match king vs. berger vld

[jr81452]

i am trying to decide on which bullets i am going to work up next. i have it norowed down to a choice between the 200gr matchking or the 210 berger vld. does anybody have experience with both of these in 30cal? i am loading for a 300 win mag match barrel with 1:10 twist and using reloader 22/25 with fed 215 primers and nosler cases.

i want to know which of the two is more consistent as far as weight and length. also if you happen to know what the length of the berger is that would be usefull. any loading tips would also be appreciated.

thanks

[SlamFire1]

I have shot the 200 grain Matchking in 30-06, out to a thousand. It shot exceptionally well in a 1:10 twist match barrel.

As for Berger bullets. When Berger bullets came out, lots of people tried them, all sorts of miraculous claims were made, great scores were shots. But I really don’t know if it was the bullets or the shooters just shooting great scores. Later Berger bullets started disappearing from the firing line. Some of their bullets were extremely jump sensitive. Throat erosion is hard to predict, and so is jump sensitivity in a rifle. One day your rifle is shooting good, and the next your are all over the target. When a rifle match is an all day affair, folks got tired of gambling and went back to reliability. Also, Berger bullets got hard to find. Folks who had spent a lot of time developing loads found Bergers were not to be found for love or money, that chased a few off.

I don’t know if these problems have been solved, but there is something to be said for solid consistent performance, and Sierra Matchkings give that.

I always doubt the ballistic coefficients put out by companies other than Sierra. Sierra puts out conservative numbers, most everyone else puts out miraculous numbers. I really doubt there is much difference in actual ballistic coefficients between match bullets of the same caliber and same weight. And if there is, a bad wind call will blow it anyway.

[Jim Watson]

I could not tell a difference between 175 gr Sierra and Berger bullets in my Savage .308. Maybe I will try again now it has a Pac-Nor barrel.

But my much modified AR with 6.5 twist Krieger .223 is more accurate with 90 gr Bergers and the Sierra 90 gr does not always make it to the target if loaded hot enough to arrive supersonic at 1000 yards. The JLK bullet is very good, too.

The VLD bullets from Berger and JLK generally do better when loaded "jammed" into the rifling a bit; their short bearing surface needs a little help with initial alignment. Sierras will usually do best or as well with a little "jump."

[Walkalong]

Hey there fellow Alabamian SlamFire1

Bergers were introduced by Walt Berger of Benchrest fame in the Benchrest arena where most folks shoot light neck tension with bullets touching or into the lands a bit. It makes sense that they would shoot well -

loaded "jammed" into the rifling a bit

- I have no experience with the JLK bullets and have not shot Highpower, only Benchrest where I have tried Bergers. My guns prefered other bullets but the Bergers are fine bullets and shoot very well.

[waumo]

is that depending on rifle, the VLDs or the SMKs shoot better.

I know you are not looking for the "try it yourself" answer, but that is just the way it is.

[jr81452]

thanks for all the info. i am still looking for data about the projectiles themselves. i have not yet had the chance to get my hands on a batch of either and am trying to find out if they are "consistant" as far as weight and length. has anyone ever weighed a batch or took a mic to them? if so what were the results? i undrstand that how they will perform is subject to my gun, but as my work ups take about 500 rounds and a few weeks of time i would rather pick the more consistant of the two. i just don't have the time (or cash) right now to sink in a bunch of load time on "avarage" bullets that vary 2-3gr or hundredths of an inch before i ever put them in a piece of brass.

[CZ223]

Walt Berger has been enlisted to help devolop a new match grade bullet for Sierra, it will of course, be dubbed the Berger-King.

[waumo]

Is 1.471" OAL or 0.636" measured with back to back Stoney point gauges in 30 Cal which is how I measure them when sorting bullets.

I weighed 25 and they varied from 209.7 to 210.0 gr.

[jr81452]

waumo:

thanks for that info it helps alot!!

now if only someone had some 200gr matchkings lying about.....

[snuffy]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...eitemid=223473

Looks like the Bergers are in stock at Midway. Some weights are out of stock, with backorder okay. The story goes like this; Walt Berger sold the company to the folks that make the J-4 jackets he uses to make the various bullets he sold. The reason was, they just couldn't keep up with the demand for his bullets. The new company has the production capacity to make enough for the demand. He's still there as an advisor and is currently gathering material for a loading book.

As for the two bullets, I use neither of them, but have used the 168 VLD in 7mm. Just at 100 yds, I will try them at longer yardage this year.

[Clark]

I shot allot of Berger VLD and SMKs 10 years ago until 6 years ago.

I gave them up for Hornady Vmax.

Cheaper, better groups, and blow up varmints.

[hagar]

Try both of them, and then try the Hornady AMax. I bet you it will shoot better, have a better BC, and be cheaper.

[jr81452]

did my work ups with a-max last fall. your right they work great. still have 500 or so boxed up for when i want to show off my shooting skills. but just because they work does not mean i am going to sit back and stop "hunting" for that perfect load what can i say i just like to abuse myself