7mm and Berger 168 VLD

[txsendero]

Hoping you guys can offer some suggestions on where I can go from here. 7mm Rem Mag, 26" barrel, trying to get the 168 Berger VLD to shoot well. Worked up to 71.5 gr. Retumbo in half grain increments, then started trying seating depths from .005" off lands to .020" off, in .005" increments. The loads @ 71 gr and 70.5 gr seated .005" off the lands are promising, with 2 in same hole, and 1 out (sometimes 1st and 2nd in same hole, sometimes 1st and 3rd in same hole), but still nothing better than about 1-1/2" group. Using Federal brass, CCI 250 primers. I would really like to shoot these bullets, but right now my best groups are actually Rem factory ammo w/150 gr. Sciroccos (3/4"). Any ideas on what to try next?

[Magnus]

I have a custom with a 30" tube and I shoot the 168gr VDLs! I use H4831, Federal GM primer, Nosler brass and seat the bullets on the rifling!
Hope this gives you an idea!

[tjonh2001]

the thing with berger vlds it can take awhile to find your load. i think it took me around 1o different loads till i started to see improvment. i am useing a remignton 700 in 7mmwsm with a 28" broughton barrel. i shoot the 168 bergers with h4831, this has been my best powder. i am also using this in my 6x47 lapua with 105 vlds. try some h4831 they seem to like it.

[shootinfool]

I use 64.9 gr of 7828 ssc in a winchester casing with a federal lrm primer. I seat the bullet .005 into the lands and grooves of the barrel. Consistant sub 1/2 moa all day long. It took alot of working up loads with different powder and seating depths to find this one. About the only powder that I didn't try was Retumbo. Is there any work done to the gun? what distance are you shooting at, 100, 200?

[txsendero]

It is a Sendero that has been glass bedded by Briley, has a 2.5 lb Rifle Basix trigger, and the action and barrel have been cryoed, and has a Briley muzzle brake.

[shootinfool]

Try pushing them into the lands and grooves anywhere from .005-.015. I know when I started working up a load for my rem 700 pss in 7mm mag, I starded at .005 and worked my way out to .020. The shot groups varried and some were good and some were bad but most werren't repeatable. One day one combo would work out and the next it wouldn't be good. I talked with walt berger and he said to try putting them into the lands and grooves. This would make sure that the bullet is strait with the barrel. This might not work in some guns that aren't trued up. When I tried this, it solved the problem 100%. All the groups with the 7828 ssc powder were about half inch at 100. I was very pleased with this. I also read a post on here earlier that with the vld's you want to shoot at 2 or 300 yards instead of grouping at 100. This will allow the bullet to stabilize with some extra flight time. I tried this and the gun was shooting at about 1/3-1/2 moa. Hope this helps.

[wnroscoe]

Find one of your cases that has an ID of .282" to .2825", apply sizing die wax or another type of case lube on the bearing surface of the bullet, seat it long and close the bolt on it. It's my finding that this will be approx. .010" +- 005" in the lands. This is where all of my Bergers have shot. VLD's are seating depth sensitive but this method has worked for me very well. Good luck and good shooting.

William