Shawn Carlock
Sponsor
Here is what I found testing the new 300 gr Berger Hybrids.
SPECS vs. SIERRA MATCHKING
...........................................SMK .....BERGER
OVERALL LENGTH ........... .1.718" 1.824"
BARING SURFACE ............. .649" .571"
DIAMETER MAX BARING... .3385" .3385
DIAMETER MIN BARING ... .3385" .3381"
BARING SURFACE ES............ .019" .006"
BASE TO FORWARD BARING .897" .891
BOAT TAIL LENGTH ............. .240" .316"
OAL RELATIVE TO LANDS..... .000" +.126"
WEIGHT AVE.................... 300.0 gr 300.2 gr
NOTES:
BERGER 300 GR HYBRID
OAL IN CANYON RIFLE # 0051 - 3.000" W COMP #1 TO LANDS OR 3.920" OAL STANDARD 338 EDGE CHAMBER
HEAD SPACE OF FIRED CASE 3.019" W GAUGE
LOADED TO AN OAL OF 3.000" W COMP # 1
H1000
90.0 GR 2801 FPS
91.0 GR 2812 FPS
92.0 GR 2861 FPS
93.0 GR 2873 FPS FAINT EJECTOR MARK, SHOT WELL
94.0 GR DNS
95.0 GR DNS
96.0 GR DNS
+P TEST RIFLE – OAL to lands 3.268" or OAL of 4.200", barely in the neck of the case
Loaded: H1000 an OAL w comp # 1 to 3.267"
95.0 gr. 2807 fps
96.0 gr. 2824 fps
97.0 gr. 2849 fps
98.0 gr. 2892 fps
99.0 gr. 2930 fps
100.0 gr. 2969 fps
101.0 gr. 3003 fps faint ejector mark
102.0 gr. 3030 fps visible ejector mark but bolt not sticky
Loaded 101 gr for test, accuracy was horrible 3-4" at 100 yards. ES 12 fps and 3003 ave velocity.
Loaded 96.0 gr and shot 3/8" at 100 yards
Loaded 100 gr and shot < 3/8" with 1-11 twist +P Krieger barrel at 3052 fps
Loaded 101 gr and shot <1/2 moa at 100 yards with + P and 300 SMK's
Final Notes:
The Berger bullet seems to be a great bullet in terms of accuracy and actually shoots a little faster than a 300 gr SMK in all applications tested (total of 5 rifles).
Bullet design generated less peak chamber pressure and seemed to require slightly more powder to achieve the same velocity as the 300 SMK. At the same relative pressure the Berger shot 30-45 fps faster.
At velocities below 2900 fps twist rates of 1-9, 1-10, 1-11 shot well. At velocities above 2900 fps 1-10 and 1-11 shot well, however the 1-9 twist was just plain nasty. In the 1-9 twist test rifle that shot so poorly at 3003 fps the powder charge was reduced to a level of just under 2900 fps and shot the best groups of the day. It is quite clear that you can twist this bullet too fast at a certain velocity threshold. If I was building a rifle capable of driving the bullet over 3000 I would not go with a faster twist than 1-10 and would lean toward a 1-11 twist.
A note on transonic / super sonic range and twists - for sure the 1-11 will not shoot worth a **** when the bullet go near or into the transonic range, it is possible that no amount of twist will help this. The positive note is that if you drive the bullet 3000 fps that the transonic boundry is around 2700 yards given reasonable atmospheric conditions.
I believe that this bullet has huge potential and I am looking forward to serious long range testing in the future with it.
SPECS vs. SIERRA MATCHKING
...........................................SMK .....BERGER
OVERALL LENGTH ........... .1.718" 1.824"
BARING SURFACE ............. .649" .571"
DIAMETER MAX BARING... .3385" .3385
DIAMETER MIN BARING ... .3385" .3381"
BARING SURFACE ES............ .019" .006"
BASE TO FORWARD BARING .897" .891
BOAT TAIL LENGTH ............. .240" .316"
OAL RELATIVE TO LANDS..... .000" +.126"
WEIGHT AVE.................... 300.0 gr 300.2 gr
NOTES:
BERGER 300 GR HYBRID
OAL IN CANYON RIFLE # 0051 - 3.000" W COMP #1 TO LANDS OR 3.920" OAL STANDARD 338 EDGE CHAMBER
HEAD SPACE OF FIRED CASE 3.019" W GAUGE
LOADED TO AN OAL OF 3.000" W COMP # 1
H1000
90.0 GR 2801 FPS
91.0 GR 2812 FPS
92.0 GR 2861 FPS
93.0 GR 2873 FPS FAINT EJECTOR MARK, SHOT WELL
94.0 GR DNS
95.0 GR DNS
96.0 GR DNS
+P TEST RIFLE – OAL to lands 3.268" or OAL of 4.200", barely in the neck of the case
Loaded: H1000 an OAL w comp # 1 to 3.267"
95.0 gr. 2807 fps
96.0 gr. 2824 fps
97.0 gr. 2849 fps
98.0 gr. 2892 fps
99.0 gr. 2930 fps
100.0 gr. 2969 fps
101.0 gr. 3003 fps faint ejector mark
102.0 gr. 3030 fps visible ejector mark but bolt not sticky
Loaded 101 gr for test, accuracy was horrible 3-4" at 100 yards. ES 12 fps and 3003 ave velocity.
Loaded 96.0 gr and shot 3/8" at 100 yards
Loaded 100 gr and shot < 3/8" with 1-11 twist +P Krieger barrel at 3052 fps
Loaded 101 gr and shot <1/2 moa at 100 yards with + P and 300 SMK's
Final Notes:
The Berger bullet seems to be a great bullet in terms of accuracy and actually shoots a little faster than a 300 gr SMK in all applications tested (total of 5 rifles).
Bullet design generated less peak chamber pressure and seemed to require slightly more powder to achieve the same velocity as the 300 SMK. At the same relative pressure the Berger shot 30-45 fps faster.
At velocities below 2900 fps twist rates of 1-9, 1-10, 1-11 shot well. At velocities above 2900 fps 1-10 and 1-11 shot well, however the 1-9 twist was just plain nasty. In the 1-9 twist test rifle that shot so poorly at 3003 fps the powder charge was reduced to a level of just under 2900 fps and shot the best groups of the day. It is quite clear that you can twist this bullet too fast at a certain velocity threshold. If I was building a rifle capable of driving the bullet over 3000 I would not go with a faster twist than 1-10 and would lean toward a 1-11 twist.
A note on transonic / super sonic range and twists - for sure the 1-11 will not shoot worth a **** when the bullet go near or into the transonic range, it is possible that no amount of twist will help this. The positive note is that if you drive the bullet 3000 fps that the transonic boundry is around 2700 yards given reasonable atmospheric conditions.
I believe that this bullet has huge potential and I am looking forward to serious long range testing in the future with it.
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I think this one will make for good competition against the SMK's.
