Why Are Berger Bullets So Popular?

[Phil3]

I rather get the sense that Berger bullets are quite the favorite amongst many shooters, and just wondered are they generally better than others, say a Sierra MatchKing? If so, why? Just better results on target, higher overall quality, or...? I will try out both, but just wondering if there is some acknowledged superior bullet for accuracy. I am shooting a 223 Remington at 100 yards, very rarely at 200.

Phil

 

[Steve Blair]

Sierras can be just as accurate but tend to have a little more shape variance. Berger Hybrids have a large BC advantage, an important factor in several competition types.

 

[jonbearman]

This is a sorted subject.Some people have great accuracy with them and others dont.The real deal is does your barrel like them.You should try some and see if you can make them fly.If they dont sierra is the next best choice along with many other custom bullet makers. Bergers are generally more consistent bullets with weights being very close and ogive's being more consistent.

 

[jo191145]

Personally I've found Bergers to be more sensitive to seating adjustments than most. But when you find that sweet spot nothing over the counter can compare.

 

[gilream]

I could not get them to shoot in my custom 7 Rem Mag very well at all. Tried 140's and 168's. Nosler ballistic tips work well and Barnes 150 grain TTSX are simply amazing.

However, the 52 gr. Berger match bullet shoots very, very well in my Cooper 22 PPC. Better than handmade bullets of the same weight and shape. I could not be more pleased with the Berger bullets.

 

[spclark]

You may not see a difference.

Then again, maybe you will.

I know they shoot better for me than alternatives from other vendors, but I've been out-scored by (better) shooters using green- or red-box products.

Kinda like what the gals' say about a certain brand of hair color - I'm worth it.

 

[doc gordon]

because they work for a lot of people ! by the way most custom bullet makers get their copper jackets from berger and some of these shoot better than bergers !

 

[Terry]

Consistency is the best answer I know. They weigh and measure so close that I don't have to sort them into groups of bullets. The 105 6mm and the 180 7mm bullets shoot great in my guns.

Terry

 

[lrgoodger]

I never had much luck with the sierras and I shot a lot of them. After finding bullets from five different lots in a box of 500 that I ordered, I gave up on them. Believe it or not, I was having better luck with the Hornadys, but some barrels would shoot them and some would not. When I discovered Bergers, I found bullets that outshoot the Hornadys 90% of the time. My Savage LRPV 6BR is a hummer, but I can't tell any difference when shooting Bergers vs. custom bullets in it. I'm getting 5 shot groups in the 3s & 4s at 200 yards. It outshoots my custom guns as often as not.

 

[Raythemanroe]

Sinclair has a short video series with Berger bullets, long story short is that he started out making custom competition bullets for bench rest shooters and has been very involved with shooting..I believe his wife is the only women to win the super shoot!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3VCN1Ly81U

 

[MGYSGT]

Tried them and won't be buying anymore. I only use them because I have bought a 500 rd box and can't bring myself to throw them out. They just cost too much. Between the Hornady 68's and 80's and the Serria 69's and 75's I do just fine.

 

[Phil3]

Well, I have plenty of Sierras on hand so guess will have to see how they do. But, also have 52 grain flat based Bergers and some 55s. As well as 52 and 68 grain A-Maxes. Will try them all and see what emerges as the best. At 100 yards, may not see much difference, but will see.

Phil

 

[gilream]

Well, I have plenty of Sierras on hand so guess will have to see how they do. But, also have 52 grain flat based Bergers and some 55s. As well as 52 and 68 grain A-Maxes. Will try them all and see what emerges as the best. At 100 yards, may not see much difference, but will see.

Phil

Phil...if you decide that you do not like the 52 grain flat base Bergers just give me a call. I might be able to take them off your hands!

 

[normmatzen]

I shoot long range BR so I use the 105gn to 108 gn bullets.

I started with A-Max and graduated to SMK as they shot a little better for me. Then, I won a box of Berger Hybrids.

I had been measuring and segregating the SMK due to weight and dimension variances. Once segregated, they shot great! Then I found the Berger Hybrids shot as well and the variations in weight and dimensions were so slight that segregating was no longer an issue! As I am lazy by nature, I stayed with Berger.

 

[XTR]

Well, I have plenty of Sierras on hand so guess will have to see how they do. But, also have 52 grain flat based Bergers and some 55s. As well as 52 and 68 grain A-Maxes. Will try them all and see what emerges as the best. At 100 yards, may not see much difference, but will see.

Phil

At 100 yards you may not be able to see much difference. The reason that most of us in the long range F class game shoot them is that they have better BCs that any of their competition. The 185 Juggernaut/OTM (not a VLD) is very easy to shoot in a 308 and shoots well inside of the 175 and 178 offerings from other companies. Their VLDs can be terribly picky about seating depth; however, if you get them to work they again will shoot well inside of any of the competition at long range. Well inside my actually only be an inch or so at 1000 yards, but in a game where 3 points is the difference in 1st and 6th you try for all the points you can get.

You do pay for that quality, Bergers typically cost 30% or 40% more than comparable offerings. Last yr in F-TR I started shooting the Hornady 178HPBT as an alternative for practice and club matches and it did very well. Like I wrote above, the difference may only be 1/2 an inch of windage, but that is the difference in a solid 9 and a beggar 10. I'll take 10s any way I can get them.

 

[Phil3]

Well, I have plenty of Sierras on hand so guess will have to see how they do. But, also have 52 grain flat based Bergers and some 55s. As well as 52 and 68 grain A-Maxes. Will try them all and see what emerges as the best. At 100 yards, may not see much difference, but will see.

Phil

Phil...if you decide that you do not like the 52 grain flat base Bergers just give me a call. I might be able to take them off your hands!

I will probably use them all up to find out if I like them. I have just 100 of the 52 grain FB Bergers and two rifles to test them in.

Phil

 

[mgx1138]

If you have the tools, measure different brands of bullets sometime; Consistency of diameter, ogive, concentricity, OAL, weight. Consistent bullets are popular because they shoot in the same place.

 

[newgun]

I was having a hard time with the bergers and gave the Lapua's a try. I found them to be very easy to load and make shoot really well.

 

[dreever]

In both of my .223's 69 gr. Sierra matchKings verses Berger 70 gr VLD's the Bergers win out everytime in the accuracy contest. Especially at the longer yardages out to 500 meters.

Danny

 

[Down South]

Lapua Scenars are accurate bullets also that are very consistent in weight etc.