Berger VLD Seating Depth Test Results

[Wedgy]

6.5 x 284 140 grain hunting under 52.0 gr H1000 fed 210m seated various depths @200 yards. Two groups of 3 shots in each but #3 & #4 got 2 groups of 4. Usually I get a group that stands out but not in this case. Didn't use the Magneto as I was just looking depth. Cranked up 11 MOA and sent the last 2 shots into the 600 yard steel. Nothing really stood out good or bad as other tests. Should I go out to 400 yards ?
Suggestions ?
Thanks

#1) 0.000" jump (pretty sure I pulled the first shot a bit to the right)

#2) 0.040"

#3) 0.080"

#4) 0.120"

 

[Rick Richard]

These look real good at 200. The 'proof in the pudding' is to continue out to the longer ranges that you are anticipating shooting and verify results. Sooner or later the best load will reveal itself.

 

[pods8]

6.5 x 284 140 grain hunting under 52.0 gr H1000

Just to raz you, this made me chuckle a tad. You say over when referencing the bullet (IE 6.5 x 284 140 grain hunting over 52.0 gr H1000or alternatively 6.5 x 284 52.0 gr H1000 under 140 grain hunting).

I'd likely look to load 2 at the moment, seems prudent to have at least some jump in a hunting situation so you don't stick a bullet, it seemed tighter or equal to 3 & 4 and leaves the most case capacity. You could play around in the .0-.040" range with some farther shots.

 

[Corey Schwanz]

As said above, I'd likely not want to be actually touching the lands for hunting. Just to many things to go wrong in the field. Those are all looking very good for 200 yds. If you have longer ranges available now, I would try to push it back a bit to see if more distance will show you anything different. sometimes a slight change is hard to pick out at close range but longer shots may reveal something a bit different.

Certainly seems like your rifle is a shooter at this point!!

 

[RockZ]

Looks like less vertical in the 1st two.
I'd split the difference and try .020 off.
Nice shooting at 200yds!

 

[Wedgy]

So I loaded up 6 more of each starting at 0.010" , 0.050", 0.090" & 0.130" "over" the same load (LOL) and will try at 400 yards....when the 25-35mph winds quit. Weather calls for wind the next 3 days and 90 degrees.....then I go pig hunting. Oh well.
So far I like the new build. My first Boyd's stock. I'm not a huge fan of the thumbhole but I loved the layered wood colors. I was going to Ceracoat(I usually Duracoat them myself) but I liked the blasted stainless on the Savage 116, 26" Criterion 1-8" flutes and brake by Travis at TS Custom and less than 3 week turn around including shipping !
Thanks again for the input

 

[Jaxdialation]

Seems to me I recall Berger saying that one jump distance will obviously shoot better than the others. There's nothing obvious here at all.

As he moves back the distance, more variables outside of seating depth will come into play in determining group size. Should he ignore horizontal spread as the wind becomes more of a factor?

As said above, I'd likely not want to be actually touching the lands for hunting. Just to many things to go wrong in the field. Those are all looking very good for 200 yds. If you have longer ranges available now, I would try to push it back a bit to see if more distance will show you anything different. sometimes a slight change is hard to pick out at close range but longer shots may reveal something a bit different.

Certainly seems like your rifle is a shooter at this point!!

 

[barefooter56]

Seems to me I recall Berger saying that one jump distance will obviously shoot better than the others. There's nothing obvious here at all.

As he moves back the distance, more variables outside of seating depth will come into play in determining group size. Should he ignore horizontal spread as the wind becomes more of a factor?

Jaxdialation, Wedgy
Yes. Ignore the horizontal. Its a "weather report". What you want is a very low (if any) vertical spread. This also is indicated by a low SD ( 10 or less) chronograph reading. What I would suggest to Wedgy at this point is to go to .005 off the lands then .010 and see what the group does. He may have to go further than that but maybe not. If he wants to 'tweak" it a little from that point go .001-.002 to either side from the best. The accuracy nodes we list .010-.050-.090-.130 are what we recommend to try to get you close as these depths seemed to repeat as accuracy seating depth nodes in our testing. It dosent mean that one of these WILL work absolutely in your rifle. If one does its gravy.

 

[FearNoWind]

What stands out to me is that #1 has almost no verticle component. The others seem to like to move up and down. I'd stick with the #1 or something very close thereto.

 

[CliffM]

I dunno, but, to me it looks like you have a rifle that is just not at all fussy about depth. If you overlay groups 2,3, and 4 you have 1 group roughly 2 bullets wide by 3 bullets high. I would go straight to 1000 or at least 600 minimum and get a little space between those holes
Nice rig
Cliff

 

[Greyfox]

I dunno, but, to me it looks like you have a rifle that is just not at all fussy about depth. If you overlay groups 2,3, and 4 you have 1 group roughly 2 bullets wide by 3 bullets high. I would go straight to 1000 or at least 600 minimum and get a little space between those holes
Nice rig
Cliff

I agree with this. Those are tight groups and it's possible thst a single depth setting shot several times could show the same variation as seen in your targets. While this has not been the case with other calibers I own, my two 6.5x284's using both Berger and JLK 140's show less sensitivity to seating depth. I found I could keep my groups within .25MOA from in the lands to .080. I ended up choosng .075" off the lands because it's where I had the lowest ES, <12FPS, with both of my rifles. This checked out well, with concentric groups and good accuracy at 500 and 1000 yards. An added benefit of going further off the lands, if feasible, is that loaded rounds are less susceptible to being knocked out of concentricity. Seated to the lands, there is not much neck holding the boat tail 140's and care must be taken when handling them in the field.IMO

 

[wbm]

I agree with this.

Me too. Probably should move the target to 400 and see how much vertical spread you get. One thing for sure if you miss the critter you shoot at you won't be able to fault the Savage. Good shooting!