It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Walter Berger. Walt died peacefully, surrounded by friends and family on Sunday afternoon, 19 September 2021.

Walt was a man of integrity who held himself to the highest standards and imbued the company that bore his name – Berger Bullets & Ammunition – with these same values. Walt’s edict: “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”

Walt began making bullets in 1954 because then the bullets in the marketplace did not meet his exacting standards for precision and excellence. He was so dedicated that for years he hand-turned his bullet jackets to ensure consistent quality and concentricity.

His success led other shooters to inquire about purchasing bullets from him; after years of hand-making bullets in his garage, Walt’s wife Eunice encouraged him to turn his hobby into a business. Even as the company grew and operations expanded, Walt determined to maintain the highest quality for his products, which meant that automated bullet presses had to produce at a quality comparable to his hand-made, custom bullets.

Walt shot benchrest competitively for nearly all his adult life and was inducted into the Hall of Fame 1982. He was named Team USA Rifle Captain and competed in the 2019 World Benchrest Championships. Walt was also an avid hunter, and hunting bullets entered the Berger Bullets & Ammunition lexicon as a result.

Walt’s influence in bullet-making and in his beloved benchrest shooting cannot be understated. His firm handshake, his warm advice, and his steady presence will be missed.

Walt’s obituary as well as information on services can be found at the Heritage Funeral Chapel’s website here.

Walter Berger
November 24, 1928 – September 19, 2021