Berger Jacket Thickness

[Edd]

Is there a data sheet somewhere that shows the actual jacket thickness of Berger bullets. I'd like to know the thickness of their 6mm hunting and target jackets.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Is there a data sheet somewhere that shows the actual jacket thickness of Berger bullets. I'd like to know the thickness of their 6mm hunting and target jackets.

Not that I am aware of. I have been inquiring about the same thing with some of Berger's new hybrid bullets. Berger did respond to my emails but on two occasions did not answer my jacket thickness question for some reason. I ordered the bullets I was inquiring about and I am going to use a dremel tool and slice it in half along with one of my current Berger hunting VLD bullets and compare thicknesses with a micrometer or dial caliper.

 

[elkaholic]

Is there a data sheet somewhere that shows the actual jacket thickness of Berger bullets. I'd like to know the thickness of their 6mm hunting and target jackets.

I use some of the J4 jackets (Berger) for swaging my own bullets and the ones that I have measured are .012" at the mouth and I think .020-.025" at the base......Rich

 

[Edd]

I thought they called all their jackets "J4" regardless if it was the thick target jackets or the thinner hunting ones.

 

[elkaholic]

I thought they called all their jackets "J4" regardless if it was the thick target jackets or the thinner hunting ones.

They probably do, but I think the ones they sell to the public are the thin ones which used to be target and are now designated hunting. The thick jacket target bullets are probably not sold as jackets only but you would have to call berger to confirm.

 

[Gene]

J4 is a division of Berger. They produce jackets only, and these are sold to bullet makers. The thickness may be proprietary. Their "hunting" bullets have thinner jackets than "target" bullets, to preclude break up in flight. As far as I know, Sierra is the only other manufacturer of jackets.

 

[Edd]

The thickness may be proprietary.

It's going to be tough to keep something like this a secret. Anyone can buy them and measure them.

 

[elkaholic]

J4 is a division of Berger. They produce jackets only, and these are sold to bullet makers. The thickness may be proprietary. Their "hunting" bullets have thinner jackets than "target" bullets, to preclude break up in flight. As far as I know, Sierra is the only other manufacturer of jackets.

That's how I know they measure .012" Corbin also makes jackets but not for every application.....Rich

 

[Bullseye]

J4 is a division of Berger. They produce jackets only, and these are sold to bullet makers. The thickness may be proprietary. Their "hunting" bullets have thinner jackets than "target" bullets, to preclude break up in flight. As far as I know, Sierra is the only other manufacturer of jackets.

Hornady manufactures their own jackets as well.

 

[elkaholic]

Hornady manufactures their own jackets as well.

But they don't sell jackets to the public, do they?......Rich

 

[Bullseye]

But they don't sell jackets to the public, do they?......Rich

No, they don't.

 

[jrivera1]

tag

 

[AZShooter]

There are bits and pieces regarding jacket thickness. Am not aware of any one measuring the 6mms.

In a e-mail with Bryan Litz we discussed the 180 VLD hunting vs the 180 VLD target and he said:

"I can tell you that the thick jackets of the target bullets are only ~0.003" to 0.004" thicker per side than the standard thickness (hunting) jackets. "

Tumbleweed sectioned the 210 VLD and compared it to the 215 hybrid a while ago.

Tumbleweed Tumbleweed is offline
Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tillamook, Oregon
Posts: 304

re: Comparing the Berger 210 VLD to the 215 Hybrid

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Ok, I took the time this evening to cut apart a 215 Hybrid Target and a 210 VLD hunting bullet in order to compare jacket thickness. I was surprised at how very close the averaged thicknesses were between the two bullets. Of course I discovered the same thing a year ago when I compared the 210 VLD hunting and a 230 Hybrid Target in the same manner. I measured from the base of each jacket up to the ogive in six different places. I measured twice in order to get an average on each measurement for each jacket.

210 VLD Hunting average thickness between all measurements: .0218"

215 Hybrid Target average thickness between all measurements: .024"

That leaves a difference of .0022" between the two.

I did notice that both bullets start out at the base with a .027" thickness. The 210 VLD quickly drops to .023" thick just .125" above the base. It gradually tapers off to .019" into the top part of the ogive.
Thanks to you Tumbleweed. Link to this thread: http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/comparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/index8.html

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Tumbleweed: hope you get around to comparing the two 6mms one of these days.
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[elkaholic]

What really makes the difference in expansion is the thickness at the nose as well as shape, meplat diameter, and tipped or not. A .003-.004" difference in thickness there is very significant! Most J4 jackets that I have measured are approx. .014-.015" at the tip......Rich