Testing the New Berger 6.5mm 140gr non-VLD bullet.

[USSR]

A couple months ago, Berger sent me a box of a new non-VLD 6.5mm bullet for testing and evaluating. Today was the first 1000 yard match of the year, so here is what I found.

Okay, here's the scoop regarding the new Berger 140gr non-VLD bullets Vis-a-vis the Lapua 139gr Scenars. Previous chrony testing of the Bergers and the 139gr Lapua Scenars with the same powder charge showed that the lighter Scenars were faster (no surprise), so I used a little less powder for the loads below which I now estimate at about 2950fps:

Lapua brass
139gr Lapua Scenar
46.9gr N160
Russian primer

Lapua brass
140gr Berger
47.1gr N160
Russian primer

Both bullets were seated to a depth that put them .010" off the lands. At todays 1000 yard F Class Match at Bodines, PA, both loads took about 25MOA to reach 1k from a 100 yard zero. The results with the Lapua Scenars was a 182-2X, while the Bergers produced a 182-3X score. Actually, the accuracy was a bit better with the Bergers, as the score does not take into consideration the much worse wind conditions that were prevalent when the Bergers were shot. The next shoot is in 2 weeks, and at that time I will match the Bergers up with the Sierra 142SMK's. The 6.5mm non-VLD Berger's are a good LR bullet.

Don

 

[esheato]

Interesting and thank you.

Ed

 

[Jimmy Newman]

Which cartridge were you shooting?

 

[skinewmexico]

Why shoot the non-VLDs @ 1000? Wouldn't the VLDs be better?

 

[USSR]

Which cartridge were you shooting?

Sorry 'bout that. 6.5x55 out of a 28" 1-8.5" twist Obermeyer.

Why shoot the non-VLDs @ 1000? Wouldn't the VLDs be better?

Perhaps a little better BC with the VLD, which is mostly what Berger sells. However, the VLD's seem to shoot best loaded into the lands, and I think Berger wants to expand their line of bullets to bring in the shooters who jump their bullets. When you put these bullets up next to the 139gr Lapua Scenars, profile-wise they look nearly identical. There was only .005" difference in the ogive location between the two bullets.

Don

 

[Jimmy Newman]

Thanks... I figured it was 6.5x55 or 6.5-284 based on the velocity you were getting.

I've been looking at the 6.5 caliber recently since it seems like a really nice caliber both for long range shooting and for general hunting use. I'm kind of leaning towards the .260 Rem purely because I have a Rem. 700 with a .308 boltface that I could rebarrel.

 

[skinewmexico]

This is their new Palma bullet, isn't it?

 

[Howard Roark]

Palma is .308 cal. The new bullet is the 155.5 grain. It's looking like it's a hit. There were two people at Ft. Benning last month that made the Palma tryouts with them.

 

[skinewmexico]

I should probably try some of those in my 6.5x47 some day.

 

[Wildfire]

Keep us informed please.

Hey there;
Good stuff , Thanks, Please keep us infromed.