Of late, I have not been impressed with the Berger 180 Hybrids. I am getting variations in "Base to Ogive" in excess of 5K and base to tips in excess of 40K.. This means A LOT of "Bullet-Prep" work to get them "right". So in an attempt to diminish the time involved in preparing for a competition, I decided to try the "New Scenar L" bullet as the tolerances are supposed to be "extremely tight" especially from lot to lot. So I ordered 300 to see what may happen.
I noticed that the base to ogive were + / - 1/2 thousandths, which is excellent! I also noticed that the base to tips were about 5-7K tops difference. Well I thought, no more meplat trimming and hopefully just bullet pointing. However, first I wanted to develop a load to see IF my rifle likes them. In examining the bullet I noticed that the bearing surface is VERY long indeed. So I figured I needed to back off the loads about a full grain in charge weight. So I went to the range with 55.7 and worked in 0.3gr increments up to 57.0grs. Well NONE of the groups shot less than "good" and 2 of them shot VERY well.. Those were at 55.9 and 56.2>>Both shot under an inch @ 300.. So I "split the difference" and loaded up at 56.0gr of IMR 7828.. Now, to add to this, I did NOT chrono my load development as my "wonderful" PACT Professional is fraught with problems arising from bright sunshine. It was sunny on Wednesday so left it at home. So I was not quite sure exactly what I was dealing with. I threw caution to the wind and took it out this morning at 1000 yards.
Results: I moved the scope up 22.4 M.O.A. from 300 yards which is where my 2900f.p.s. load is with the 180 Hybrids. I figured I would be at least close. I fired 5 rounds and drove to the targets. The 5 were all centered in the 10 ring with 3 in the "X" ring. HMMM not bad. I went back and shot 5 more. These were still centered but the group opened up to about 6.5-7".. So I went back and fired 5 more>>>much the same results. I had 10 shots left and fired all 10 and drove down to see the results. ALL 10 were in the 10 ring BUT "center-left" as a slight breeze was starting to blow. Of the 10, 7 were in a 2.5 inch group! AND Virtually ALL 25 were inside the 10 ring with 16 of them in the "X" ring!
To say I am impressed is an understatement! I believe the tight tolerances of the Scenar L is what drove these groups.. Now they are NOT "benchrest" quality, however, neither are they far off. But for F-Open, they will give me my "cleans" IF (and this is a B-I-G "IF) IF I do my part in reading the wind!
I noticed that the base to ogive were + / - 1/2 thousandths, which is excellent! I also noticed that the base to tips were about 5-7K tops difference. Well I thought, no more meplat trimming and hopefully just bullet pointing. However, first I wanted to develop a load to see IF my rifle likes them. In examining the bullet I noticed that the bearing surface is VERY long indeed. So I figured I needed to back off the loads about a full grain in charge weight. So I went to the range with 55.7 and worked in 0.3gr increments up to 57.0grs. Well NONE of the groups shot less than "good" and 2 of them shot VERY well.. Those were at 55.9 and 56.2>>Both shot under an inch @ 300.. So I "split the difference" and loaded up at 56.0gr of IMR 7828.. Now, to add to this, I did NOT chrono my load development as my "wonderful" PACT Professional is fraught with problems arising from bright sunshine. It was sunny on Wednesday so left it at home. So I was not quite sure exactly what I was dealing with. I threw caution to the wind and took it out this morning at 1000 yards.
Results: I moved the scope up 22.4 M.O.A. from 300 yards which is where my 2900f.p.s. load is with the 180 Hybrids. I figured I would be at least close. I fired 5 rounds and drove to the targets. The 5 were all centered in the 10 ring with 3 in the "X" ring. HMMM not bad. I went back and shot 5 more. These were still centered but the group opened up to about 6.5-7".. So I went back and fired 5 more>>>much the same results. I had 10 shots left and fired all 10 and drove down to see the results. ALL 10 were in the 10 ring BUT "center-left" as a slight breeze was starting to blow. Of the 10, 7 were in a 2.5 inch group! AND Virtually ALL 25 were inside the 10 ring with 16 of them in the "X" ring!
To say I am impressed is an understatement! I believe the tight tolerances of the Scenar L is what drove these groups.. Now they are NOT "benchrest" quality, however, neither are they far off. But for F-Open, they will give me my "cleans" IF (and this is a B-I-G "IF) IF I do my part in reading the wind!
