Berger 153.5

[AveryMoonshine]

Looks like it should be consistent it claims some good BC’s. How will it stack up against the 156? Will it be a good performer on game? Thoughts, opinions? How long tell LRO gets some for testing? Surprised no one has started a thread for these yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ladd]

This came out of nowhere, I didn't see it coming. Berger is coming out with new product its hard to keep up. Not sure if I'll move away from the 156 gr. EOL. Keep them coming Berger.

 

[FURMAN]

It is another LRHT. We will not test everyone of them but we are testing the 190. We may test one or two of the 30s. If one will expand I will feel better about the rest expanding. The consistent BC comes from the pointed tip.

 

[Gord0]

I wouldn't feel too great about them expanding with the pointed tip. They look great for punching holes in paper a long ways out though!

 

[tric3imagery]

For a Target bullet, I have great success with 150 gr Sierra G7 BC .353, running 2960 fp had to nudge my g7 .390 .
Seems to be highest BC 6.5 target bullet?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[djfergus]

Tagging in. Im interested in feedback concerning expansion of the 153.5 Berger's.

 

[Wideback]

Bumping this back up...Did anyone hunt with these this fall?

 

[Sod Farmer]

bump. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[FURMAN]

While we did not hunt with the 153.5 we did hunt with the 190. They are the same design. I was worried they would not expand. We have a kill at 500 yards and one at 200 yards so far and they are very destructive. Small 1" entrance and no exits. The internals where jello. We still need more testing but I feel like these are going to be another great option.

 

[hugheserj]

I've been searching to get more info for performance on game with these and can find threads with questions but no specific experience with the 6.5 yet only other hybrids. Has anyone been using 153.5gr Bergers since the last time this thread got raised? I have some as I couldn't get 156's and intend to use them for hunting. The hole in the tips are very small (much smaller than 215gr hybrids) and a number of them are blocked so i will clean before using on game.

If no one has used them on game I'll report back once I have some data.

I'm running them in a 6.5x284 @2832fps using RL26 with an ES of 3fps.
Tikka action
Bartlein 2B 20"
DPT Suppressor
Ken Henderson Hi-Tec Composites NZ made stock

 

[Rich]

I've been searching to get more info for performance on game with these and can find threads with questions but no specific experience with the 6.5 yet only other hybrids. Has anyone been using 153.5gr Bergers since the last time this thread got raised? I have some as I couldn't get 156's and intend to use them for hunting. The hole in the tips are very small (much smaller than 215gr hybrids) and a number of them are blocked so i will clean before using on game.

If no one has used them on game I'll report back once I have some data.

I'm running them in a 6.5x284 @2832fps using RL26 with an ES of 3fps.
Tikka action
Bartlein 2B 20"
DPT Suppressor
Ken Henderson Hi-Tec Composites NZ made stock

As far as I know, the verdict is still out. The more terminal data this site collects the better.

 

[kbaerg]

I am running the 153.5 in my 6.5 PRC I just got before Christmas. I plan to give these a try on some game. I will give my thoughts when I can but so far I have only gotten a good load worked. I did go through them and checked the tip to ensure that they were open with a .0225 drill bit and most of them were good.

 

[hugheserj]

Ok I got out this weekend on public land here in New Zealand and shot a young red deer for the freezer. It was a young animal with a pretty light frame but will be fantastic eating!!

The Berger 153.5 hybrids performed very well. I haven't opened any of the tips up and there was definitely no issues with expansion. The shot was high on the shoulder at 200m. The projectile expanded violently and also exited leaving a golf ball size exit wound shattering the spine. Deer was DRT.

There was a bit of meat loss in the back steaks and shoulder but i think that was to be expected at relatively close range on such a small bodied animal. And yes before you say it, I would have preferred to have neck shot it to minimise meat loss but didn't get chance for a clean shot in the clearing I was in and with a steep shot angle.

This has given me some confidence to keep testing these and will try and find some larger bodied animals at longer distance on my next trip.

 

[robie]

Anyone else have any real world examples of the 153 on game?

I'm loading them in my 6.5 PRC currently for a mule deer hunt this fall.

 

[xsn10s]

While we did not hunt with the 153.5 we did hunt with the 190. They are the same design. I was worried they would not expand. We have a kill at 500 yards and one at 200 yards so far and they are very destructive. Small 1" entrance and no exits. The internals where jello. We still need more testing but I feel like these are going to be another great option.

Hey Ryan what cartridge did you launch the 190's from. What were your estimated impact velocities? And what game did you harvest? TIA

 

[FURMAN]

Hey Ryan what cartridge did you launch the 190's from. What were your estimated impact velocities? And what game did you harvest? TIA

7 rem mag. Whitetail. It’s on the forum somewhere. I’ll dig it up when I get home. I’m playing in Moab right now.

 

[OSOK - Crash]

7 rem mag. Whitetail. It’s on the forum somewhere. I’ll dig it up when I get home. I’m playing in Moab right now.

LUCKY!

 

[RBanta66]

XSN10s the link below has the info you were looking for, post#17

Hey Ryan what cartridge did you launch the 190's from. What were your estimated impact velocities? And what game did you harvest? TIA

Berger 190 LRHT, 7 Rem Mag, RL26

So we rethroated a Christensen Arms Ridgeline 7mm Rem Mag and have begun load development for the 190 Berger. We started with RL26. With no data available on the 190 Berger and very little on the cartridge with RL26 we just started with a quick pressure test. 65.0-2855 65.5-2855 66.0-2870...

www.longrangeonly.com

 

[xsn10s]

7 rem mag. Whitetail. It’s on the forum somewhere. I’ll dig it up when I get home. I’m playing in Moab right now.

No worries. TIA. Have fun!.

 

[xsn10s]

XSN10s the link below has the info you were looking for, post#17

Berger 190 LRHT, 7 Rem Mag, RL26

So we rethroated a Christensen Arms Ridgeline 7mm Rem Mag and have begun load development for the 190 Berger. We started with RL26. With no data available on the 190 Berger and very little on the cartridge with RL26 we just started with a quick pressure test. 65.0-2855 65.5-2855 66.0-2870...

www.longrangeonly.com

Awesome thanks a lot. Have a happy 4th of July!

 

[hugheserj]

Ok so having hunted with another rifle for a few months I took my 6.5x284 out for another walk this weekend. All my hunting is on public land in New Zealand.

We found a mob of four red deer hinds at 460m (500yds) and I picked one standing broadside. The shot wasn't perfect but the deer only took a couple of steps before it dropped. The 153.5gr Berger made a 6.5mm entry and a golf ball sized exit.

Having shot two deer with one shot kills at varying ranges now, I'm starting to get more confident that these projectiles perform well on game. I'll keep testing and report back with results.
Ed

 

[Bill28]

LUCKY!

I shoot in Manti almost every weekend, we have have targets out too a mile. If you’re interested in shooting

 

[hugheserj]

Had another successful hunt this weekend with my 6.5x284 and 153.5 bergers. This time a red yearling @195m. The projectile made a golf ball sized exit and the deer didn't take a step. Im actually running hybrids in both my hunting rifles now (153gr, 215gr and 230gr) and very impressed with all of them both in the field and at the range.

 

[RBanta66]

I've been watching this thread as I'm looking at some of the 153.5 Bergers. Are there any other thoughts/info on these new Bergers yet?

 

[257 STW]

I've been watching this thread as I'm looking at some of the 153.5 Bergers. Are there any other thoughts/info on these new Bergers yet?

Waiting on more terminal result info as well. I have a few boxes of the 153.5s stashed in case I cannot find more 156s for my PRC.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I've been watching this thread as I'm looking at some of the 153.5 Bergers. Are there any other thoughts/info on these new Bergers yet?

I've just picked up a box of 500 to use in my PRC and have loaded some up for load development using RL-23. Will post what I find out.

 

[Straightshooter1]

OK, as promised, I finally got around to testing some loads for these for the first time, now that I've got the barrel broken in. I didn't get around to any chrono numbers yet, but that will come soon as the next time out I'll do some fine tuning a little further out.

I loaded up 5 rounds for charges of 52.9 to 54.4 grs of RL-23. My procedure for load development is to shoot 3 shot groups. If the first two shots do not group well, I move on (unless I've just pulled a bad shot for some reason) as I see no point in shooting further. But like on the first test load I shot (left target on picture below) the first two shots were touching, an on the 3rd shot I really pulled it left, so to took another shot of that load (that's why I always load more than 3 rounds) to see if it'll group or if it really was me pulling it. The 4th shot was a good one touching and that satisfied me. I didn't shoot the loads for 54.1 or 54.5 grs as the 53.8 gr group opening up and I was getting a little bit of stiff bolt lift along with a little ejector swipe. Next time, I'll get some velocities as see how it compares to my QuickLoad calculation, which is 2851 fsp for the 53.5 grs of RL-23.

 

[Gbmaryland]

By any chance did you do any additional load work up and grab any velocities on what appeared to be the working load?

Also is that a RPR factory bbl you were shooting through?

I was shooting the factory rounds from Berger through a bartlein 1:7.5 24inch bbl:



(Yeah, I know you are using a PRC, still curious.)

The group was about 2 inches at 100 yards…

 

[outdoorguy17]

I was able with my 6.5 creedmoor to get the 153 to 2700 fps; but even though it is only a couple grains more I could not get the 156 to much over 2,550. interesting to say the least.

 

[Straightshooter1]

By any chance did you do any additional load work up and grab any velocities on what appeared to be the working load?

I've got only a few velocities on different loads. Perhaps you might find this data of some use:

Also is that a RPR factory bbl you were shooting through?

No, that is not out of a factory barrel. It's out of a 26" Krieger barrel that's a 1:8 twist.

Also is that a RPR factory bbl you were shooting through?

I was shooting the factory rounds from Berger through a bartlein 1:7.5 24inch bbl:



(Yeah, I know you are using a PRC, still curious.)

The group was about 2 inches at 100 yards…

Curiosity is a good thing! 🙂