6.5 creedmoor and 144gr Berger’s
- Thread starter BP1
- Start date
Got a box of them. Been watching the forums for info on them, load data etc. Won't be loading these myself until this spring. I called Berger and talked with one of their guys and he gave me some load data for the powders I want to use. So, FWIW here it is:
Data for the new 144 gn Target Hybrid:
RL-16: 37.5-41.5 (2833)
RL-17: 38.5- 42.5
H4350: 38- 42.3 (2750)
They used a 26" bbl. I'm shooting 24" bbls. I did not ask what brass or primers they used. I plan to use Lapua and CCI 450s. They loaded to 2.80" COAL, btw. They have not published any data, and wanted me to call to get the data I did get. I am thinking they have data on other powders, I am sure VV, I asked only for powders I use. Again BP1, FWIW, lg
Data for the new 144 gn Target Hybrid:
RL-16: 37.5-41.5 (2833)
RL-17: 38.5- 42.5
H4350: 38- 42.3 (2750)
They used a 26" bbl. I'm shooting 24" bbls. I did not ask what brass or primers they used. I plan to use Lapua and CCI 450s. They loaded to 2.80" COAL, btw. They have not published any data, and wanted me to call to get the data I did get. I am thinking they have data on other powders, I am sure VV, I asked only for powders I use. Again BP1, FWIW, lg
I loaded some at .010,.016,.018,& .020 off and tested them today .016 shot really good..the 140 hybrids shot good at .018.
I’m running mine right at 2920-25fps with rl16 and a 30” Bartlein so it’s definitely nipping at the heels of a 180gr 7mm at 2850fps.
RL17 and 41.5gns works great in mine. Node is wide, 41.2 up to 41.8 or so shoots to the same spot at 600yards.
IMR 4350, loaded low n slow at 40gns is really good too.
I have to jump a long ways to magazine feed, about 0.152", but they don't seem too finicky about it.
Both these loads are giving reliable 0.5MOA (3" or so) at 600, with groups dropping below 0.25MOA often (1.5" groups). So they shoot as well as I can with this particular rifle (RPR).
They shoot just like the 147 ELDM: same drop, same powder charges, just same across the board. But my results aren't with a BR or F setup and my requirements and expectations are lower.
IMR 4350, loaded low n slow at 40gns is really good too.
I have to jump a long ways to magazine feed, about 0.152", but they don't seem too finicky about it.
Both these loads are giving reliable 0.5MOA (3" or so) at 600, with groups dropping below 0.25MOA often (1.5" groups). So they shoot as well as I can with this particular rifle (RPR).
They shoot just like the 147 ELDM: same drop, same powder charges, just same across the board. But my results aren't with a BR or F setup and my requirements and expectations are lower.
Last edited:
I’m using lapua SRP and rem 7 1/2s.
This raises an obvious question in my mind: why buy the Berger 144s over the 147 ELD-Ms?
I've only run one box of factory 147s, my rifle did NOT like them. But I finally got some loose 147s loaded up with RL16 to try, haven't shot yet. I'm expecting these to at least be as good as the 140 ELDs. (half to 3/4 over most of the tested range in my rifle).
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
Hopefully the 144s won't blow up. The new 144s also have a very slight BC Advantage at .336 G7 vs the 147 at .334. I really really liked the 147s up until they started going poof about 40 yards downrange on me.
boltman13
Gold $$ Contributor
ALL non Berger match bullets I use are weight sorted to elimanate the widest spread ones. Nosler is the worst, followed by Hornady and Barnes. Sierra are much better but Berger's are the absolute best. I no longer bother with them. That said I have had good results with weight sorted ones from Nosler, Hornady, Barnes , and Sierra at Mid Range F-Class, but not so much at Long Range.
Depends on your needs. I don't consider the ELDs BR ready, but they do a great job at plinking and PRS type shooting where small differences in bullet to bullet BC out at long range don't matter cause you only need to hit 1/2MOA. I'd hope the 144s, costing twice as much, would be much more consistent in a good BR gun and actually competitive in BR. In my rifle, they don't shoot any different. That's the rifle, not the bullet though.
This hasn't happened to me. I bought a whole case and the 1000 or so I've shot so far have all made it to the target. I'm only going a pedestrian 2750fps though out of a 7.7twist.
I was shooting a State Championship with the 147's. During the second match of the day.. Poof.. Minus ten points.... Next shot "X" Next Shot Poof. Next shot Poof.. Minus 30 points... Ya a couple dollars saved... No thanks. All that money spent getting there and the bullet blows up. Completely not worth it. (Note: I have had good luck with other ELD's just not the Blow up prone 147)
I have that luck with the 88 ELD. Although to be fair, my 22BR blows up the 90 VLD, and the 90 and 95 SMK. I think it's got a tight bore.
It may also be a lot to lot issue. The case I got may be better than average.
Let's not let this thread drift of into a Hornady thread. So why not the Sierra 150 in 6.5 Creedmoor. I'd think it would buck the wind better than the Berger 144, if you could get enough velocity. Or is the 150 just to much for the Creed? 144 in an 8 twist or 150 in a 7.5 twist. Which would you want for 1K F-Class on a breezy day? Mike
I couldn't get the 150s to shoot consistently. 4 in, one out. Always. The 144 and the 147 liked to cluster all together. As I moved out to 1k with the 147, I'd get more and more weird fliers vertically. I haven't taken the 144s out to 1k yet, thus my comment that they shoot just like the 147s for me closer in.
EDIT: I want to add this in: I shoot the ELDs in all my guns, be it the 88 in my 22BR or the 147 in my 6.5 Creedmoor, and shoot REALLY well. All my smallest groups are with ELDs. They are great bullets. BUT if I have hundreds of dollars invested in an event I'm participating in, I'm not shooting ELDs. They might go poof or they might go 16" out at 1k when the previous four were setting up a nice 6" group. That uncertainty has too profound an effect on my mental performance that I pay for the more consistent bullets, even if they don't shoot as small as the ELDs on the best day.
Last edited:
It won't.
I've been wanting to try the 150 SMKs in spite of my 8 twist being a bit outside Sierra recommendations. So far, the 140 ELDs have shot well for me, no blow ups. NO blow ups with factory 147s, only recently laid into a box to start some handloads with them. I'm holding off shooting my 147 development batch until I can get some other things done.
The 150 smk is the current BC champ (to my knowledge) of the "normal" brand bullets that a mortal can afford.
And I can totally see shooting the Bergers in the context of a match you've traveled for and invested a lot of $$. But I wonder how far that logic extends. Why not shoot WTC flatlines?
The 150 smk is the current BC champ (to my knowledge) of the "normal" brand bullets that a mortal can afford.
And I can totally see shooting the Bergers in the context of a match you've traveled for and invested a lot of $$. But I wonder how far that logic extends. Why not shoot WTC flatlines?
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.