Bryan Litz joins Berger Bullets

[Eric Stecker]

It is my great pleasure and sincere honor to announce that Bryan Litz has joined Berger Bullets as our Ballistician. Bryan is well known on many forums but for those of you who want to learn more about Bryan you can visit his website at http://bryanlitz.bravehost.com/.

Bryan’s unbiased and purely scientific approach to bullet performance testing and analysis will be put to use in the optimization of our current line and the development of new bullets and calibers. I am encouraging Bryan to continue assisting shooters by providing them information that is based entirely upon scientific fact rather than brand loyalty.

It is our goal to make the best bullets in the world. Bryan’s facts based approach will add a strong design element to our already strong manufacturing process. I believe Bryan’s unbiased and science based guidance will be best for Berger and ultimately best for the shooters.

It will take time as this will be a deliberate process, but you will see our entire line evolve into bullets that are optimized for top performance in specific applications. If this results in the discontinuation of a bullet you are using I can assure you it is because this bullet will be replaced by a proven enhancement.

This move will result in many new developments (not all bullet specific) toward improving the shooting experience and growing the shooting sports. I encourage you to congratulate Bryan and to present him with any technically related bullet design comments or concerns on this forum or directly at bsl135@yahoo.com.

Regards,
Eric Stecker
Executive Vice President
Berger Bullets

[Len Backus]

Welcome, Bryan and congrats on a great recruitment, Eric.

[Buffalobob]

Don't let him mess with the 6mm 115 Gr Berger. Its good enough already!

[bsl135]

Hi guys,
Well, I just turned in my government badges and got all the classified info scooped out of my brain. I'm now a full time servant of the shooting industry. As most of you know, I've been doing ballistics work part time for various vendors and publications. My position as Ballistician at Berger Bullets is a natural evolution of that role.

I've admired the progress and initiative of Berger Bullets over the last few years, and am thrilled to be a part of it now. As Eric described, many of my responsibilities will be tied directly to Berger, and I intend to do my best. It is also our goal to make shooting as enjoyable as possible for everyone, regardless of what discipline or equipment they choose. If this means recommending a 'non-Berger' bullet because it's better for a particular application, then that's what we'll do (then promptly get to work making a better Berger bullet for that application :^) In other words, I intend to continue providing facts based analysis that's not just the company line.

Len, Thanks for the welcoming comment.

BuffaloBob, The 6mm 115 VLD is the first on the cut list! Just kidding. Despite the philosophy of the very 'successful' Microsoft company, I hold to the older axiom: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Good shooting,
-Bryan

[Limbic]

I wish you had a majik wand and get my rifle to shoot the dang things. I think the problem is with the brass and not the bullet however. When they do "shoot" the holes sure seem to like each other. All on top each other and touchin and stuff.

[davewilson]

Bryan, welcome to Berger and LRH. now that i have the niceties out of the way, i can assure you the #1 question on everyones mind on this site is...when will we get our paws on some 338 pills? the date has just kept moving back for close to 2 years now and i don't want to see a linch mob get too worked up!

[bsl135]

Dave,
I understand the anticipation. I submitted those (.338) designs in July, and have been eagerly awaiting their arrival myself. As stated elsewhere on this site, the current projected availability date is summer 2009.
The wait is long, but I'm sure that it will be worth it. I for one would rather wait and have it done right rather than hurry up and release bullets made quickly to meet a deadline. When they're available, they'll be right.
In the mean time, I can offer the following estimated performance of those bullets:

All of the Berger .338 bullets are designed to be stable in a 1:10" twist, at any reasonable speed (anything over 2200 fps muzzle velocity).

These numbers are based on the dimensions of the bullets, and a database of information I've compiled that relates measured (tested) BC to bullet geometry. This method results in estimates that are typically within +/- 3% of the measured BC.

The BC's are average from 3000 to 1500 fps.

300 grain Tangent (non-VLD) ogive:
estimated G1 BC: 0.749 lb/in^2
estimated G7 BC: 0.384 lb/in^2

300 grain Secant (VLD) ogive:
estimated G1 BC: 0.855 lb/in^2
estimated G7 BC: 0.438 lb/in^2

I hope this will hold the lynch mob off a little while longer!
Take care,
-Bryan