Walt Berger Has Passed, RIP

[LaMan]

I met and had the privilege to talk with Walt at a couple of
Super Shoots. He was very gracious with his time and knowledge and even took the time to personally email me some recommended load data. The shooting sports has lost another great one.

 

[therifler]

couple years back i had a customer in the shop i needed berger bullets for a match . much to my surprise he called Walt at home,he had been out of the shop by this time. but we could hear papers schuffing and in a few minutes he said those bullets were do out in about a week .that was my only dealing with walt but he took the time to help out a friend . RIP WALT

 

[Damfino]

Sadden to hear this. Some 12 or 13 years ago when I was reluctantly transitioning from service rifle (M1A) to F-Class I sent a generic and pretty needy email to Berger bullets about which of their 308 bullets would work best with my particular set up. Not long after sending "Walt" responded, no Mr. Walt Berger President, CEO etc, just Walt. Only much later did I realize who he really was. Walt gave a very thoughtful response about the 168 grain vice the 175 grain bullet and even provided a very thorough spread sheet detailing trajectories with various muzzle velocities. Needless to say he made a customer for life. Clearly one of the last of a dying breed...

 

[LAH]

God's Speed.

 

[Leo Smith]

RIP..You earned the Rest, May it be in peace.

 

[ELR LVR]

Noooooooo!
He's done so much for the shooting sport.
Sad to hear this

 

[whtsmoke]

I'm a little late but I just got my new Rifleman Magazine and saw the Notice in it about Walt, It saddens me that we lost such a great man and one that I can call a friend. I met Walt back at the old Pioneer Gun Club in Kansas City Mo. when he was over at the old Mill Creek club, him nd another gentleman by the name of J.C. Malsby visited our club trying to get some interest built up in benchrest shooting not many responded to it but I was a young guy just out of the service from Vietnam and what they were saying really got under my skin more than bench shooting already was. I was shooting a 6X47 Remington 40 XBBR at the time in sporter version because I thought it was easier at the time which I found out wasn't but I still did good with it. Walt and JC invited me over to a match at Millcreek and being single not tied down and with a Mom who loved to shoot told me to try it so I went out to see what i was up against LOL, believe me I found out real quick that even though I did good there was no way to come up to their standards with my equipment at the time. I got to talking to these guys who were shooting and picking their brains a bit and d found out that i needed an unlimited rifle to stand a chance and there was a gentleman there with one for sale that was a 22X45 on an old Shultz and Larsen action with double set triggers that was in my price range so I bought which he included the loading dies and all for it. It shot rather well but I got to reading more and came across Ed Shilen in Texas and made arrangements to go down and talk to him about building a new rifle on a Remington action off of my varmint rifle, I am sorry for such a long windy story but that man was a great guy that was willing to help anyone interested in accuracy and enough cannot be said about him. Well to bring this to an end Walt loaned me a rear rear rest that I used for several years before he left KC are to go to Arizona and I shot not only some of his wonderful bullets but JC"s also both in 6mm and 22 cal. My benchrest ended with getting married to a lady that had four small ones that I raised and never was able to get back into it. Let me say one more thing, Thank you Walt for everything you did to help a young guy in his 20's to realize that if you want something go for it and do the best you can and you will always be pround of yourself. Funny thing is I lost my wife back in July and we were going thru pictures for a memory board and I came across of Walt's old bench rifle he shot many years ago, meant a lot and brough back many memories. Terry Lichtnberger

 

[D-4297]

I met the Gentleman at a SWN four or five years ago , and he was very cordial and pleasant . Answered a few questions for me and said , "Good Luck today " . "Let me know how you do". By the time I finished my string , He had left the area so that was my only contact with him . But he impressed me that He really did care how good we all shoot , and was happy and comfortable , to be with "His" people . His legacy will be part of our sport for a very long time .

 

[GotRDid]

We are profoundly diminished.
My tribute to his genius has graced my hat for years.
GotRDid.