168 gr vld bergers

1

1000mstudent

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Do the Berger 168gr VLDs have the same trouble as the Sierras reguarding stability at 900 and 1000 yards? I was told that they do from TR shooters who shoot 155gr bullets only. I disagree because the Sierras are not VLDs. Am I missing something? I searched the threads, but came up with nothing about this.
 
In a word…NO to the first question and Yes to the second one.

The Sierra 168 HPBR MK suffers from dynamic instability problems at long range due to its 12-13 degree boat tail. Most other Sierra L-R MK’s have about 9 degree boat tails. The Berger 168 VLD has a 8.5 degree BT and does not suffer from the problems the Sierra 168 has as it approaches trans-sonic speeds.

BTW, the Berger 155.5 has a G1 BC of 0.464 and a G7 BC of 0.237. The Berger 168 VLD has a G1 of 0.0.473 and a G7 of 0.0.242. That may make you think about using the 155.5 grain instead of the 168VLD.

Bryan Litz or Eric Stecker from Berger can give you a better explanation then this and hopefully they will chime in.
 
I'm using the 168 gr in this rifle because the throat was lenghtened before I bought it. I have shot the 155 gr bullets out of it. Accuracy was ok. The problem may be in the length of the throat. To get the 155gr bullets to seat within .050 from the lands, I need to seat it with approx . 2 " inside the neck. I was hoping to go to the 168gr so that the neck had more hold onto. Accuracy is good.

Now I'm thinking that 175 would be a better choice.
 
Student

This is probably a lot more information than you are looking for, but . . .

The 168 grain Sierra was originally designed in the 1950s as a 300 meter International Match bullet with a 13 degree boattail. It always worked great out to about 500 to 600 yards.

In the 1960s and 1970s shooters began replacing the 173 grain FMJ National Match bullet in their 7.62MM ammunition with the Sierra, now called a MatchKing. This slightly illegal ammunition was called Mexican Match. In 1980, a new National Match cartridge with the 168 grain Sierra was adopted. Things worked OK except when they tried to shoot beyond 600 yards.

So, Sierra and the Army Marksmanship Unit designed a new bullet, the 175 grain Sierra MatchKing with the old reliable 9 degree boattail. It was first loaded as GI Match ammo in 1994 and is still the standard to this day.

Many Palma shooters today say that the new Sierra Palma bullet is better than sliced bread. So, unless you've played with VLDs before (they are finiky) I'd opt for the 175 or the new 155.

I have nothing against Bergers or the VLDs. I used the 175 VLD in my 1000 yard rifle for a couple of years and it is a great bullet. But, they do require a lot of TLC.

JMHO

Ray
 
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I have a 1-13 twist on the rifle. I guess I'm stuck with 175 or lighter bullets.
 
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