Thanks for posting your results James! There were a couple others that didn't get posted, so I'm going to include them so you can all read them. Here's the first one:
Objective: Evaluate Box of 100 Berger bullets for multi-function use.
Subject Bullets: Berger Hybrid Target 6.5 MM 140 grain Bullets PN 26414 Lot #3556 BC 0.618 & 0.317.
Summary Results: General performance and POI precision of these bullets are equal to shooters expectations
based on experience with similar VLD Berger 6.5 MM 140 grain bullets. Over all precision with the Hybrid
bullets PN 26414 were slightly better that Berger PN 26406. Both of the Berger bullets tested performed
slightly better than the JLK low drag bullets in two heavy match barrels shot at 100 yards.
With the Very Low Drag bullets POI accuracy at 100 yards is often less than expected as the bullet exits the
muzzle with less than a true coaxial spin. This bullet wobble also give rise to more than expected wind drift.
Generally the higher the muzzle pressure (I.e. the shorter the barrel) and the more aggressive the bullets boat tail
the more the bullet is prone to initial bullet wobble. Considering the longer boat tail these 140 grain Hybrid
Target bullets shot better than expected at 100 yards. With a long barrel and selected powder loads groups
under ¼” at 100 yards were common.
While not tested based on my experience with other similar Berger bullets these new “Hybrid” bullets should
perform excellent at 1,000 yards. I found the manufacturing tolerances on these bullets to be equal to or better
than prior 140 gr 6.5 VLD Berger Match bullets.
Methods: The bullets were carefully loaded for firing in several rifles. Powder charges were based on shooters
specific prior experience with loads for similar Berger 140 grain bullets for each of the barrels tested. All
loading and shooting observations and measurements were recorded. (Loads were not tuned to barrel
harmonics.)
All observations and measurements were made by, or under the supervision, of Jon Newman who is a
knowledgeable Engineer; with extensive experience in building and shooting precision rifles. Experience
included over 55 years direct rifle experience. Jon is also an NRA Chief Range Safety Office and an NRA Rifle
Instructor.
The sample lot of 100 bullets for evaluation was received January 12th and the report to Berger being due on
January 24 limited the scope of shooting and evaluation that was practical. The tests were time limited and
were based on applications similar to those of typical buyers of these bullets. Bullets were all shot “out of the
box” with no sorting. These bullets are near ideal for 1,000 yard matches. However, time and range limitations
did not allow for the longer range testing.
100 yard shooting was done at the private 100 yard bench rest range at Indian Hammock, Fort Drum, Florida.
Competition Bench rest front and rear rests were used on concrete shooting tables. Shooters are all experienced
bench rest shooters.
Powder charge load precision was -0.05 gr to +0.1. The nominal load used for testing was 51 grains of Hodgon
H4832SC. Powder charges were thrown via the RCBS 1500 Charge Master electronic dispenser and checked
on more precision scales. Lapua brass was used for all shooting. Cases were neck sized only. Bullets were
seated using Redding Competition Dies. Bullets were seated lightly into the lands of the barrel. Bullet seating
depth as measured at the bullet diameter of 0.259 was held within +/-0.001”. (At short ranges the bullet
position relative to the barrel lands has proven to be more critical than the powder charge used in the barrels
being tested.) Unless other wise noted all groups are 5 shot groups.
Results:
1/13/12 Rifle: Custom Savage Model 16 with Leupold 36 D scope and 1# Sharpshooter trigger in custom
carbon fiber stock. Barrel 27.5” Krieger 4 grove, heavy varmint contour chambered 6.5-284. Prior to this test
barrel had been fired 308 rounds and would usually shoot the Berger Bullet 26406 Lot 2399 BC .559 @ 2900
fps over 51 grains of H 4831 into groups of 3/8 @ 100 yards.
Wind conditions were 10 mph or less from 5:00. Density Altitude varied from 515 to 555 feet. Temperature
varied from 61 to 67 degrees. Mirage was more of an issue than the wind.
The Berger Bullet PN 26406 were fired to adjust the scope and as a standard for reference. These bullets @
about 2,900 fps (Today they clocked 2,910 to 2,968 Fps) in the past have grouped about 3/8” under range
conditions. The test group today was 0.42”. These bullets were loaded 9/11/10.
The test bullets, Berger Bullet 26414 Lot 3556 BC .618 with 0.1 grains less powder were slightly faster (3,005
to 3,018 fps About 60 fps.) out of the same barrel as the reference bullets. This was not expected. The test
bullet groups were 0.383”. Slight better than the reference bullets. Mirage was more of an issue than the wind.
1/14/12 Rifle: Custom Savage Model 16. See above. Wind conditions were 5 mph or less from 5:00. Density
Altitude varied from -144 to -377 feet. Temperature varied from 58 to 61 degrees. No mirage. The wind was
not an issue.
The Berger Bullet PN 26406 fired as a standard for reference grouped 0.40”. The test bullets, PN 26414, did
better grouping as low as 0.25” and always under 0.38”.
1/15/12 Rifle: Custom Long Range Rifle: Siller Predator action with Burris 8-32X50 Black Diamond scope
and Jewel trigger in custom laminated wood stock. Barrel 30” Bartlien 4 grove heavy varmint contour
chambered 6.5-284 with Harrell’s muzzle brake. Prior to this test barrel had been fired 346 rounds and would
usually shoot the Berger Bullet 26406 Lot 2399 BC .559 @ 2900 fps over 51+ grains of H 4831 into bug hole
groups @ 100 yards.
The test bullets, Berger Bullet 26414 Lot 3556 BC .618 with 51.0 grains of H4831SC clocked 2,994 to 3,008
fps. The test bullet groups were 0.25” to 0.50. Typical group had three or four bullets into one very small bug
hole with one or to slipping out to open the group to 0.50”. The reference bullets shot similar groups. The
Burris 8-32X50 Black Diamond scope’s ability to hold Point of Aim, POI, is suspect for the shots that were
outside of the bug hole.
Future shooting will be done with a Nightforce NXS 12-42 Scope with the NP-R2 Reticule.
1/20/12 Rifle: Custom Long Range Rifle: Siller Predator action, Bartlien 6.5-284 barrel with Nightforce NXS
12-42 Scope. The conditions were light wind, no mirage, 73 degrees and DA @ 800 feet. The Berger Bullet
26406 were fired to adjust the scope and as a standard for reference. These bullets are running @ about 3,000
fps. The initial group of the #26406 shot a 3 shot group of 0.163 after the new scope was zeroed. The new
Hybrid bullets shot 0.338 and .801 horizontal groups. Both groups had a very tight three shot group with 2
flyers. The final group shot with the #26406 bullets were 0.508 horizontal.
1/21/12 Rifle: Custom Rem 700 LA with Leupold 6.5-20X40 Scope. Barrel 30” Shilen light varmint contour
chambered 6.5-284 with muzzle brake. The conditions were 5->15 mph wind from 12 O clock, no mirage, 73
degrees and DA @ 800 feet. The 140 JLK grouped 0.609. The Berger Hybrid bullets grouped 0.675 in a
vertical string.
1/21/12 Rifle: Custom Long Range Rifle: Siller Predator action, Bartlien 6.5-284 barrel with Nightforce NXS
12-42 Scope. The 140 JLK grouped 0.617. The Berger Hybrid bullets grouped 0.309. The Berger #25406
bullets grouped 0.575.
Switching the scope did not improve bullet precision.
1/22/12 Rifle: Custom Long Range Rifle: Siller Predator action, Bartlien 6.5-284 barrel with Nightforce NXS
12-42 Scope. Continued group shooting at 100 yards. The conditions were 0->5 mph wind from 12 O clock, no
mirage, 74 degrees and DA @ 890 feet. The Berger Hybrid bullets grouped about 0.30 several times.
Results & Conclusions:
Savage Model 16 with Krieger 27.5” 1-8 twist barrel: The new Berger Hybrid Target 6.5 MM 140 grain Bullets
PN 26414 shoot equal or better than the Berger PN 26406 bullets at 100 yards.
Custom Long Range Rifle: Siller Predator action with Burris 8-32X50 Black Diamond scope or the 12-42
Nightforce and Jewel trigger in custom laminated wood stock. Barrel 30” Bartlien 4 grove 1-8 twist heavy
varmint contour: The new Berger Hybrid Target 6.5 MM 140 grain Bullets PN 26414 shoot equal or better than
the Berger PN 26406 bullets at 100 yards.
Comment regarding bullet seating: The Redding Competition setting die’s bullet seating pin contacts the 140 gr
Berger bullets at a diameter that is about 0.214” which is about 0.3” or more forward of the point on the bullet
than the diameter of about 0.259 where the bullet comes into contact with the lands. If there is any variation
between the point taper bullet to bullet the result is a variation of the seating depth of the bullets relative to the
lands, which is critical in both short and long range shooting. As it is very difficult to sort bullets to eliminate
this common variation for this test after the bullets were seated each bullet was measure measured from the
head of the Lapua case to a diameter close to the lands diameter. For this bullet test each bullet was measured
referenced to a diameter of 0.259”. These measurement clearly showed that the points on the new PN 264414
Hybrid bullets were much more consistence than the Berger PN 26414 bullets used as a test reference. The
Hybrid bullets were more consistence that the JLK bullets also used in this test.
Disclaimer:
The above report is based on a brief test with a limited number of shots fired short range
