New Berger .224 Bullet

[bpd459]

Greetings,
I have been shooting the B85.5 /.223 rem FTR, for the past few months. Barnard S, 30" Krieger 1-7, .169fb ISSF chamber. Barrel has 550 rounds down range.
Consulting with a renowned Canadian. 223 shooter, he recommended. 24.4-24.6gr N150, for a 2820- 2840fps mv. This with Lapua cases and CCI 450 primers. .015"jump and .0015” neck tension. At the time, I did not have N150 and substituted 24.0gr Varget. Shot like a house afire at 500 and 600yds. Ended up with 8# of N150. Shot just as good as the Varget load. But, I shot this load at 89f and popped primers. Not a happy camper!
Returned to the 24.0 Varget load and took it to Missoula/ Deep Creek a few days ago. These were the first shots on paper at 1000yds. Certainly looks promising! 14.5 moa up from my local 600yd elev. Zero. 2843fps mv, 5.1 SD average.

Take care,
John

 

[OldManTA]

This an update from my last post. I have been developing a load and recently shot two matches using the same Winchester cartridge cases for a total of three loadings. At the second loading I started having slight extraction "stickiness" like the cases should have been sized with a small base die. At the third reloading the primer pockets still seemed reasonably tight. However, during the last match the stickiness during extraction was more universal and pronounced. The last match was a 3 X 500 yard and during the last string of the last match I had a primer come out upon extraction. Rather than risk damaging the action I quit. My conclusion; Winchester brass is not up to the application. I will transition to Lapua. Other, more accomplished competitors are using Lapua brass with similar load parameters and performance and getting better case life.
Thus far, from all reports I have seen, including my own experience, this bullet promises to be very successful in long range prone and Palma competition. However, in order to achieve muzzle velocities in the 2900+ range high pressure loads are required.
Tom Alves
I have purchased a small base form die and primer pocket gage to more closely control my cases.

Update for Palma match at Camp Atterbury, IN on 21June
Switched to Lapua brass. No other load parameter changes. Retained velocity at 1000 yards was slightly higher. Lapua may have less case capacity than the Winchester. 149-9X @ 800, 147-3X @ 900, 145-4X @1000. Some mirage and wind changes toward the last. Post cataract eyes get a little hazy at times. Very good elevation dispersion. I'll see if I can upload Silver Mountain images.
Tom Alves

 

[OldManTA]

Update for Palma match at Camp Atterbury, IN on 21June
Switched to Lapua brass. No other load parameter changes. Retained velocity at 1000 yards was slightly higher. Lapua may have less case capacity than the Winchester. 149-9X @ 800, 147-3X @ 900, 145-4X @1000. Some mirage and wind changes toward the last. Post cataract eyes get a little hazy at times. Very good elevation dispersion. I'll see if I can upload Silver Mountain images.
Tom Alves

This is an update to my previous post. I shot a 3X500 on 4 July making one change to my load; LC08 brass sized and trimmed and run over a mandrel. There appears to be slightly more capacity in this brass than the Lapua looking at primers. The accuracy was not negatively affected: 194-11X, 192-7X, 198-5X in Palma configuration.

 

[LVLAaron]

This is an update to my previous post. I shot a 3X500 on 4 July making one change to my load; LC08 brass sized and trimmed and run over a mandrel. There appears to be slightly more capacity in this brass than the Lapua looking at primers. The accuracy was not negatively affected: 194-11X, 192-7X, 198-5X in Palma configuration.

Borden?

 

[CADDIE5]

What is your bto or coal measurement with the Berger 85.5hybrid and the issf reamer fb of 0.169? I unithroated my brux 7 twist 30"barrel so the Berger 85.5hybrid touches the lands at 2.5350" coal. This allows me to shoot 80smk(.020 jump) (23.4gr Varget)at 300 yds in our f class league at 2.48" coal. Do I need to throat more for Bergers for 600yd midrange? How much for 1000 yds (2.57" coal?)Shooting 223 rem Barnard rifle ftr.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[OldManTA]

Borden?

Yes

 

[OldManTA]

What is your bto or coal measurement with the Berger 85.5hybrid and the issf reamer fb of 0.169? I unithroated my brux 7 twist 30"barrel so the Berger 85.5hybrid touches the lands at 2.5350" coal. This allows me to shoot 80smk(.020 jump) (23.4gr Varget)at 300 yds in our f class league at 2.48" coal. Do I need to throat more for Bergers for 600yd midrange? How much for 1000 yds (2.57" coal?)Shooting 223 rem Barnard rifle ftr.
Thanks,
Steve

I shoot one bullet in my rifle and shoot only 3x500 and Palma. .015 jump was recommended and works. Not sure I can help you. I check jump occasionally as the round count goes up and/or accuracy drops off.
Tom Alves

 

[bobbydubrx13]

So these were shot out of my 26" bolt action 223 wylde 1:7 lothar 5r MPA rifle. Velocity on the 21.0 was like 2488fps and the 23.0 was 2628fps. I couldn't find much data on this combo so I started somewhat low. Think I'm gonna try up to 23.8 maybe 24.0. Also this bullet jam is 1.970 so I ran these 1.960 and it seems like it loves being close. Anyone got any other combos I should try with these 85.5? Thinking about n540, sw precision, varget, and cfe223

 

[Tireguy]

So these were shot out of my 26" bolt action 223 wylde 1:7 lothar 5r MPA rifle. Velocity on the 21.0 was like 2488fps and the 23.0 was 2628fps. I couldn't find much data on this combo so I started somewhat low. Think I'm gonna try up to 23.8 maybe 24.0. Also this bullet jam is 1.970 so I ran these 1.960 and it seems like it loves being close. Anyone got any other combos I should try with these 85.5? Thinking about n540, sw precision, varget, and cfe223

Give RL15 and H4895 a try before Varget and N540. I think you'll find what you're looking for with the first 2 powders. I have one gun that likes RL15 and another likes H4895.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Give RL15 and H4895 a try before Varget and N540. I think you'll find what you're looking for with the first 2 powders. I have one gun that likes RL15 and another likes H4895.

John do you have a Wylde chamber or did you set a longer throat?

 

[CharlieNC]

I tried 85.5 last year with erratic performance; shot well one day then so-so the next. Sold them to a guy who was unhappy with the accuracy, didn't take him long to sell them either. I only know of one person who likes them. Now the 80.5, that's a champ, but I'm shooting 90vld for the 500-600yd advantages.

 

[IHFarmer07]

I tried 85.5 last year with erratic performance; shot well one day then so-so the next. Sold them to a guy who was unhappy with the accuracy, didn't take him long to sell them either. I only know of one person who likes them. Now the 80.5, that's a champ, but I'm shooting 90vld for the 500-600yd advantages.

I had the same issues with them out of the Valkyrie bolt gun I have……one hole 5 shot group one day and the next 1-1/2”, same every thing. Still have about a box and a half left. Settled on 80eldm’s. Wouldn’t mind trying the Berger 80.5’s or so.

 

[bobbydubrx13]

I tried 85.5 last year with erratic performance; shot well one day then so-so the next. Sold them to a guy who was unhappy with the accuracy, didn't take him long to sell them either. I only know of one person who likes them. Now the 80.5, that's a champ, but I'm shooting 90vld for the 500-600yd advantages.

How far were you jumping the 85.5? Cause I found in my 223 wylde bolt gun anything more than around .025 would shoot everywhere so .010 it is and shot a 5 shot group at 100 that measured .21 inch. Out of all 5 groups the biggest one was .74 inch

 

[CharlieNC]

How far were you jumping the 85.5? Cause I found in my 223 wylde bolt gun anything more than around .025 would shoot everywhere so .010 it is and shot a 5 shot group at 100 that measured .21 inch. Out of all 5 groups the biggest one was .74 inch

I don't recall what I settled on after evaluating a wide range. With a long freebore setup to shoot 90vld, I was bothered the 85.5 didn't have much left in the neck so I also tried a tighter neck tension as well.

 

[Tireguy]

John do you have a Wylde chamber or did you set a longer throat?

Nez chambered them for me and if I remember correctly, I am running .169FB.

 

[bobbydubrx13]

I don't recall what I settled on after evaluating a wide range. With a long freebore setup to shoot 90vld, I was bothered the 85.5 didn't have much left in the neck so I also tried a tighter neck tension as well.

Ya thats probably it then these seem like you gotta be less than .050 to jam

 

[Greymatter762]

Is there any chance someone can run QL on a load combo for me?

Lapua 223 Match brass
CCI 41 or CCI 450 (or both)
223 ISSF chamber (.169 Freebore)
Varget powder
.0015 neck tension
26" 1:7 Wilson barrel (bolt gun)
85.5gr Berger Hybrid

 

[LVLAaron]

Is there any chance someone can run QL on a load combo for me?

Lapua 223 Match brass
CCI 41 or CCI 450 (or both)
223 ISSF chamber (.169 Freebore)
Varget powder
.0015 neck tension
26" 1:7 Wilson barrel (bolt gun)
85.5gr Berger Hybrid

You'd need to know the OAL for quickload... and I don't think the 85.5 is in QL yet either.

 

[Greymatter762]

You'd need to know the OAL for quickload... and I don't think the 85.5 is in QL yet either.

C.O.L = 2.565"

 

[BP1]

I tried 85.5 last year with erratic performance; shot well one day then so-so the next. Sold them to a guy who was unhappy with the accuracy, didn't take him long to sell them either. I only know of one person who likes them. Now the 80.5, that's a champ, but I'm shooting 90vld for the 500-600yd advantages.

That’s strange, I know a few people that shoot them in their 223s including myself and they shoot outstanding for us and we all use Varget.