Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
Testing the Berger Hybrid bullets – 185 gr and 200 gr
Equipment:
All shots fired were chronographed with a CED M2 chronograph.
One rifle was used for the entire testing program. It is a Savage long action with a 26†1 in 11 twist Benchmark 3-groove barrel. The barrel had 1300 rounds fired at the beginning of testing. This rifle is a proven performer that gives groups as small as .35†at 300 yards with Berger 155.5 Fullbore bullets and 47.0 grains of Varget. All shooting was done from the bipod. Temperatures were between 70 and 80 degrees at an elevation of 200’ MSL. Shooting was done over several days, but tests were repeated to verify results when necessary.
CAUTION: All loads shown were fired in my rifle with roomy Winchester brass. They were rather hot in mine, and could be completely unsafe in other rifles. EVERY shooter should WORK UP their loads CAREFULLY!
Bullets were sampled and weighed to .1 grain for range only.
185 grain: 185.1 – 184.9
200 grain: 200.2 – 199.8
First test was to work up charges of Varget to determine the maximum pressure load.
All rounds loaded with .010†jump (approx 2.997†OAL). Chronograph positioned 14’ from muzzle
185 Gr:
43.5 -- 2663fps
44.0 -- 2700fps - primer getting flat
44.4 -- 2711fps - primer flat - Usable Max
44.6 -- 2720fps - slight ejector mark
44.8 -- 2728fps - slightly bigger ejector mark
45.0 -- 2731fps - shiny ejector mark – this is beyond max
200 gr:
42.2 -- 2563fps
42.6 -- 2577fps
43.0 -- 2594fps
43.2 -- 2599fps - primer flattening – Usable Max
43.4 -- 2606fps - slight hint of ejector mark
43.6 -- 2616fps - slight ejector mark – this is absolute max
Note: the entire series from 42.6 to 43.6 grains resulted in one ragged hole at 200 yards. Group size was .372" for the 5 shots
Second test – 10 shot grouping at 300yards: (all group sizes measured in vertical only)
185 gr: Out of node!
44.4 Varget .010 jump – 1.424†-- ES 36, SD 10.7
200 gr:
43.2 Varget .010 jump -- .575†– ES 10, SD 4.1 – 5 shot group also fired (different day) - .480â€
43.2 Varget .030 jump – test compromised by very bad mirage -- .976†– no chrono data
Third test – 600 yard league match.
Load:
200 gr Hybrid, 43.2 Varget, BR-2, .010 jump, 3x fired Winchester brass weighing 157.2-157.4 grains, bullets sorted by weight.
Conditions:
Tri-County Gun Club is known for swirling conditions. When the wind blows, things get very difficult in a hurry. In addition to difficult to read wind direction, topographic features result in significant vertical deflection of bullets. This range is the reason I started using heavy bullets for f-class shooting.
The wind was blowing 5-10 mph during the match and the direction was swinging wildly from 6 O’clock to 1 O’clock - the long way around. Both wind flags and daisy wheels were present on the range and they spun around and around relentlessly during second half of the string.
Targets were SR-3 type. The rings were redrawn to MR-1FC standards for scores reported herein.
Results:
Range conditions presented a significant amount of noise in the data. After the second sighter, the first 10 shots for record were fired for “groupâ€. The group was considered primary for this target, and thus vertical impact point was held throughout the string even though it was not centered.
The load printed a group that had a vertical component of 2†with doubled and tripled holes. The score was a paltry 194-3x with the group center approximately 0.5†below the bottom of the X ring. All lost points were to wind. Superimposing the group over the center of the bull gave a theoretical X-count increase to 7X. Despite the low score, mine was the highest of the night.
During my string, I noticed several times that I gained points due to the lesser wind deflection of the heavy bullet. My competitors (shooting 155's and 175's) were hitting 9’s while I was hitting 10’s and 8’s when I’d get a 9.
Overall impressions of the 185 and 200 grain Hybrid bullets:
The 185 is a good bullet. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough barrel length (26") to safely get it to the 2720+ velocity node with Varget. I do not have a suitable powder available right now (RL17) to get it up there safely. Although it is outside the node, accuracy of sub half MOA was easy to obtain. Unfortunately, half-minute accuracy is no longer good enough in F-class shooting. With Varget, I would have to back it down to 2610 fps, and that would be a waste. The performance gains would be minimal compared to other bullets available (specifically the 200). Even though I wasn’t able to get into the node with this barrel and powder, I think that this would be an optimal bullet for a 30†or longer barrel.
The 200gr Hybrid exceeded all of my expectations. The vertical precision is far better than any other “heavy†bullet I have used or tested. The wind deflection appears to be equal to or better than the 210 vld. While the 155 Fullbore gives amazing precision, the 200 gr Hybrid almost matches it and has a significant advantage in retained velocity and wind deflection. With my current load, 1000 yard competition is possible with a 26†barrel.
I’d like to thank Berger Bullets for including me in this testing. It is an honor to get to help out.
Keith Glasscock
P.S. I’ve shot nearly all of the 200gr hybrids I received and would like more of them. It is now my go-to bullet for this rifle in difficult conditions.
Equipment:
All shots fired were chronographed with a CED M2 chronograph.
One rifle was used for the entire testing program. It is a Savage long action with a 26†1 in 11 twist Benchmark 3-groove barrel. The barrel had 1300 rounds fired at the beginning of testing. This rifle is a proven performer that gives groups as small as .35†at 300 yards with Berger 155.5 Fullbore bullets and 47.0 grains of Varget. All shooting was done from the bipod. Temperatures were between 70 and 80 degrees at an elevation of 200’ MSL. Shooting was done over several days, but tests were repeated to verify results when necessary.
CAUTION: All loads shown were fired in my rifle with roomy Winchester brass. They were rather hot in mine, and could be completely unsafe in other rifles. EVERY shooter should WORK UP their loads CAREFULLY!
Bullets were sampled and weighed to .1 grain for range only.
185 grain: 185.1 – 184.9
200 grain: 200.2 – 199.8
First test was to work up charges of Varget to determine the maximum pressure load.
All rounds loaded with .010†jump (approx 2.997†OAL). Chronograph positioned 14’ from muzzle
185 Gr:
43.5 -- 2663fps
44.0 -- 2700fps - primer getting flat
44.4 -- 2711fps - primer flat - Usable Max
44.6 -- 2720fps - slight ejector mark
44.8 -- 2728fps - slightly bigger ejector mark
45.0 -- 2731fps - shiny ejector mark – this is beyond max
200 gr:
42.2 -- 2563fps
42.6 -- 2577fps
43.0 -- 2594fps
43.2 -- 2599fps - primer flattening – Usable Max
43.4 -- 2606fps - slight hint of ejector mark
43.6 -- 2616fps - slight ejector mark – this is absolute max
Note: the entire series from 42.6 to 43.6 grains resulted in one ragged hole at 200 yards. Group size was .372" for the 5 shots
Second test – 10 shot grouping at 300yards: (all group sizes measured in vertical only)
185 gr: Out of node!
44.4 Varget .010 jump – 1.424†-- ES 36, SD 10.7
200 gr:
43.2 Varget .010 jump -- .575†– ES 10, SD 4.1 – 5 shot group also fired (different day) - .480â€
43.2 Varget .030 jump – test compromised by very bad mirage -- .976†– no chrono data
Third test – 600 yard league match.
Load:
200 gr Hybrid, 43.2 Varget, BR-2, .010 jump, 3x fired Winchester brass weighing 157.2-157.4 grains, bullets sorted by weight.
Conditions:
Tri-County Gun Club is known for swirling conditions. When the wind blows, things get very difficult in a hurry. In addition to difficult to read wind direction, topographic features result in significant vertical deflection of bullets. This range is the reason I started using heavy bullets for f-class shooting.
The wind was blowing 5-10 mph during the match and the direction was swinging wildly from 6 O’clock to 1 O’clock - the long way around. Both wind flags and daisy wheels were present on the range and they spun around and around relentlessly during second half of the string.
Targets were SR-3 type. The rings were redrawn to MR-1FC standards for scores reported herein.
Results:
Range conditions presented a significant amount of noise in the data. After the second sighter, the first 10 shots for record were fired for “groupâ€. The group was considered primary for this target, and thus vertical impact point was held throughout the string even though it was not centered.
The load printed a group that had a vertical component of 2†with doubled and tripled holes. The score was a paltry 194-3x with the group center approximately 0.5†below the bottom of the X ring. All lost points were to wind. Superimposing the group over the center of the bull gave a theoretical X-count increase to 7X. Despite the low score, mine was the highest of the night.
During my string, I noticed several times that I gained points due to the lesser wind deflection of the heavy bullet. My competitors (shooting 155's and 175's) were hitting 9’s while I was hitting 10’s and 8’s when I’d get a 9.
Overall impressions of the 185 and 200 grain Hybrid bullets:
The 185 is a good bullet. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough barrel length (26") to safely get it to the 2720+ velocity node with Varget. I do not have a suitable powder available right now (RL17) to get it up there safely. Although it is outside the node, accuracy of sub half MOA was easy to obtain. Unfortunately, half-minute accuracy is no longer good enough in F-class shooting. With Varget, I would have to back it down to 2610 fps, and that would be a waste. The performance gains would be minimal compared to other bullets available (specifically the 200). Even though I wasn’t able to get into the node with this barrel and powder, I think that this would be an optimal bullet for a 30†or longer barrel.
The 200gr Hybrid exceeded all of my expectations. The vertical precision is far better than any other “heavy†bullet I have used or tested. The wind deflection appears to be equal to or better than the 210 vld. While the 155 Fullbore gives amazing precision, the 200 gr Hybrid almost matches it and has a significant advantage in retained velocity and wind deflection. With my current load, 1000 yard competition is possible with a 26†barrel.
I’d like to thank Berger Bullets for including me in this testing. It is an honor to get to help out.
Keith Glasscock
P.S. I’ve shot nearly all of the 200gr hybrids I received and would like more of them. It is now my go-to bullet for this rifle in difficult conditions.
