Custom VS Berger bullets

[Hengehold]

I am curious what quantitative benefits are found between custom bullets and great bullets like Bergers?

1. Are there certain measurement that are ALWAYS more consistent with custom bullets?

2. If so, what are they? Overall weight variation, base to ogive, bearing surface, overall length, something else?

Thanks

-Trevor

 

[ClassCat]

Which Caliber ?

 

[Tim Singleton]

I believe what sets a custom bullet apart from a mass produced bullet probably isn't something you can measure externally

 

[Stan Taylor]

I believe what sets a custom bullet apart from a mass produced bullet probably isn't something you can not measure externally

Elaborate please

 

[dgeesaman]

The guys at my club believe that the best "custom" bullet makers who also compete, hand pick the best lots and those don't get out to the regular public. They make their own so that they have full access to their best lots.

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Lots of self-made bullets in the Super Shoot. One Berger, though.

 

[Hengehold]

Which Caliber ?

HAHA, I have a hard time understanding why the caliber would make a difference in the dimensional variations. Could you please explain why this may be the case?

Thanks,
-T

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The guys at my club believe that the best "custom" bullet makers who also compete, hand pick the best lots and those don't get out to the regular public. They make their own so that they have full access to their best lots.

The bulletmakers i know (i know the top ones) are actually opposite. They get whats left over. I know when i shoot with bart from barts bullets we may be shooting from a bunch of odd lots of 100 here and 250 there. Every bullet they make is sold so theres no stockpile to choose from gotta get those bullets out to waiting customers and when theres 250 left in a lot of jackets thats what they shoot. Its not a conspiracy of sending better bullets to better shooters either so we cant start that up

 

[Tim Singleton]

Elaborate please

Core seating punch selection, core seating pressure, jacket stretch both during score seating and point up.
Just a few

 

[ClassCat]

HAHA, I have a hard time understanding why the caliber would make a difference in the dimensional variations. Could you please explain why this may be the case?

Thanks,
-T

It is easier to craft the smaller calibers 22,6MM, anything under 308. Once you get into the bigger stuff it becomes more difficult. Have you seen many custom 308 or larger bullet makers ?
I make my own 243's ,squirt cores,Seating and point up. A real pain in the AZZ,but worth it in QUALITY, savings and customization.

 

[ShootDots]

If you take measurements from "Base-to-Ogive" MOST customs are NO MORE than +\- 1 thousandths. The weight are usually kept to +\- 0.02grs. and the "Base-to-Tips" are usually less than 5 thousandths difference. About the only "Non-Custom" bullets made that are NOT custom and fit those tolerances are the Lapua Scenars. Yet I don't see Scenars shooting any better than Berger's!

 

[Hengehold]

It is easier to craft the smaller calibers 22,6MM, anything under 308. Once you get into the bigger stuff it becomes more difficult. Have you seen many custom 308 or larger bullet makers ?
I make my own 243's ,squirt cores,Seating and point up. A real pain in the AZZ,but worth it in QUALITY, savings and customization.

Thanks. I would consider custom bullets mostly in .30cal and 6.5mm.

 

[ClassCat]

Thanks. I would consider custom bullets mostly in .30cal and 6.5mm.

Bart makes a 30 Cal, But they are on 925 jackets and around 125 Gn
FYI

 

[dgeesaman]

The bulletmakers i know (i know the top ones) are actually opposite. They get whats left over. I know when i shoot with bart from barts bullets we may be shooting from a bunch of odd lots of 100 here and 250 there. Every bullet they make is sold so theres no stockpile to choose from gotta get those bullets out to waiting customers and when theres 250 left in a lot of jackets thats what they shoot. Its not a conspiracy of sending better bullets to better shooters either so we cant start that up

There are 3 BR shooters at my club who make their own bullets. Each of them told me they believe that and it's why they make their own. It doesn't make sense to me, but hey I'm not making bullets with evidence to disagree.

Personally I don't see how a bullet maker could "test" every lot and hand-pick them. They have more than enough stuff to do.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The good ones do test every lot but only to make sure they work- they dont have time to find the holy grail out of every lot. Making bullets is an art thats not acquired by buying 10k worth of stuff and gettin after it. Thats a good way to really stick it to the bullet guys when they probably shoot 1k/yr

 

[STS]

The guys at my club believe that the best "custom" bullet makers who also compete, hand pick the best lots and those don't get out to the regular public. They make their own so that they have full access to their best lots.

In my experience this is not the case at all. I don't compete any more but when I did I made and sold a pretty good number of custom BR bullets. I always told anyone that I sold bullets to they could trade bullets with me any time they wanted to. No one ever took me up on it but the offer was always on the table.

 

[STS]

The bulletmakers i know (i know the top ones) are actually opposite. They get whats left over. I know when i shoot with bart from barts bullets we may be shooting from a bunch of odd lots of 100 here and 250 there. Every bullet they make is sold so theres no stockpile to choose from gotta get those bullets out to waiting customers and when theres 250 left in a lot of jackets thats what they shoot. Its not a conspiracy of sending better bullets to better shooters either so we cant start that up

That's exactly what I did. J4 .705 .22 jackets came 2600 to the bucket. I ran lots numbers of 4 buckets or 10,400 bullets. The 400 (minus any set ups or culls) was what I loaded and shot.

 

[X-Caveman]

I have noticed superior lot-to-lot consistency with custom 105 6MM vs Berger. I’m talking base to ogive length at touch.

I also once had an absolute stinker lot of Berger 108s and getting them replaced was a huge hassle. If that were to happen with a custom, you could call and speak to owner. I suspect it would be a lot easier to remedy.

You can also have customs built to your own specs by guys like Don Lahr. Choose from a selection of weights, ogive #, flat base or boat tail, meplant diameter, etc.

 

[Tim Singleton]

When someone thinks they have a bad lot of custom Bullets.
More times than not its the setup the guy is shooting.
How straight is your loaded ammunition?
Did you actually find the right seating depth ?
Do you have the right neck tension?

With a mass produced bullet I don't have the same level confidence in the bullet as I do with a custom bullet. It could just be a bad lot with Berger or Sierra or Hornady
I know in short range it is a rarity to see a Berger bullet on the line
In long range you see more of them. That is slowly changing as more custom bullet smiths are offering a long range bullet. When we spend the thousands of dollars on rifles and equipment hundreds of dollars traveling. I'm not gonna shoot anything but the best I can find. Saving a few bucks per thousand on Bullets after spending thousands getting there isn't the best idea

 

[jimmymac]

I am curious what quantitative benefits are found between custom bullets and great bullets like Bergers?

1. Are there certain measurement that are ALWAYS more consistent with custom bullets?

2. If so, what are they? Overall weight variation, base to ogive, bearing surface, overall length, something else?

Thanks

-Trevor

I'm just a new guy, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt. But...I think I've shot enough to have an opinion, so here's mine.

All customs are not created equal. I've measured. I've weighed. Just because a guy can hang a shingle selling bullets doesn't make them any better than what Berger sells, but IMO the guys that do it right can and do make better bullets than Berger.