85.5 Berger long range hybrid

[DR_2297]

How many firings are you getting out of your brass? I am getting about 2940 from a 30in barrel but there is a price to pay.
Tom Alves

I have like 5 or 6 on Lapua and all is fine. I anneal neck / shoulder after each firing. Primer pockets still tight and I am not experiencing flattened primers. The T15 FB reamers has like .210 FB measured from the end of the neck to the beginning of the leade angle. My COL is like 2.610 or something.

I have taken H4895, 8208, Varget, N150 and 2000MR to their limits. 8208 is another great choice.

truth is I am backing off a bit to 2950-3050 after trying to get performance at 3100+. The precision is better in that velocity range. Just about anything I have seriously tried is capable (and has) of cleaning 600 & 1000.

 

[Jdne5b]

I have like 5 or 6 on Lapua and all is fine. I anneal neck / shoulder after each firing. Primer pockets still tight and I am not experiencing flattened primers. The T15 FB reamers has like .210 FB measured from the end of the neck to the beginning of the leade angle. My COL is like 2.610 or something.

I have taken H4895, 8208, Varget, N150 and 2000MR to their limits. 8208 is another great choice.

truth is I am backing off a bit to 2950-3050 after trying to get performance at 3100+. The precision is better in that velocity range. Just about anything I have seriously tried is capable (and has) of cleaning 600 & 1000.

How far are you jumping them? I have a .220 and they nearly fall out of the case at touch.

 

[OldManTA]

The reamer I used was for the 90 gr. bullets and has a freebore of .170?. I am jumping .015. The top of the boat tail is just above the junction of the cartridge neck and shoulder. N140 was suggested by a much more accomplished acquaintance and it has proven to be a very accurate combination.
Tom Alves

 

[RegionRat]

Everything above and N140, Varget, and RE15 have all done well for me and several friends in that arena.

 

[DR_2297]

How far are you jumping them? I have a .220 and they nearly fall out of the case at touch.

.015

 

[CharlieNC]

In my 6.8 twist with 0.170 free bore, setup for 90vld, I cannot get the 85.5 to shoot as well at 300yd. Using the Berger seating depth test recommendation a longer jump at 0.040 was better but still deficient for fclass. I suspect too little bullet in the neck is a major contributor, so maybe the 85.5 in a shorter free bore is required.

 

[APGE]

In my 6.8 twist with 0.170 free bore, setup for 90vld, I cannot get the 85.5 to shoot as well at 300yd. Using the Berger seating depth test recommendation a longer jump at 0.040 was better but still deficient for fclass. I suspect too little bullet in the neck is a major contributor, so maybe the 85.5 in a shorter free bore is required.

My experience has been similar. With a chamber optimized for 90gr A-Tips (approximately 0.220" freebore), I can get good accuracy, but not great. I am jumping in the order of 60 thousandths.

I have found that I can get very impressive velocity from the combination, however. 24.5gr of H4895 delivers 2940fps and I have cases on the 6th firing without loose pockets. I have tested to over 3000fps, but brass lasted only two firings. You'd need a lot of freebore to replicate these numbers.

 

[CharlieNC]

My experience has been similar. With a chamber optimized for 90gr A-Tips (approximately 0.220" freebore), I can get good accuracy, but not great. I am jumping in the order of 60 thousandths.

I have found that I can get very impressive velocity from the combination, however. 24.5gr of H4895 delivers 2940fps and I have cases on the 6th firing without loose pockets. I have tested to over 3000fps, but brass lasted only two firings. You'd need a lot of freebore to replicate these numbers.

I will be putting the 85.5 up for sale. I did well in the season ending fclass match last Sat with the 90 vld to seal the end of the experiment for me. The on paper advantage failed in the real world experience!