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Berger Bullets News from the President

I would like to see some of the VLD bullets trimmed to more consistent OAL. Trimming shouldn't alter the shape in any negative way..

Question, Do your Hunting VLD's get an extra pointing process? It seems that the points on the hunting VLD is finished more and more consistent then a Target VLD.. Could this just be a thinner jacket thing, less material to "finish" at the end so it give a more finished appearance?


Ray
 
I appreciate Berger bullets, the accuracy, and the ease of reloading.

But availability issues over the past few years has necessitated our family developing accurate and reliable loads for other brands that have been more consistently available.

I think we'll likely need a more consistent track record for availability than promises from the president before we increase the number of Berger bullets in our match loads with much enthusiasm. We're fighting component shortages on multiple fronts (brass, bullets, primers, powder), and spend much too much time working up new loads to work around component availability issues.
 
Specifically, what steps have been take to make the jacket drawing process more uniform? Have you changed materials, applied a different aspect of physics, Inquiring minds...

What I can share about this improvement is that we discovered a critical to quality characteristic that was overlooked by our previous inspection methods. This is a process advancement change. The reason why it eluded us is due to our success in making jackets at tight tolerances. We regarded our unpredictable set up times as normal to reach this tolerance.

The drop in output that started shortly after adding another machine at the end of 2014 brought into sharp focus that we had a more serious problem than we realized. We decided early on that to solve this problem we couldn't use the same way of thinking we had up to that point. Arming ourselves with advanced analytical tools, we looked at our process as if we were looking at it for the first time.

Frankly, it is more accurate to say that the issue presented itself plainly rather than our discovering it by chance.

Regards,
Eric
 
Eric do you know when 105 gr. hunting bullets will be available again I have looked everywhere I can think of thanks. John

We run the all the long 6mm jackets on one machine. Until recently, we spent far too long working on the set up to make the jackets that produce the 6mm 105 gr Hybrid Target. This is a very popular bullet and since we are in the target season it was the highest priority.

The excessively long delay to get this jacket running is what kept us from making the other long 6mm jackets. This discovery has allowed us to get the 6mm jackets rolling again far more quickly. We will first complete the long jackets for the target bullets to get these caught up and then we will switch to the jackets that make the hunting bullets.

I am working from home today so I don't have my schedule in front of me but I can relay that all 6mm hunting bullets will be caught up by the end of July at the latest.

Regards,
Eric
 
Many have moved on to other manufacturer's lines after waiting far longer than they should. (I waited 10 months before cancelling my order for one of your bullets).

Having retired from a company that went through the same problem (production/quality/supply issues), it's hard to get customers back from the "other guy" who stepped up their game.

This is precisely why I am on the forums personally. I know exactly how you feel. I am also a Berger customer. I managed to stay supplied with 6mm BR Columns only because I shot far less frequently over the 2014-15 season and this season than I planned. I didn't have enough of the 215 gr to shoot my standard load in the SW Nationals. I threw together a decent shooting 185 gr load but this (and other factors) played a role in my decision not to shoot.

I know that if shooters could eliminate one step in the shooting experience it would be load development. It is like having to wash all the dishes (including pots and pans) before making and enjoying a delicious meal. Circumstances may make it necessary at times but if we can avoid it we all will. When I get a load working right all I want to do is load it, shoot it and reload, not change the load.

I have a strong dislike for marketing hype or promotional BS. It is pervasive throughout the industry to the extent that no new shooter has any chance of knowing what is actually the best products without forums like these or seeking out truly knowledgeable shooters at the range. I wouldn't be posting if this discovery and its impact to our output wasn't genuine.

Having said that, I understand that discerning rifle shooters expect to see performance before they believe what they are told. This is why our announcement comes with a list of nearly 56 bullets that are in stock now (in various quantity packs) with 18 of those being among our top selling bullets (top 20% of our line).

We've been making this higher volume of bullets for over two months now. Once we get through the 6mm and 22 cal (that most people are waiting for now) we will be caught up at a level where people can expect to get their Berger Bullets within a few months at the longest. Time (and not that much time) will show everyone that they can once again depend on Berger for not only the best quality but also dependable quantity.

Regards,
Eric
 
I can't see why one would make it personal about bullets when we all have suffered in regard to powder.

I would like to offer that I completely understand anyone being frustrated with Berger. We've done a poor job over the last several years getting product out the door. The demand surge had everyone out of stock but the surge was over by the end of 2014. We should have recovered before now.

I very much appreciate comments that support Berger. At the same time I'm here specifically because I know a large number of shooters are unhappy with us and I want to address their concerns. I'd encourage anyone to speak (type) freely about their concerns so they can be openly addressed and resolved.

I request that those who support Berger allow these comments to be expressed without reprisal.

Regards,
Eric
 
Well, your timing is good. I was just wondering if anyone had Bergers in stock. I will be keeping my eyes open.

Our lack of product has impacted how much our dealers have been ordering. Currently, their stock is down. They too had grown tired of our inability to keep them supplied with product or at least a dependable production schedule.

We are working with them to help them see that we are in much better shape to keep them supplied. As they stock up again, all of the bullets that are available can be found on our website. I urge everyone to go through their dealer of choice since the prices on our website are higher than what you will find at your dealer.

Let your dealer know that you are willing to give us another try at keeping you supplied and they will get your bullets back in stock.

Regard,
Eric
 
Do your Hunting VLD's get an extra pointing process? It seems that the points on the hunting VLD is finished more and more consistent then a Target VLD.. Could this just be a thinner jacket thing, less material to "finish" at the end so it give a more finished appearance?

The process we use to form all of our bullets is the same. The mouth thickness does vary slightly but the forming process by itself is the same. To be clear, the width of the mouth of the jacket is the same for all bullets. However, the Target jackets start with a thicker wall at the base. The base wall is straight but only for roughly 1/3 of the length. From there the jacket is tapered to a consistent mouth thickness.

This means that starting at the straight portion of the wall the angled portion is thicker. It becomes less different as you get to the mouth. The mouth thickness is the same at the mouth opening but to say that the thickness at the nose of the bullet for both Target and Hunting is the same isn't true.

Does this have an impact on how the bullet forms? We are not certain either way. I can tell you that this is an area we are exploring with our new approach. The root cause we discovered has produced an exciting side effect. We are seeing a significant drop in nose folding. We don't know why at the moment but we aren't complaining.

This and a few other areas are being explored with our new analytical approach. As improvements are discovered and proven they will be implemented.

Regards,
Eric
 
I think we'll likely need a more consistent track record for availability than promises from the president before we increase the number of Berger bullets in our match loads with much enthusiasm. We're fighting component shortages on multiple fronts (brass, bullets, primers, powder), and spend much too much time working up new loads to work around component availability issues.

I understand completely. I hope you consider our announcement as the first step in proving our ability to supply more product. Keep an eye out and you'll see the change for yourself.

Regards,
Eric
 
I am glad to see that torturing the data has shed some light on process variations. If you can run faster with the same equipment then you will have more to spend on additional process improvements. This will be good for the entire industry.
 
Eric

You are aware that many of your bullets have been "off the shelves" for so long that much of the first production will merely put a few boxes here and a few boxes there. You have a long way to go to in order to have product available to customers "on demand".
 
Eric,

First I need to let off some steam. The disappearance of your heavy 20's stalled out a long-anticipated wildcat project to the point that I'd moved on to other things. I see the 55 grainers in stock now but I'll hold off until I'm satisfied the supply will be consistent. Wait, make that "CONSISTENT".

Now let me thank you for publically acknowledging the supply problem and owning it. Not easy to do, my man. Thank you for taking the high road.

And thanks even more for making yourself available in a public forum. It means a lot to us shooters.
 
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pretty please a .257 125-130gr EOL hunting bullet with a G7 about .315-.320 ,,talk about turning a 25-06 into a giant killer,,

I won't say which bullets we are making and when so don't regard this as an announcement of a pending release. I can relay that ultimately there will be an offering of the EOL heavier than standard hunting bullets available in all calibers from 6mm to 338 cal.

Don't order barrels. This will take time and we are focused on getting totally caught up and able to sustain the production of our current offerings before we start working on making these bullets.

Regards,
Eric
 
If you can run faster with the same equipment then you will have more to spend on additional process improvements. This will be good for the entire industry.

I appreciate your logic but I disagree with your conclusion that our running faster will be good for the industry. I believe it will lower the standards we've worked so hard to establish.

This is proven to be a significant motivator to the industry. It is clear that they are working hard to reach the standards we've set. Our plan is to push these standards even further.

We know that when bullets are formed at a faster speed than we use now the results will show up on the target as dispersion. We already know how to make them faster. Going faster is not a secret process. We choose not to go faster deliberately.

We make this choice because we are focused on achieving the tightest precision. There is a reason we are the only "factory" brand used regularly in competition bench rest shooting.

We are going to spend more money on process improvements anyways. The tools we are using now are addicting to people like us.

Regards,
Eric
 
Does the restocking apply to international orders as well?

Yes. We are making more match grade bullets. This much is certain. Now it is just a matter of helping the dealers understand that they need to stock up again. This is made easier if you contact your dealer and let them know which Berger Bullets you shoot.

I know that we've upset a number of our dealers by not being able to provide a dependable production schedule. Our dealers are the ones who get beat up by their customers when they say "April" in January and then say "September" in April because this is what we told them.

There is some healing/proving that needs to be happen. While this healing/proving process continues, our bullet will be available somewhere because we are going to keep making them in greater quantities regardless.

Regards,
Eric
 
I have an A prefix 700 BDL Custom Deluxe 25-06 that has been rebarreled twice and needs it again,,I havent shot it in years,,I thought about doing it in 280AI but if there is a 125-30 EOL coming in the next 3-4 years I will wait to rebarrel that rifle as it was my first rifle and would love to keep it 25-06 but with a bullet that will make it think its a 264 WM,,
 
You are aware that many of your bullets have been "off the shelves" for so long that much of the first production will merely put a few boxes here and a few boxes there. You have a long way to go to in order to have product available to customers "on demand".

I know this is a concern which is why we didn't make this announcement until two months after this discovery was proven. We needed to run for a while to make sure that this higher volume output is certain.

In less than three months we've gone from a SKU fill rate over safety stock that started at 2% (and has been a single digit since Jan 2013) to 27%. In the same time our SKU at zero stock has fallen from 82% to 43%. I know it will take time to get totally caught up but it will go faster than you might expect.

The great news is that the supply won't diminish once the shelves are filled again. We have enough capacity now that we can handle the weekly average order volume we experienced during the 2013-2014 demand surge.

There were spikes during this time that were frankly shocking but the weekly average over these two years, during which everyone was scrambling for product, is a volume level we can dependably handle now.

Regards,
Eric
 

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