Update Regarding the .338 Hybrids
This article was outdated and has been removed to avoid confusion about this bullet design.
This article was outdated and has been removed to avoid confusion about this bullet design.
This post was removed due to date relevance. Kind Regards, Berger Marketing
We have updated our ballistics program. You can find the new Ballistics Program here.
Overview In our continuing effort to provide shooters with the best possible bullets and information, this article will address a recent change made to one of our most popular bullets: the 6mm 105 grain VLD Target bullet. Note that this change applies to the 6mm 105 grain VLD Target bullet only, not the VLD Hunting bullet. Making bullets is all about consistency. Precision depends on it, shooters demand it. Occasionally there are reasons to change something in the bullet making process which results in new bullets being different than the old. We feel it is our obligation to communicate when these changes are made, the [...]
A look at accuracy and precision If you’re a long range hunter (varmints to big game) or tactical shooter, or just anyone interested in hitting small targets at long range with one or few rifle shots, this message is for you. If you’re a long range prone, F-class, or Benchrest shooter, this may still be interesting for you but not as relevant given that these disciplines allow sighter shots before a record string is fired. Far too often I hear of shooters agonizing over improving the precision of their hunting rifle from 1.0 MOA groups to .5 MOA groups, or from .5 MOA groups to [...]
For centuries now, science has been helping us gain a more accurate understanding of our world. The branch of science we care about as shooters is known as ballistics. The science of ballistics is well developed and understood by those who study it, but the tools and information being used by average shooters is not necessarily optimal for the shooter’s applications. In other words, there is a better, more accurate way for shooters to use ballistics to help them predict trajectories and hit targets. The purpose of this article is to present a better way for shooters to calculate ballistics. What is a Ballistic Coefficient? [...]
Barnes recently published test results on their website at the following url: www.barnesbullets.com/information/bullet-talk/lab-tests/ *NOTE - In response to this article, Barnes rewrote the introduction of their report to address some of these points. I encourage you to read their report before you continue reading this article. They shot Berger, Nosler and Barnes bullets into bone encased in ballistic gelatin at impact velocities consistent with (according to Barnes) 100 yard and 1,000 yard shots using a 7mm WSM and a 300 Weatherby. They also list accuracy results which I will address later. Based on the opening text at the top of the report it seems that [...]
Background VLD bullets are designed with a secant ogive. This ogive shape allows bullets to be more efficient in flight (retain more velocity = less drop and wind deflection). While this result is desirable for many rifle shooters the secant ogive on the VLD bullets produces another result in many rifle. It can be difficult to get the VLD to group well (poor accuracy). For years we encouraged shooters to use a base of cartridge to end of bearing surface OAL (I will use the term COAL to represent this dimension) which allows the VLD to touch the rifling or to be jammed in the [...]
The data in this article is out of date. For up to date information on twist rates, please visit our twist rate calculator at https://bergerbullets.com/twist-rate-calculator/. As shooters of low drag spin stabilized projectiles, we’re compelled to understand the twist requirements of our bullets. In most cases, this is a simple matter of looking up what the manufacturers recommended twist rate is and making sure our barrel satisfies it. Occasionally you can get away with using a slower twist than what’s recommended if you’re shooting in favorable conditions. The manufacturers recommended twist rate is intended to ensure stability for any and all possible shooting situations, which [...]
When I returned to Berger in 2004, I was able to spend more time communicating directly with shooters through emails, phone calls and these forums. I believe strongly that it is from these interactions that we gain a better understanding of what rifle shooters need to be successful. I also understand that there are many shooters who need technical assistance. Thanks to your support, Berger has been blessed with significant growth. Lately, the challenges that go along with growth while staying focused on quality have pulled me away from the phone, emails and forums. For some time, I have been working on resolving this shortcoming. [...]