Berger 115 VLD, 1:8 twist rate

[Luke_NL]

Gents,

I was excited to find a box of berger bullets in the mail today: 215 HBLR (hybrids) for my 300RUM, and 115 VLD's for my 243WIN. Now the latter I bought on a whim, and having opened the box I'm surprised at the recommended 1:7 twist rate "or faster". My 243WIN is out getting a new 1:8 twist barrel, that I picked for the ability to handle the 115 DTACS and such. Are the Bergers that much longer than the DTAC, and is anyone running these succesfully in a 1:8 twist?

I did find some older posts on this issue, but no words of wisdom other than "push em". So I'll be pushing them hard, at minor altitude and 80's+ temp, so I should be getting good speed with 43gr+ of VVN160. No shame in trying, but then I don't want to waste powder and barrel life if it's doomed from the start. Your thoughts please, experience welcome.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I have gotten them to work with a 1-8 twist.. I pushed the with H1000 and RL25..

Ray

 

[tclaunch]

Forum member "birdog" was the most successful shooter of those I ever witnessed. Dasher and 7" twist Brux, he shot a 1.1xx" group at 600 yds. I tried them in my 8" twists but no love. They went in straight, just not the accuracy as his 7" twist barrel

 

[flatlander]

I spent considerable time testing the Berger 115s in bbls with twists including 7.5, 7.8, & 8, and never did get results as consistent as with the DTAC 115s. Still have several boxes of them....

 

[Caska]

I have had some luck with them in a 1-8 243AI with VV N165

 

[jghoghunter]

I shot them very well with a broughton 7 twist. Some .0's at 100, 1" at 500, 2-2.5. 5 shot groups at 1k and 5-7" 10 shot groups at 1k.

When that bbl. was done around 1650 rnds i bought a 8 twist bartlien and never got them to shoot again. My opinion now is why try when you have the 105 hybrids that you can shoot faster with a better bc.

 

[1shot]

+1 to what jghoghunter said. I'm fine tuning my 32" 243 AI with mollied 105 JLK's and though the final tally is still out, it appears that given the big picture the 105's out perform the 115's if driven with authority. I have a light Palma Brux in 1-7.75" twist and it gets better every time I take it out. I started with H-4831sc but given some advice from a long time AI shooter, I tried some RL-22 and it turned it into a whole new rifle. I'll post data when I get it all nailed down, but it sure gives you a warm/fuzzy feeling when the groups shrink a BUNCH and the velocity goes up and the pressure signs go away with changing one component of the load.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd

 

[Hbb6601]

I tried 115 in my 6-284 8 twist and wasn't satisfied. Switched to 105 VLD's and shot bugholes right away....

 

[Nomad47]

When Berger posts a recommended minimum twist rate on a box, it is to cover ALL cartridges in that particular caliber. Since the .243 will drive bullets faster than the small case under-bored cartridges, you may not have any problems stabilizing the bullet you are questioning.

 

[long40shot]

I have great results with the 115 hunting vld in the 243 with a 25" 7.7 twist. 1/4-3/8 MOA in most cases. These are loaded to AICS mag length with over 41.2 H4350.