I Continue to be Amazed with the 215 Hybrid

[Broz]

Since the start of the testing with the 215 Berger Hybrid in my 300 win. I have visited my 1007 yard steel 4 times. All under good conditions as I am looking to test the rifle and bullets accuracy and also my dial up dope.

I usually only shoot 2 as I am mostly interest in cold bore hits. But two of the 4 groups were 3 shots. All of these groups have been under 4". 3 of the 4 have been in the 2 to 2 1/2" range. All shot prone off a bipod and rear bag in the dirt / snow.

Don't know what it is about these bullets and my 300 win, but they sure seem to play well together.

Here is the 2 shots from today. I am totally blown away with this kind of performance.

 

[toddc]

Since the start of the testing with the 215 Berger Hybrid in my 300 win. I have visited my 1007 yard steel 4 times. All under good conditions as I am looking to test the rifle and bullets accuracy and also my dial up dope.

I usually only shoot 2 as I am mostly interest in cold bore hits. But two of the 4 groups were 3 shots. All of these groups have been under 4". 3 of the 4 have been in the 2 to 2 1/2" range. All shot prone off a bipod and rear bag in the dirt / snow.

Don't know what it is about these bullets and my 300 win, but they sure seem to play well together.

Here is the 2 shots from today. I am totally blown away with this kind of performance.

What kinda bc are you figuring on these? Do they kill well? I wasnt that impressed with the damage level on the old 210s. Course I'm used to a 300 smk lol.

 

[Len Backus]

I just feel so sorry for the coyotes in your neighborhood. They think they're safe at 1K.

Doesn't seem fair.

 

[Broz]

What kinda bc are you figuring on these? Do they kill well? I wasnt that impressed with the damage level on the old 210s. Course I'm used to a 300 smk lol.

I am using the BC right off the box a G7 of .356.

In this thread you will see pics from 19 Big game kills all from this past season. From about 200 yards to 1285 yards.

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/cmparing-berger-210-vld-215-hybrid-88657/

I like the terminal damage better past 600 yards, but they kill just as fast in closer. Just less exits and can be a little abusive on real close exits. But every single entrance was a nice .308" hole.

Jeff

 

[Broz]

I just feel so sorry for the coyotes in your neighborhood. They think they're safe at 1K.

Doesn't seem fair.

Ha ha! The prompting for the shooting today was preparation for the wolf when I find him. Was a awesome day to shoot. Only dialed .5 moa for spin drift and watched the bullet trace all the way.... Sweet!!

The lion hunting will be over soon, so the wolves and yotes are up.

Jeff

 

[toddc]

Never had looked at one. Looks like it will work a lot better terminal than the 210. SOOOPER long and plenty of shank to drive thru once you smear off that nose. May have to dust off the ultra again.

 

[Pdvdh]

Jeff,
How much is your preference for the 215 Hybrid over the 210 VLD based on terminal performance you're seeing on harvested game animals?

I've read some of your posts so I already know they're shooting more accurately and with higher MV from your rifle. And I see that your BC for the 215 Hybrid is also higher than the 210 VLD.

Do you notice any significant difference in on-game performance between the two? And if so, what's the most notable difference you're observing with the wound channels?

 

[bigbuck]

Awesome shooting Jeff. You make it look easygun)
2 questions
1. If I switch from my Berger 210 to the 215's would it be okay to start with the same load that I am running now or should I start all over with load development ?

2. I shot out to 900 yards today should I have taken into account spin drift ? I hit very close but I noticed you dialed it in @1007 (not trying to hijack, just dont want to over look anything)

Thanks

 

[Scot E]

Impressive indeed! That gun of yours and that bullet are a match made in heaven! You better stop shooting that thing so much and start saving it! If I were you I would already be getting nervous thinking about when I had to re-barrel!

The question I have is what are you going to do when the 7mm 195 EOL bullets get here? Then you are going to have a real quandary on your hands!

Scot E.

 

[Broz]

Phorwath, the biggest difference I have seen in what I will call a noticeable pattern between the 210 HVLD and the 215 Target Hybrid is this. In my rifle the 210 was what I will call a solid 1/2 moa rifle to 1000. That means if the group was not .5 moa or a little below it was just slightly above .5 moa. With the 215 it seems I can depend on the groups to have tightened up .2 to .3 moa to 1000. It makes me wonder if I should have spent more time with the 210's load development or if the higher BC of the 215 is helping out. Or ... is the 215 just a more accurate bullet in my rifle.

As far as terminal performance and wound channels, here is how I compare them. First the 210's were killing stuff just as dead for me. I have never tracked an animal with a 210 in it. But it appears the 215's are fragmenting more at closer distances. The shots under 600 yards start out like all did with the 215 with a perfect .308 entrance. But soon after it was in it produced a wound channel like a point blank shot from 12 ga. 00 buck. The fragments tore an wound channel no smaller than 2 to 3" and sent a small percentage of fragments off in a spreading pattern. On smaller animals the exits are large under 600. On the elk the penetration was up to 26" for the 200 yard angle shot with only fragments and the back 1/2 of the jacket to be found just under the hide on the off side. This is bad medicine for any animal and even the ones with less than perfect placement were down in a few steps. One bull did stand long enough for us to consider a follow up shot, but in a short time he was wobbling and went down doing the declining side step. This shot landed at the rear of the rib cage and a little high. The bullet did a better job than we did. I do feel I would have gotten more exits under 600 from the 210 HVLD's though. From 600 on out to as far as I shot game (1285) was were the 215 looked awesome for me. All were showing the same .308 entrance but a more defined wound channel and an exit around 1 1/2" consistently. I am trying to remember here but I think all the kills from 800 out were DRT's dropping in their tracks. That includes shots at 777, 780, 802, 972, 1005, and 1285.

So I guess in a nut shell, more expansion at closer ranges with the 215 and better long range wound channels than the 210 from 600 to 1285.

Jeff

 

[Broz]

Awesome shooting Jeff. You make it look easygun)
2 questions
1. If I switch from my Berger 210 to the 215's would it be okay to start with the same load that I am running now or should I start all over with load development ?

2. I shot out to 900 yards today should I have taken into account spin drift ? I hit very close but I noticed you dialed it in @1007 (not trying to hijack, just dont want to over look anything)

Thanks

1: No back it off about 4 gr and work back up to be safe. I ended up a grain less than the 210 load and had more velocity.

2: Yes, I would have dialed .5 left for spin drift at 900. Today I had stellar conditions. My kestrel would not even hold a 1 mph wind and it was from 10 o'clock. I dialed .5 left for SD and nothing for wind. You can see I was maybe .25 moa right and I think that was from the slight to nothing varying wind.

Jeff

 

[Broz]

Impressive indeed! That gun of yours and that bullet are a match made in heaven! You better stop shooting that thing so much and start saving it! If I were you I would already be getting nervous thinking about when I had to re-barrel!

The question I have is what are you going to do when the 7mm 195 EOL bullets get here? Then you are going to have a real quandary on your hands!

Scot E.

Hi Scott, I have no worries about wearing the tube out. Its just an old 300 win that will last a long time. But I also feel another Hart or Broughton would shoot equally well.

I hope to be among some of the first to get a hold of some of the 195's. This just might actually finally give the 7mm a leg up on the 300 win. But I will have to see.

I thought of you today Scott, as I was trying to center up on that 2" orange dot and hold steady with my NP-R1. I sure would not have wanted a thicker crosshair and would have welcomed one a little thinner.

Jeff

 

[bigbuck]

1: No back it off about 4 gr and work back up to be safe. I ended up a grain less than the 210 load and had more velocity.

2: Yes, I would have dialed .5 left for spin drift at 900. Today I had stellar conditions. My kestrel would not even hold a 1 mph wind and it was from 10 o'clock. I dialed .5 left for SD and nothing for wind. You can see I was maybe .25 moa right and I think that was from the slight to nothing varying wind.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff.

I think I'll finish out this season with the 210's and work up a load this spring with the 215 . I used to shoot the AMAX and it sounds like the 215 up close is similar to an AMAX. I personally think this 215 could be the best all around bullet. Just my opinion. Good shooting and thanks for sharing .

 

[toddc]

My experience has shown that the longer a target style bullet is the better it works. The longer nose starts expansion quicker and the long shank assures penetration. Best of alll worlds.BTW good shootin.