Berger load data manual

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Kevlak

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Hey all,

Was kinda hoping someone on here would have a berger manual. I'm just trying to cross reference my manual to it. I have some berger 155g hunting vlds for my 308 and using H4895. My manual states using 43gr min and 46gr max. Just curious to know whether or not it's the same in the berger manual? Thanks in advance!

Kevin
 
I have the Berger 1st edition here. On page 683, for 155 GR MATCH GRADE VLD HUNTING (part # 30508) I see min 39.0 GR and max 42.5 GR for H4895.

That's quite a difference! Your minimum is above my maximum. What manual are you looking in?
 
Modern reloading Manuel second edition, that was not for a berger bullet just for a jacketed 155gr bullet. Thanks for the info though, I just wanted to clairfy before I start making my loads. Sorry for the question but what does the it say about the coal?
 
Kevlak said:
Modern reloading Manuel second edition, that was not for a berger bullet just for a jacketed 155gr bullet. Thanks for the info though, I just wanted to clairfy before I start making my loads. Sorry for the question but what does the it say about the coal?
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Ah, OK. AFAIK you can't assume that the load data for two bullets of similar weight are the same. In fact, you should assume that they are *not* the same.

Listed COAL is 2.810".

Does the part # I quoted above match the part # on your Berger box?
 
Yes that does match the number on my box, in ever assumed but that was the reason of my inquiry. Wanted to be safe. But now I think the next time I see the berger manual I am going to purchase it! Thanks again.

Kevin
 
Ishodu said:
It appears that the lawyers really got a hold of the Berger manual. Other than some good reading its pretty useless.
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Disagree. I have the latest Berger manual. Have used it for 300 WM loads with 210/215/230 Bergers (H1000 and Retumbo) and have found it pretty much dead on for max loads, or even a bit aggressive. I generally get ejector marks on all brass at max load, and 1 out of 5 stiff bolt lift. 10 thou off the lands for all loads. Norma Brass.
 
Scrubbit said:
Disagree. I have the latest Berger manual. Have used it for 300 WM loads with 210/215/230 Bergers (H1000 and Retumbo) and have found it pretty much dead on for max loads, or even a bit aggressive. I generally get ejector marks on all brass at max load, and 1 out of 5 stiff bolt lift. 10 thou off the lands for all loads. Norma Brass.
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What case does your Berger manual list for testing? That can make a big difference. I have found .223 Berger data to be good, mind you I'm .1gr. over max with one load. Winchester case.
 
Ishodu said:
It appears that the lawyers really got a hold of the Berger manual. Other than some good reading its pretty useless.
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I had a nice little chat with Walter Berger himself just this week about the manual. Including himself, there were some very intelligent people behind it. Bryan Litz for example. I'd put my faith in a manual from the world's top precision bullet maker than a manual from Lee. Just my opinion of course.
 
billdick said:
Bergers are stickier and take up powder space in the case so they make higher pressure with less powder than other bullets of the same weight.
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That depends on the length of your throat, as long as you can seat the bullet out so that the boat-tail stays in the shoulder of the case, there's no problem. I don't know how you figure their stickier, I couldn't detect that with any of the Bergers I've shot compared to Sierras or Matrix, but if you believed it to be a problem you could moly coat them.
 
I did come across a potentially serious error in the Berger manual, which relates to the .222 Magnum. It states that .222 Magnum brass can be difficult to find, but that it can be formed from .204 Ruger, which is true, and from .223 which is not. Attempting to fire form a .223 in a .222 Magnum chamber will result in case head separation, and if one attempted move the shoulder forward, by opening the case up to full caliber, then reducing the neck back down to .224, the neck would be too short to hold the bullet.
 
Load for the bullet weight. Who made it or its construction, other than Barnes' solid copper bullets, doesn't matter.
Hodgdon gives 43.0 as the starting load for a 155 using H4895. Max OAL of 2.775". Hodgdon makes/retails H(for Hodgdon)4895. Use their data.
Berger doesn't put data on-line because they want you to buy their book. They claim all their bullets are match grade too. Lets 'em charge more.
Manuals take a year or more to produce and reflect the conditions on the day of the test and of the rifle/universal receiver used. That's why there are variations between books. Some companies, Lee, for example, do no testing at all and use data from other sources. Mostly Hodgdon's.
 
sunray said:
Load for the bullet weight. Who made it or its construction, other than Barnes' solid copper bullets, doesn't matter.
Hodgdon gives 43.0 as the starting load for a 155 using H4895. Max OAL of 2.775". Hodgdon makes/retails H(for Hodgdon)4895. Use their data.
Berger doesn't put data on-line because they want you to buy their book. They claim all their bullets are match grade too. Lets 'em charge more.
Manuals take a year or more to produce and reflect the conditions on the day of the test and of the rifle/universal receiver used. That's why there are variations between books. Some companies, Lee, for example, do no testing at all and use data from other sources. Mostly Hodgdon's.
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I would wonder why the Berger data would be so much different though, for my purpose I think maybe just starting at the berger charge if 39gr and work my way up to possible 46gr. Now I have seen other fourms talk about going up to 46gr with out issues. The lee manual does not state what brand of bullet with its chargers just what grain and if it's a jacketed bullet or solid. But when looking at nosler a load data it's the same as in the lee manual whereas berger has thier own data, maybe someone has some incite on this?

Kevin
 
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