[English Marv]

I have found a shop with several hundred of these bullets in stock at a very good price. Thinking of trying them in my 6BR. Anyone used them for crows, foxes and the like? I have avoided Bergers for years as the 68 grain ones I used to use in a 243 AI didn’t perform reliably and were rather prone to ricochet.

 

[toiville2feathers]

Like you, I don’t like Berger’s because they ricochet. That is because that j4 jacket they use is to heavy and the meplate is to tight to allow the bullet to expand. We refer to them as (singing Berger’s”)
I haven’t used any of the varmint Berger’s and I don’t know if they don’t use the j4 jacket or what they have done to call them a varmint bullet.
My some of the other board members can chime in with the answer.

 

[English Marv]

Thanks for the reply, nice to know that my experience is not unique. Hopefully someone who has used the 60 grain Varmint will chip in with their experience.

 

[Paul Workman]

It has been a while, but I ran some Berger Varmint blts in my 223s on prairie dogs in the late 90s.

The varmint blts characteristically had larger openings at the tip - presumably to promote expansion.

Compared to polymer tipped varmint bullets they didn't expand as well, but they were VERY accurate - to the point of using them in some varmint matches too.

Compared to the 52 gn Sierra Match Kings the Berger Varmint pills did expand somewhat better, but (again) the polymer tipped pills were the "bees knees!"

A 60 grain blt out of a 223 would likely be too slow to really work well. BUT! Out of a 6BR, a 60 gn blt is light and speeds could easily be above 3500 fps (1067 mps). Terminal performance might be explosive - similar to the big hollow points on the TNT bullets.

I'd guess accuracy would potentially be their strong suit. I'm thinking expansion on critters (especially under 200 meters) would be more than adequate; worth a try for sure!! (I wouldn't mind trying them in my 6BR, as a matter of fact!)

See what you think of 'em, and report back!

 

[English Marv]

Thanks for the reply, Paul. I confess that I loaded a few last night and will report back.

 

[Sam in Va.]

The Sierra #1500 6mm 60 Grain HP work VERY WELL. I have not experienced any ricochets and have taken a few groundhogs and plenty of Coyotes with them in my 6MM Remington.

 

[English Marv]

Thanks for the reply re. the Sierras. I know they’re a good bullet- I asked about the Bergers as I found a stash of them in a shop much cheaper than the Sierra- or any other 6mm bullet I can find.

 

[English Marv]

An update- I have worked up a load with N135 and CCI BR4 primers which is shooting in the .2’s (and occasionally even less) with the 60 grain Berger Varmint Match Grade HP from my Dakota Varminter 6BR.
Unfortunately, my fears about terminal performance were confirmed yesterday when a solid body shot on a Magpie about 90 yards away failed to kill it. I had to walk over to it and put it out of its misery. I then shot a Jackdaw about 180 yards away. That was dead when I got to it, but flapped about for a while despite a perfect shot high up on the centre of its chest. The bullet had not expanded at all. Maybe it would do better on somewhat larger quarry, but I don’t really want to risk it.

 

[JRinKY]

I have used the 60 Berger in two different rifles a 22-250 and a 9 twist SAVAGE LRPV In 223. Excellent accuracy.
But even the Varmint model Berger has No Expansion. Paper punchers only, but if you want Expansion, just get the VMax and be done with it.

 

[JC in Calif]

In my 6BR I have had good results with the Nosler 70gr BT Varmint. I have developed good loads using Varget, N135 and TAC and N133.

 

[English Marv]

I haven’t tried the NBT in this BR, JC, but I have developed a load with the Varmageddon tipped 70 grain and N140 which is shooting in the .3’s and .4’s. I suspect they’re going to be just fine for terminal performance and they’re only two thirds the price of the NBT.