87 Berger in the .243

[H2OBUG]

Looking for a pet load for a Remington factory tube for the 87 Berger hunting VLD-- this will be a hunting load so I am not looking to jam themthinking Varget and H4831 for these. I also Have some 95 VLDs-- considering RL22 for those. Got a good load from Lefty here on that bullet.

not looking to do a ton of shooting just dial in someting pretty close with one of the Berger VLD hunting bullets.

I have a good shooting load with the 85 Sierra BTHP I can fall back too. (sucked a prarie dog out of his hole @ 583 with that load a few months back

 

[K22]

Never shot the Berger's but I'd look at IMR 4350. It has worked very well with every bullet I've tried in all my 243's (3) from 80 grain Sierra Blitz, 85 grain Sierra BTHP, Noslers 90 BT, to 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunters.

 

[fredhorace77]

Looking for a pet load for a Remington factory tube for the 87 Berger hunting VLD-- this will be a hunting load so I am not looking to jam themthinking Varget and H4831 for these. I also Have some 95 VLDs-- considering RL22 for those. Got a good load from Lefty here on that bullet.

not looking to do a ton of shooting just dial in someting pretty close with one of the Berger VLD hunting bullets.

I have a good shooting load with the 85 Sierra BTHP I can fall back too. (sucked a prarie dog out of his hole @ 583 with that load a few months back

I shoot the 85 sierra BTHP in my .243 also and it is a deadly combo with H4350. I love that bullet

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I know this is an OLD Thread, BUT,..has anybody shot, a Deer or Antelope with, the Berger 87 gr Hunting vld's,.. YET ?
I'm looking for a "good",.. longer range .243 Bullet, for medium sized Game and 600 yd PAPER/ Steel, Targets, for my, 1-10 Twist, Tikka T3, .243 Win.
I've read on here, where a couple of guys were going to try them, for "accuracy" on Targets and on Deer,.. any, RESULTS ???
I will use from, 42 to 44 grains of N-160 with this bullet, as it works great,.. "Clover Leaf's" the 87 V-Max. @ 100 yds.
Thanks in advance,.. Lefty

 

[RDA72927]

It's what I load for my step-son's 243 (Factory Remington, twist rate issue). He's taken two large white tails, on was a VERY big doe. Didn't move 10 ft. A buddy tried F-Class with his Savage 11VT, 9 1/4 twist. The 87 VLD Hunting is what we loaded for it and he shot well at 600 and he did ok at 1000 with it (still pushed around by the wind)...

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@RDA72927 ,.. Did you get to see, the wound channel that, the Bullet made by any chance ?
Any major Meat destruction or, large exit hole size if, a pass-thru ?
I know it's a pretty good 6-700 yard Bullet but, at 1,000 yd's, figured
it would drift, some ( 6-700 yards, is about, the furthest I'll shoot,.. Targets/ steel ).
Thanks !

 

[RDA72927]

What the boy told me ( the Large Doe ) was a front chest shot at 175yds. Bullet went straight in and turn the heart and lungs into mush, no exit. Deer squatted, then took two steps and hit the ground. I did help him take it to a meat processor, because of the frontal shot, there was no damage.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ RDA,.. Good to know, Thanks !
Last question,.. Did you guys notice,.. IF this bullet shot better than, others @ 600 yards ?
Is it worth the extra $$$'s,.. in your opinion ?? Thanks !

 

[Zero333]

H4831.... 46 to 48 gr.
I had a node around 47 of h4831sc.

H4831 and h4831sc are interchangeable. I swap the all the time.

H4831sc would be better cause 48 gr of the regular would be a lil compressed.

I couldn't get Varget to shoot as Good as h4831 for 75 and 87 grainers.

 

[stacy]

44GRS OF H-414 FOR ME WITH THOSE BULLETS MY FAVORITE IS 85GR BTHP SIERRA'S I NEVER SEEN A BULLET PREFORM IN THIS WEIGHT CLASS 85-87GR BULLET PREFORM BETTER IN 7 243'S HERE AT MY SHOP THAN THE SIERRA'S 85GR BTHP! FROM DEER TO VARMINTS

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Zero,.. Yes, I have read that, H-4831 SC and IMR 7828 SC, Powders, seem to work real well with, 87-95+ grain bullets.
I am using Vihit. N-160 for, the 87 V-Maxes now, and they, shoot well but, am just starting, to test loads ( 41.5 gr's tried, so far, as it's been, Cold and Windy here, lately). I am going up, to as much as, 44 grains of this stuff with, both bullets. The 87 V-Max will be strictly for, Varmints and steel plate practice and the 87 Hunt vld's, for longer range (400- 600 yard) , "paper punching" and possibly, Deer/ Antelope hunting, next fall. Are they worth, the Money ?,.. do the H-VLD's, group better than, "other", 85-87 grain Bullets, in YOUR opinion ? I do know that, the guys rave about, 80-88 gr FB Berger's to 300 yard's. But, I am looking for, a good BT style that "works" in the 1-10 tw for, longer range.
Thank you for any Info !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

44GRS OF H-414 FOR ME WITH THOSE BULLETS MY FAVORITE IS 85GR BTHP SIERRA'S I NEVER SEEN A BULLET PREFORM IN THIS WEIGHT CLASS 85-87GR BULLET PREFORM BETTER IN 7 243'S HERE AT MY SHOP THAN THE SIERRA'S 85GR BTHP! FROM DEER TO VARMINTS

That's, my question, to the serious Target shooters,.. DO the 87 H-VLD's shoot better than,.. your 85 Sierra Bullet or, 87 V-Max ??
The Sierra 80 gr Blitz and 85 gr BTHP Game King's, DO, "shoot",.. way above, their "Pay Grade" !
I am looking for,.. "comparisons" to see IF worth,.. the EXTRA $$$'s !

 

[RDA72927]

It can really come down to "how many bullets you want to test". Yes, you can make a cheaper bullet work (after a lot of testing and powder) or you can take a really good bullet and be powder ahead. I my past I have spent a lot of work getting Sierra's, Hornady's and other basic hunting bullets to work. Over time I have just found it easier and faster to just start with a Berger ( if I am doing anything at distance ) and be done. Hunting 100 yards and in, ALL of them will work great... So, no. I don't have any comparisons, my time has more value that trying to save 15 -20 cents a bullet. The Berger 87 VLD Hunting is a great bullet and my group of folks have had very good success with it as a hunting bullet or a target bullet ( 9.25-10 twist) in barrels..

 

[Zero333]

@ Zero,.. Yes, I have read that, H-4831 SC and IMR 7828 SC, Powders, seem to work real well with, 87-95+ grain bullets.
I am using Vihit. N-160 for, the 87 V-Maxes now, and they, shoot well but, am just starting, to test loads ( 41.5 gr's tried, so far, as it's been, Cold and Windy here, lately). I am going up, to as much as, 44 grains of this stuff with, both bullets. The 87 V-Max will be strictly for, Varmints and steel plate practice and the 87 Hunt vld's, for longer range (400- 600 yard) , "paper punching" and possibly, Deer/ Antelope hunting, next fall. Are they worth, the Money ?,.. do the H-VLD's, group better than, "other", 85-87 grain Bullets, in YOUR opinion ? I do know that, the guys rave about, 80-88 gr FB Berger's to 300 yard's. But, I am looking for, a good BT style that "works" in the 1-10 tw for, longer range.
Thank you for any Info !

9 out of 10 times the Berger bullets will outperform others at longer ranges. But some Sierra bullets can be as accurate too.

Pretty much you're guaranteed the 85 gr gameking will shoot small groups with most powders.

One thing not to overlook is brass make. Contrary to popular opinion, I could not get Lapua brass to shoot as Good as Winchester brass in any of my 243win barrels. And in my 308win barrels the Lapua brass was accurate for only 5 reloads. I'm using the same 300 pcs of Winchester 308 brass for 8 years in different barrels,.. on its 28th reload ( anneal every 5 to 7 reloads ). Thus far only scrapped 1 piece out of 300 due to a split neck.

 

[stacy]

That's, my question, to the serious Target shooters,.. DO the 87 H-VLD's shoot better than,.. your 85 Sierra Bullet or, 87 V-Max ??
The Sierra 80 gr Blitz and 85 gr BTHP Game King's, DO, "shoot",.. way above, their "Pay Grade" !
I am looking for,.. "comparisons" to see IF worth,.. the EXTRA $$$'s !

FOR ME HERE IN NC NO I DONT SHOOT THE 87GR VLD'S GOT SOME BUT FOR THE PREFORMANCE AND PRICE FOR ME 85GR BTHP HANDS DOWN !!!!THE 87GR VLD'S SHOT GOOD AND SO DOES THE 87GR V-MAX I HAVE SHOT .250 GROUPS WITH THEM ALL ON PAPER BUT FOR HUNTING FOR ME SIERRA'S PUTS THE MEAT ON MY TABLE NO NEED FOR ME TO PAY THE EXTRA $$ WHEN YOU DONT HAVE TO USE IT FOR POWDER

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

OK,.. THANKS Guys !

 

[fingers]

I am a big fan of the 85gr sierra # 1530 in my 3 .243s but played round with the 87gr BERGER & got very good accuracy and supper high speeds along with low ES & Sd using RL 23. This powder also did not give pressure problems at the higher nodes.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Fingers,.. I will be using N-160 with, all my 87's both,.. V-Max and Berg 87 Hunt VLD's ( hopefully POI/ trajectory, is "close" )
I'll be using, somewhere between,.. 42 to 44 grains.
ALL my .243 reloading is, on HOLD, til' I get my new, Forster BR FL, Die set !
I got real TIRED of, the POOR unrepeatable, "Run out",.. Concentricity that, I was getting so I, "bit the Bullet",.. for $95 !
Since I'll be using these in a, Fact. Magazine, T3 Tikka, I know, I will be "Jumping" from prob .080 to .110 like my .270 WSM with, the 140 Nosler Accu's.
Hopefully they "shoot" with "Jump",.. ANY,..opinions, on that ??