7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Discuss all aspects of Ammunition and Reloading here.
Post Reply
17remfreck
New Member
Posts: 13
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2015 11:13 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 17fb/6x47lapua
Location: wallacia

7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by 17remfreck »

Hi
I have a 7mm saum with a 26in 1in 9 twist built on the latest Winchester short mag action
My question is do the Berger 168gn vlds have a common sweat spot in jump ? Say .020 - .040 - .060 - .080 ?
I have tried bergers suggestion on load test with there vlds but nothing seems to stand out ? I have tried 2209 with CCI BR2 and 2213sc with Fred 215M gold match
Any help.would be great thanks :cry:
User avatar
macca
.338 Lapua Magnum
Posts: 2465
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:46 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 308/6br
Location: Southern Highlands NSW

Re: 7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by macca »

Don't have a saum but in my 284 they go best jammed.
In my 280ai they kiss the lands.
In my 7mm mag they jump 25 thou.
So my expierence is its a barrel by barrel thing.
Someone else may have a magical number but i start on the lands and find the sweet speed spot and then fiddle the seating depth.
Good luck.
Cheers
204 Hunter
.17 HMR
Posts: 175
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:37 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 204
Location: Branxton NSW

Re: 7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by 204 Hunter »

Most VLDs I have used like 10th jamb
Tim
RDavies
.257 Roberts
Posts: 785
Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 9:43 pm
Favourite Cartridge: 7 SAUM
Location: Singleton, Hunter Valley, NSW

Re: 7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by RDavies »

I have used a lot of the 168gn VLDs and mine always preferred .010" jam in a few barrels as well.
Brad Y
.338 Lapua Magnum
Posts: 3256
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:47 pm
Favourite Cartridge: N/A
Location: Im here...

Re: 7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by Brad Y »

Wow hey guess what? 10 thou jam, 284 shehane.
Tony Z
.270 Winchester
Posts: 1366
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:29 pm

Re: 7mm Berger 168gn VLDs

Post by Tony Z »

Sort of the cart before the horse scenario. How well do these bullets shoot at a standard 20 thou jump and just varying powder charge? If you're not getting some sort of reasonable groups there then seating depth variation will not achieve much. Poor grouping to begin with cannot rely on seating depth for tight groups. Optimum powder charge has to be found first. For that you need to set a seating depth and not move it. Try three or four powders to find the optimum powder first. When that is found and the optimum powder charge for that best powder is found, then and only then test seating depth. It is remiss of any handloader to expect someone elses results to work in your case. Have an open mind and think like Sherlock but one thing common with all the good handloaders is that seating depth is the last piece of the puzzle.
If nothing works then you have a problem. Change bullets to 168 SMKs that have a tangent ogive that are usually more forgiving than secant ogive VLDs. If they don't shoot, then the barrel is not worth owning. That is not tongue in cheek, i have never seen a barrel worth owning that will not put those bullets into a singular hole. I cannot say the same for the Bergers.
Post Reply