Berger VLD Hunters and Hybrids
- Thread starter zorak
- Start date
DHD
Silver $$ Contributor
Trying the Hybrids for what exactly? I use both in 6mm and 6.5mm (105 and 140 grains respectively). I've hunted and shot paper/steel with the referenced bullets and they work very well. I usually think the VLDH are more accurate, then shoot the Hybrids and then think they are more accurate.
Point of my meandering is they are both good bullets in my rifles. That's a plural as I use both VLDH and Hybrids is more than a few rifles and they perform well enough that if I never bought anything besides a Berger I'll be fine. If that makes me a Berger fanboy, well then I'm an old fanboy........
Point of my meandering is they are both good bullets in my rifles. That's a plural as I use both VLDH and Hybrids is more than a few rifles and they perform well enough that if I never bought anything besides a Berger I'll be fine. If that makes me a Berger fanboy, well then I'm an old fanboy........
What kind of competition? Matt
I don't shoot Berger VLD's, therefore, I can't answer your question directly. But I can offer some of what I learned when developing a good competition load for my 6mm BR Norma. I stay away from the 105gr VLD because the thick jacket produces a less-than-perfect meplat which (in my opinion) requires both trimming and pointing. I prefer the VLD Hunting version since the thin jacket makes it easier for Berger to produce a better formed meplat. I believe the two bullets are close to the same shape. But I only shoot the VLDs when I can't get the 105gr Hybrid bullet.
The Hybrid is significantly different in shape and is my preferred 6mm bullet for 600 yard BR or F-Class. It has a higher B.C. and seems to be quite a bit easier to tune than the VLD's.
Here is a chart showing a few of the bullets I've tested in the 105gr to 110gr range. The data represents the average of the best five of the 5 shot groups (25 rounds) of each type shot from a bench using a 28" 1:8 twist, Shilen Match Select barrel on a Savage Target action at 100 yards in still wind conditions.
Each different bullet seems to have a preferred powder including Varget, IMR 8208 XBR, CFE-223, Vihtavuori N-140 and IMR-4895. However, the Berger Hybrid shoots well with several of these powders; i.e. unlike the other bullets, the Hybrid doesn't exhibit a preference for one particular powder. The Hybrid also is less picky about charge weight and seating depth.
For those not familiar with ATC (Average to Center), it's the same as mean radius, a measurement which is tedious to calculate by hand but one which my On Target software calculates automatically. Some folks, including me, think that ATC is more meaningful than MOA when it comes to judging how well a particular recipe will do in competition.
The poor performance of the SMK 110gr bullets is a result of my 1:8 twist barrel. Sierra says a 1:7 twist or faster is required and after a bit of testing I believe them. It's a long, sexy looking thing, but I doubt if I'll do any more testing with it. The new Hornady ELD is also a good looking bullet. It's shorter than the 110, but has that perfect plastic tip which appeals to the aerodynamicist in me and may warrant further testing, but it most likely is best shot out of faster twist barrels. As you can see, the Berger 105gr Hybrid is the performance stand out. Of course, YMMV.
6mm bullet comparison
The Hybrid is significantly different in shape and is my preferred 6mm bullet for 600 yard BR or F-Class. It has a higher B.C. and seems to be quite a bit easier to tune than the VLD's.
Here is a chart showing a few of the bullets I've tested in the 105gr to 110gr range. The data represents the average of the best five of the 5 shot groups (25 rounds) of each type shot from a bench using a 28" 1:8 twist, Shilen Match Select barrel on a Savage Target action at 100 yards in still wind conditions.
Each different bullet seems to have a preferred powder including Varget, IMR 8208 XBR, CFE-223, Vihtavuori N-140 and IMR-4895. However, the Berger Hybrid shoots well with several of these powders; i.e. unlike the other bullets, the Hybrid doesn't exhibit a preference for one particular powder. The Hybrid also is less picky about charge weight and seating depth.
For those not familiar with ATC (Average to Center), it's the same as mean radius, a measurement which is tedious to calculate by hand but one which my On Target software calculates automatically. Some folks, including me, think that ATC is more meaningful than MOA when it comes to judging how well a particular recipe will do in competition.
The poor performance of the SMK 110gr bullets is a result of my 1:8 twist barrel. Sierra says a 1:7 twist or faster is required and after a bit of testing I believe them. It's a long, sexy looking thing, but I doubt if I'll do any more testing with it. The new Hornady ELD is also a good looking bullet. It's shorter than the 110, but has that perfect plastic tip which appeals to the aerodynamicist in me and may warrant further testing, but it most likely is best shot out of faster twist barrels. As you can see, the Berger 105gr Hybrid is the performance stand out. Of course, YMMV.
6mm bullet comparison
Last edited:
HTSmith
Silver $$ Contributor
My experience is with two 6MMBR's. My first has a Hart bbl with 8 twist. It shoots the 105 Hybrids and VLDH's equally well at 100 yards, but at 300 yards the VLDH's win handily. I'm guessing it is related to the twist.
My second has a Brux bbl with 7.5 twist. It also shoots the 105 Hybrids and VLDH's equally well at 100 yards, but the Hybrids win by just a little bit at 300 yards. So I roll with the VLDH's in the Hart and the Hybrids in the Brux.
I got to the right seating depth a little quicker with the Hybrids, but they definitely have a preference for seating depth. When Berger says their hunting bullets are made to match standards, I believe them.
As an aside my spotter/partner at a 1000 yard match last month used the 180 Gr Hybrids in his 284 Win to win his class in a hard and switching wind. I was impressed. (Of course with my lousy score it didn't take much)
My second has a Brux bbl with 7.5 twist. It also shoots the 105 Hybrids and VLDH's equally well at 100 yards, but the Hybrids win by just a little bit at 300 yards. So I roll with the VLDH's in the Hart and the Hybrids in the Brux.
I got to the right seating depth a little quicker with the Hybrids, but they definitely have a preference for seating depth. When Berger says their hunting bullets are made to match standards, I believe them.
As an aside my spotter/partner at a 1000 yard match last month used the 180 Gr Hybrids in his 284 Win to win his class in a hard and switching wind. I was impressed. (Of course with my lousy score it didn't take much)
Its just a long shoot with group guys that put on a 1212yd shoot. Its not a bench rest type competition.
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