammed.

I do not have a chorongraph so I just claim to shoot faster than the people who believe their 6-06 or 6-284 is fast. If I told you how fast it is then I wouldn't be able to tell big lies about it anymore.

As best I can tell, the velocity is something like 3275 fps if the BC of the bullet is exactly what Berger claims and that matches up with my measured drops very well to 1000 yards. If the BC is less than claimed then my vleocites are over 3300fps.

I have not shot any of the new batch of Bergers and I have had no problems with bullets blowing up but the barrel is still young and I don't let it get hot.

sscoyote · #7 07-25-2007, 02:08 PM

I have some of lot # 857 that look fine. Used them on 2 doe antelope last season out of a Savage Striker 243 WSSM 8 twist Broughton started at 2525 mv. Shots were @ 330 and 420 thru lungs, with quarter size exit wounds on both--good performance i thought. 2020 fps, and 1040 ft.lbs. impact velocity, and energy on the 420 yarder.